We the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of Dartmouth and others, having understood that your Honor's have given permission to the Captains of several Vessels brought into this port of Bedford to be exchanged and that they are to be sent to NewPort in the State of Rhode-Island for that purpose. We beg leave to ,represent to your Honors that the Harbours of Bedford and Fairhaven lay very much exposed to the Enemy, and are in avery insufficient state to resist an attack of them — As We believe that the above Captains are fully acquainted with the defenceless state of this harbour, We humbly conceive that they are able to carry such intelligence as may induce the Enemy to make an attack upon this town and thereby endanger the lives and properties of the Inhabitants of it.

We beg leave further to represent to your Honors that there are anumber of Ships, as well as other Vessels fitting out from this port both on acct of the Continent and Individuals (many of which ships have been even commanded by the above Prisoners) and therefore the Owners have the fullest reason to suppose that the aforesaid Prisoners will give such information as will render their Vessels exceedingly exposed to the Enemies Cruizers; The above Prisoners knowing the destination and th,e times of the sailing of the different Vessels bound out of this Port.

We therefore pray your Honors will recall the permission given to the aforesaid Prisoners as we are sure that by the continuance of it the consequences must be most unhappy to this Town and the properties of many individuals; — Inhabitants of this State. —

Since our Last from the best Inteligence we Can Get from the Armie and Navey at Newport we have Reason to beleive they would be Very Ready to take all the advantages on our town & harbour of bedford we therefore are of opinion that it would be most advisable the prisoners be Sent from Providence to New york or Hallifax. when you Consider the Petition of A Number of merchants of this Town we make no Doubt you will be of the Same oppinion with us. we are your most obedient & hbl Servts —the Committee of Safety and Select men

Dartmouth February 3rd 1777

William Davis
William Tallman		Selectmen
Jabez Parker