Otter Sloop, Norfolk river, September 10, 1775.
Gentlemen,
Whereas a sloop tender, manned and armed on his majesty's service, was on Saturday the 2d instant, in a violent gale of wind, cast onshore in Back river, Elizabeth county, having on board the under mentioned king's stores, which the inhabitants of Hampton thought proper to seize; I am therefore to desire that the king's sloop, with all the stores belonging to her, be immediately returned, or the people of Hampton, who committed the outrage, must be answerable for the consequence. I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,
Matthew Squire.
Swivels 6; musquets 5; cutlasses 5; powder horns 2; cartouch boxes 2; swivel shot 36; seine and rope 1; an anchor and grapnel, with two cables and hawser; iron stove [1;] with some lead.
1. Printed in Pinkney's Virginia Gazette, September 14, 1775; in Purdie's Virginia Gazette, September 15, and in Dixon and Hunter's Virginia Gazette, September 16, 1775.
