Mr. Pinkney,

If you can, please to inform us why the Mercury man of war, which has so long been the terror of Norfolk, and a refuge to our slaves, is not yet burnt, notwithstanding she has been ten days and upwards upon her broadside. We, sir, who live at a distance, are at a loss how to account for the strange remissness of the inhabitants of Norfolk in neglecting to seize the opportunity which Heaven has kindly thrown in their way. Surely the interest of the mayor, who, from his letters to [John] Macartney, seems to prefer the friendship of that deceitful enemy to the welfare of the town over which he presides, must have prevented the noble rage of the citizens from bursting forth in vengeance upon that accursed vessel, which they now have in their power to sacrifice for the captain's bloody threats to destroy their town. We can by no means attribute the omission to a partiality in the inhabitants of Norfolk to the avowed enemies of our country; nor can we suppose them so far destitute of courage as to be afraid to make the attempt. But let the cause be what it will, we do inform them, through the channel of your intelligence, that unless they immediately perform this act, so ardently wished for by their countrymen, and so easily to be effected, that Thousands are resolved to burn the devoted vessel, even if the consequence of it should be the total ruin of Norfolk.