The unhappy Disputes between Great Britain and America not only affect us with the utmost regret at the Calamities of our fellow Subjects, but are likely to involve us in Distresses scarcely inferior to their's. ー Our Legislature, allarmed at the dreadful aspect of approaching Famine, passed a Law in May last, prohibiting the Exportation of any kind of Provisions untill all obstructions to supplies from America should be removed. An Application was made soon after to the Continental Congress representing our Situation, and requesting some Relaxation of their Commercial Restrictions in favor of a people incapable of injuring, or of serving them, and solely dependant on them for supplies for at least Nine Months in the Year. In Expectation of obtaining the Indulgence we sued for, the Legislature was induced in the Middle of August to suspend the operation of some part of the Law, untill the tenth of September, as there was a considerable Quantity of Rice in the Country the property of Non Inhabitants ー Which being less saleable than other provisions was permitted to be exported. But no provisions, whatsoever, the property of persons residing in the Island were permitted to be exported. ー

On the third Instant the Inhabitants of St Georges were allarmed by a Report that a Vessel that had sailed that Day had been privately loaded with provisions in express Violation of the Law of the Country, and despatched by the Governor to Boston ー The Committee of St Georges, appointed by the Law to search all suspected Vessels, immediately procured a Boat and with some others went out in pursuit of her ー They got on board about eleven O:Clock at Night at the Distance of five or six Leagues from the Land ー Upon searching there were no provisions found on board as had been represented to the Committee. There was reason however to suspect that the Vessel was dispatched with some sinister Intent from the secret Manner in which she had been sent off, because nothing of the kind could be proved. she was permitted to proceed on the Voyage without any Molestation whatsoever ー The Captains name is Lightbourne ー The Sloop I believe belongs to one Sawyer of Newbury in New England ー He told the Committee that he was bound to New York. ー This Transaction has been construed as a most flagrant opposition to Government, and will, no Doubt, be represented in that Light, in England. ー²

There wanted nothing to confirm the apparent Justice of such a Representation but an Incident which happened last _Night and this Morning. The Scorpion Sloop of War commanded by the honourable Captain [John] Tollemache, with a Transport, arrived about a fortnight past, from Boston ー We were at a loss to know the Reason of such an unexpected Visit; altho' we could not help forming some Conjectures concerning the Occasion of it. The last Evening Intelligence was received at Somerset Bridge, that a Shallop with a party of Men from on board the Scorpion, completely armed, and under the Command of an officer had left St Georges in the Afternoon ー The place of her Destination was suspected to be Ely's Harbour ー *As there was reason to apprehend that they come in quest of Provisions, a party of Gentlemen immediately assembled, and sent on board a Schooner, which had just arrived from Charlestown with a Load of Rice, to secure her Sails, Boom and Rudder, that she might not be carried off. Another party repaired to Bethell's Island where there was a considerable Quantity of Rice, Bread & Flour in a Warehouse, in order to secure that too. Soon after the Shallop arrived, and the Officer waited on the Captain of the Schooner to purchase the Cargoe, which was refused ー Upon his Return several Gentlemen were deputed from the Number of those assembled on the Island, which were by that Time near 100 well armed, to demand the Reason of such an hostile Appearance in a place where the utmost Tranquility had reigned before. The officer very politely told them he came up to purchase a Cargoe of Provisions on the Account of Government ー The Gentlemen replied that if it was intended for Exportation there was an express Law of the Country against it. The Officer assured them that he knew not of such a Law, and that he acted only in obedience to express Command. As there was no reason to apprehend that under the present Circumstances, any person would supply them, the Company for the most part dispersed ー Some few remained to observe that no Violence was offered to the Provisions on board the Schooner, or on the Island. In the morning the Officer with his attendants went on board the Schooner, demanded the Sails &c, and Told the Captain that he had express orders to sieze the Schooner & Provisions for the Service of Government, if he would not sell them to him. This he was preparing to execute when a party of Gentlemen went on board and obstinately refused to permit the vessel to be removed from her Moorings, or any of the Rice to be taken off, against the Consent of the Master.* The Officer then went off with his Attendants to St Georges, telling the Gentlemen he would bring the whole Force of the Scorpion to carry the Point. He was assured that an equal Force could be raised at a Moment's Warning to repel any lawless Invasion of the property of an Individual, or to prevent an arbitrary Violation of an express Act of the Legislature of the Island. If they have not more wit in their anger than to attempt to execute their Design by Force, we may expect the Honor of another Visit this Evening or to morrow ー but we shall brave the Stings of the Scorpion whilst we act in Defence of the Liberties of Mankind, and the Laws of our Country ー The Rice is all on shore except fifty Barrels, which will be landed, before they can possibly return, and conveyed to some place of Security, unles our hourses are no more sacred than our Vessels from the Hands of arbitrary Rapine. Thus, you see we are not exempted from attempts at Despotic Oppression, since every petty Tyrant in Commission dares to usurp the power of infringing the most sacred Laws! ー³