Sir, The Allegiance I owe to my Sovereign as a Subject, and the discharge of my Duty to this Community as a Citizen, call upon me in this time of General Distraction to inform the Magestrates of this borough what I presume is highly proper for the present peace of the place they should be Acquainted with; And what I mentioned to you And to the deputy Attorney Mr Claiborne yesterday together in the Street with that View.

I told you both, what I had myself heard and what I had been told by Another person of Veracity respecting the Dreadfully Alarming Menaces Openly thrown Out even by Men in the Magestracy against the persons the property & the peace of his Majestys good Subjects the inhabitants of this Borough, whose minds we all know have for Some time past been in the utmost Distraction and Distress without Any Apparent reason we know of ー I am therefore desireous that you would lay this letter befor the Common Hall. ー ** perhaps it may give some insight into the true but hitherto unknown Causes of their Panick.

I heard* Colonel Joseph Hutchings Swear and Several times repeat, in the hearing of Women, Children & the Nigroes, as they past him, that that very night he would Make One to Drive the Scoundrels Out of Town that would not take up Arms; and I was told by Mrs Ross, who herself was frighten'd Almost to Death at hearing of it, and hastening to Abandon her house & her business, that James Nicolson had told his Aunt Mrs Hutchings by way of persuasive, she being unwilling to leave her house without any necessity she knew of, That They were Resolved he Said, to Set fire to the Town and bum the Scoundrels Out of it, that would not take up Arms, or Words to that effect.

I am sr [&c.]

Octr 2. 1775.

**This was laid before the Common Hall but the Majority being of the same kidney with Joseph Hutchings the person complained of no notice was taken of it.

*Col. of the minute men, & one of the first Magistrates of the Burough.²