[Extract]

My attention is directed to the fitting out of privateers, which I hope will make them swarm here. Is it not time to encourage individuals to exert themselves this way? General [Thomas] Gage before the commencement of hostilities destroyed or confiscated the provisions then collecting for the army, and can we hesitate at this time about the propriety of confiscating vessels employed by him to infest the coasts, or supply his troops, or can we doubt the propriety of encouraging individuals by giving them the advantage resulting from their reprisals, when it is certain that other plans will not meet with such success as will probably attend this?

If the continent should fit out a heavy ship or two, and increase them as circumstances shall admit, the colonies large privateers, and individuals small ones, surely we may soon expect to see the coast clear of cutters.