Sir

Last Week the Committee of Correspondence & Inspection of this Town having Notice of the Shipp Peggy Wm Baron Master With a Load of Wheat, being Brot by Capt [Robert] Niles to the Barr below the Landing (Capt Niles being Gone again on a Cruise) Thought the Ship & Cargo Still Within the Power of the Enemy (Were they to have Notice of her being there) also thinking it their Duty to Inquire into the Reason of her Coming into Stonington &C. they being also Made acquainted with her being the Same Ship & belonging to the Same Owners Which Lately Came into Newport & Was Seized & Carried with a Load of flour to Boston ー Took the Liberty of Examining the Mate & Crew Of the Ship & upon a full hearing of them ー Voted, That We the Subscribers be a Committee to procure Lighters to Lighten her & bring her up to the Landing to prevent her falling into the Enemys hands & to Notifie the Owner & Freighter thereof ー This day the Freighters & Capt Niles Met at the Landing  the Latter inform[e]d he had Orders from your Excellency & the Committee of Safety to Bring her up to the Barr & No farther untill further Orders ー however as the Owners were Desirous of having her brought up to the Landing to Repair the Vessel, as the Inconvenience Could happen if She proves to be oh a Smuggling Voyage ー We have advised to her Coming up Agreeable to the Vote of the Committee & Wait Your Excellencys further order ー

We shall only Remark that this Wheat is now as Near the Camp as it Can be Transported with Safety by Water ー That it is found Somewhat Difficult procuring Bread for our Army & if by any Means it might be Stopped here without Injury to the Honest Owner, We Could wish it might ー We must Also Say Nothing appeard of any Design of fraud from the Acct Given by Mate or People ー the Master was Gone to N[ew]Port when We made the Inquiry ー The Freighters Shew us a Memorandum from M [Christopher] Champlain of N Port the owner of the Ship Which they will undoubtedly Lay before your Excellency with their other Papers Our Not having any Notice of the Orders Given Capt Niles & the Danger the Ship & Cargo might be in We hope will Sufficiently apologize for the Committee Looking into the Matter & beg Leave to Subscribe Your Excellencys [&c.]