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Sir  It is with the utmost Concern I find Myself called upon by my Duty to the King to communicate to You a most unhappy Affair perpetrated here this Day.

Yesterday in the Afternoon One Paul Rivere² arrived in this Town Express from a Committee in Boston to another Committee in this Town, and delivered his Dispatch to Mr. Saml. Cutts a Merchant of this Town who immediately convened a Committee of which he is one, and as I learn laid it before them.

This Day about Noon before any Suspicions could be had of their Intentions, about four hundred Men were collected together, who proceeded to his Majesty's Castle William and Mary at the Entrance of this Harbour & forcibly took Possession thereof notwithstanding the best Defence that could be made by Capt. [John] Cochran (whose Conduct has been extremly laudable as You will see by the Inclosed Copy of His Letter) and by Violence carried away upwards of one hundred barrells of Powder belonging to the King deposited in the Castle ー I am informed that Expresses have been circulated through the neighboring Towns to collect a number of People tomorrow or as soon as possible to carry away all the Cannon & Arms belonging to the Castle, which they will undoubtedly effect unless Assistance should arrive from Boston in time to prevent it.

This Event too plainly proves the Imbecility³ of this Government to carry into Execution his Majesty's Order in Council for seizing & detaining Arms & Ammunition imported into this Province without some strong Ships of War in this Harbour. Neither is the Province or Customhouse Treasury in any Degree safe, if it should come into the Mind of the popular Leaders to seize upon them.

The principal Persons who took the Lead in this extraordinary Proceeding are well known. And upon the best Information I can obtain, the Mischief originates from publishing the Secretary of State's Letter & the King's Order in Council at Rhode Island,⁴ prohibiting the Exportation of Military Stores from Great Britain and the Proceedings in that Colony in Consequence of it which have been communicated and circulated here by means of Mr. Rivere and the Dispatch he brought with him before which all was perfectly quiet & peaceable in the Place.

I am with the greatest Respect Sir [&c.]