I (not seeing the necessity of so long a delay) [in cutting the hay on Gallup's Island] found an opportunity and the next day (being Tuesday) mentioned the affair to the General who had not the least objection to my making the hay and removing it to Boston, I thereupon immediately waited on the Admiral and related what the General had say'd ー Yes ー Yes ー says the Admiral ー "I supposd that he wou'd give you leave. ー I had no doubt of that. ー Pray whose island did you say it was?" I answerd the original proprietor I believ'd was Judge Lynde formerly Chief-Justice of this province ー but Mr Walter had the direction of it. ー On which the Admiral replied ー I suppose this Judge (as you call him) is a Rebel. I assured him he was not, but retired from his Office solely on account of his health & advancd age.

The Admiral then say'd "Pray Sir how many acres does the island contain?" I replied ー I cou'd not tell exactly. I had hired it be it more or less. ー I then added, That I had told the General, and wou'd now repeat it to him, that if the King's service required it, not only the hay but my horses and the cow that were to be fed on the hay, & myself, were ready and at his service on the shortest notice. To which the Admiral in a high tone replied ー "Don't tell me of the King's service, I want the hay for my own use. Do You Know Sir ー that I have five horses and three cows and must have hay?'' I answered "I was very sorry it was out of my power to oblige the Admiral. ー It will be impossible for me to part with any of the produce of that island for I have not the least prospect of getting a stock of hay any where else["] ー The Admiral then sayd "Sir Why do not you go to those islands which I have before mentioned to you." ー I replied "that I had already assigned sufficient reasons against attempting the plan." ー This occasioned the Admiral saying "Sir, I must have some of the hay." I replied ー "I am exceeding sorry that it is out of my power to oblige the Admiral, there is not sufficient for my own consumption." ー Notwithstanding which the Admiral say'd ー "Sir I must have half the hay." On which I told him "it was impossible. ー there not being sufficient for my own use." The Admiral then say'd he wou'd make me an offer "That if I woud let him have half the hay he wou'd be at half the expence to cut and make it." This I declin'd telling him "That the expence was no consideration with me." ー Then! Sir, says the Admiral "if I can't have half the hay you shall not bring it off the island." ー I told him I wou'd cut the grass and make the hay and it wou'd be my misfortune if I cou'd not get it up to town. Well Sir sayd he "You shall not have it except I have half." ー I then reply'd "I did not come to make a bargain, neither did I expect any altercation on this business but came there as a gentleman meaning to conform to any orders he might have given on the water." Then the Admiral sayd "Sir Do not I treat you like a gentleman?" ー Finding that I cou'd not get the satisfaction I had a right to expect I left the roomー