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Sir  I received the Honour of your Letter of the 17th instant by Captain [Andrew] Barkley, who arrived in this Harbour yesterday with the Scarborough, as did Lieut [Henry] Mowat with the Canceaux on saturday Night last [December 17].

Permit me to return my most hearty thanks to You, Sir, for your great Readiness in ordering such timely Assistance to support his Majesty's Service here, which I trust will prevent the too much deluded & misled People in these Parts from persevering in the Violences, which some inconsiderate Persons among Us have very apparently, at first, been hurried by Surprise to commit, through the Instigation of some of the factious Leaders in Boston.

The next Day after the Gunpowder was carried off great numbers, being invited the preceeding Evening, came to Town from the Country to take away the Cannon also; ー All Means in my Power were exerted to prevent it, and to make them disperse, but my Effor proved ineffectual ー For a Party of about 100 of them went to the Castle between 11 & 12 oClock at Night accompanied by Mr [John] Sullivan, One of the Newhampshire Delegates to the late [Continental] Congress, and brought from thence Sixteen Pieces of Cannon, about Sixty Musquets and other Military Stores to the Out-Borders of the Town the next Morning;

Mr [Nathaniel] Folsom the other Delegate came to Town that Morning with a great Number of Armed Men, who remained in Town to guard the Cannon till the Flow of the Tide in the Evening, When the Cannon were sent in Gundolas up the River into the Country, and the People dispersed without doing any person[al] Injury to any Body.

Threats were made to take away or destroy the remaining Cannon (about twenty pieces) and to demolish the Fort entirely, but the Ships of War arrived in Time to prevent their accomplishing it.

I am much obliged to You, Sir, for your Wishes for a Reestablishment of good Order in this Province; ー the Administration of Justice in Cases merely respecting the Inhabitants themselves has not yet been much interupted, but in all Matters which may affect or contravene the present general system of American Opposition the springs of Government are relaxed, and I cannot expect to see them recover their free operative Force untill some Decision shall be had.

I am with great Respect & Esteem Sir [&c.]