Gentlemen

Yours of Yesterday, this Day I've received, acknowledging the Receipt of my Letter of the 23d Inst., by which I perceive you have some Objections against the Restrictions contained in my Letter. First You Pretend to be at a Loss who shall provide the Beef & Beer for Capt Wallace, which I thought must be plainly understood before; but if not, I now tell You, Mr George Irish is the Person who I appoint to provide & deliver the said Supplies to Capt. Wallace & receive the pay therefor.

If you will please to attend one Moment to the first Vote of your Town Meeting on the 23d Inst, wherein You Expressly Say you "Will supply Capt Wallace with Beef, Beer &c agreeable to the act of Goverment;" You also voted "That Mess Wm Ellery & Jos Anthony be a Committee to wait on Genl West at Head Quarters, & to lay before Him the above Vote, and also to request that he will appoint a Person to provide & deliver the Provisions to Capt Wallace;" how your Idea of the Matter differs so much now I can't conceive, when the Act of Goverment expressly says, that Capt Wallace's Supplies are wholly to be under my Directions. ー

You also object against the Restrictions laid upon the Boats and Vessels; I make no Doubt it will be attended with some Inconveniences, but of two Evils, let us chuse the Least.

You say Wallace's Fleet is so numerous, that they can extend all along the Western Shore of this Island; when at the same Time, he has assured you that, the Town of Newport shall be safe on their Part; Therefore it cannot be supposed that he will do any Thing against the Interest of that Town ー

I am surprized you should complain of these ill Conveniences, when the Colony indulges you in feeding Capt Wallace on account of saving the Town of Newport, when in the mean Time all the other Parts of the Colony ly exposed to his Ravages & Cruelties.

I have deliberately considered the Advantages & Disadvantages we labour under, in these unhappy Circu[m]stances; and upon the Whole, cannot see it consistent with my Duty, good Reason, or sound Policy to alter my Restrictions. ー I heartily wish to indulge the Town of Newport in every Thing consistent with the Good of the Whole and the Cause we are Engaged in. If I act contrary to the Instructions of my Superiors, I expect to be Censured accordingly ー

You intimate in your Letter that, I have confined you in your Choice of a Committee, when I only desired of you that, the Persons Named in my Letter to you, might be the Committee to treat with me in Matters between the Town of Newport & Capt Wallace ー You say, you have no Objections against the Persons nominated in my Letter; then, why need there be so much Pester about Matters of no Consequence ー I am Gentlemen [&c.]