Gentm

A sense of the trust repos'd in Us, A Love of our Country, and the Duty We owe to Mankind ー forbid a Neglect on our part of giving the earliest & best Intelligence of every Matter appearing to effect the Publick ー How far the Publick may be affected by the Conduct of the Person who wrote the Letter of which the Inclos'd is a Coppy ー and the Original in the Hands of the Bearer at your Service for the Purpose of making what Use of it you please You are the Judges, ² You have the best Advantage to Call the Writer to put such reasonable Construction as He can on the Intent and Design He had in writing in a Stile so peculiar & why so cautious ー Inclos'd also is a Stating of Facts & Circumstances attending the Lading Sailing & Capture of the Schooner in New York ー commanded by Cap Howland about which the Letter is conversant ー These Things compared wth the Letter render it (in our Opinion) Our Duty to notify you & as soon as could be authentically done ー that a satisfactory Account may be had from the Owner of the Schooner & Author of the Letters why such Orders were given and how they can bear the Complexion they do & still be consistent with the honest Heart of a true Friend to the American Cause ー A fair and reasonable Account of these Things will be for the Honour of the Writer & will most agreeably satisfy Gentlm [&c.]

Christr Leffingwell Wm Hubbard. Benj Huntington

Committee of Correspondence for The Town of Norwich