Sir

In answer to the Letter Your Excellency was pleased to write to Us the 12th Instant, respecting the Ship Totness Capt. Warren, which was lately destroyed about Twelve Miles below this Place. We can only report to your Excellency, from hearsay, that the Vessel being bound from Liverpool to Baltimore with a Cargo of Salt and other Articles on Board, run on Shore in the Night of the 9th or loth of last Month on a Shoal, near some Islands called the three Sisters, where She lay several Days without the Master taking any Measures to get off by lightening Her. The second or third Day after she had remained in such Situation, some Gentlemen, who had been chosen by the Inhabitants of that part of the Province to see that the Association relative to the Non-Importation of Goods from Great Britain should be strictly observed, went on Board, asked the Master some Questions about his Cargo, & Destination of his Vessel; & being assured by him that it was not his Intention to land any of his Cargo there ー They did not interfere further but consented to his proceeding to Baltimore if He should think fit to do SO. The ship continuing aground some Days afterwards, & no Steps being taken by the Master to get her off, many People at different times went on Board, & a Report was spread that there were many other Goods than the Master had acknowledged to the Committee, & that He was not sollicitous to get his Vessel off or to proceed to any other Place. It likewise became a Subject of Conversation that this was the Third Ship which Mr Gildart of Liverpoole had sent thence, loaded to this Province, after He had been apprized of the Association, & that some Persons from Liverpool had declared he avowed a Resolution to pay no Regard to it. Such Discourses having made an Impression on a Number of young People who live in the Neighbourhood, They went on Board, and after advising the Master & Crew, to take out such things as were their own private Property set Her on Fire; but we have not yet been able to learn certainly who the Persons were that committed such Outrage, nor did the Master or any of the Crew come to, or pass thro this Place, so as to give either of Us an Opportunity of asking them any Questions. Had not the Vessel been unluckily run ashore, the Master wd probably have been ordered back from Baltimore, without landing the Cargo; but we do not think any Attempt would have been made either there or in this Place to destroy Her, unless Goods had been landed; in which Case she would not, We apprehend, have been in safety any where in this or either of the Neighbouring Provinces.

We are with real Respect Your Excellency's [&c.]