Province of Massachusetts Bay

Thomas Gage Esq. Governour of said Province and Lieutenant General & Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's land Forces in North America. ー To Geo Erving, Danl Hubbard, Wm Taylor, Geo Brinley Merchts, Greeting

Whereas an open and unnatural Rebellion is now existing in & throughout the province aforesaid, as well as in many other parts of the British Colonies, in consequence whereof great multitudes of Armed Rebels & Traitors have in an open hostile manner surrounded the Town of Boston, where many of His majesty's forces under my Command are posted, & for many weeks past cut off all Communication between the Town of Boston & the adjacent Country & by force have prevented all supplies of provisions for said Town ー In Consideration whereof I do adjudge it to be necessary for promoting His Majesty's Service to purchase at an equitable price, whenever it may be in my power, such a quantity of Corn, Flour and other provisions as may be sufficient to guard against the Hostile attempts of such Rebels and Traitors. ー And whereas there is now laden on board the Ship Charming Peggy, lying in Boston Harbour owned by Keppell & Steinmetz of Philadelphia Merchants, Two Thousand one hundred & seventy three Barrels of Flour and forty four half barrels of Flour, which said Flour for the Reason before mentioned, I find it necessary to take for his Majesty's service, and being willing and desirous to indemnify the owners, by allowing them such a price for the same as in the Judgment of indifferent and discreet men shall be thought reasonable; Trusting therefore in your faithfulness and discretion, I do hereby appoint and authorize you the before named appraizers, to appraize the true value of the said flour, you being first duly sworn before a Magistrate to act herein without favour or partiality, according to your best skill and judgment²  And you are to make return of your doings herein with myself as soon as may be