[Extract]

25th [August, 1775] ー Capt [James] Montagu is just arrived, as the July Packet may be now daily expected, I shall direct him to lie at the Hook, for the Time you have prescribed, and if the Vessel with Provisions from Jamaica should Sail in the Interval He will be able to perform that Service ー I have had no answer as yet from the Mayor, and it is now noon, indeed I know it is not in his power to send any other Answer, except such as will be dictated by the Rioters who are now at the Head not only of the Civil Government, but will not even be contrould by their own Congresses and Committees. ー The friends of Government who we are told wanted nothing but some Countenance to induce them to take an Active part, will be obliged to go with the Stream, they are many of them people of the best property in the Town, to secure which a great number have already Signed the Association and the rest will do the same, so that the best that can be said of them is that they are not so bad as they might be, there may be some Exceptions to this but very few. I have just received the enclosed Letter from the Mayor in answer to mine, in which as I expected, they have mistated facts, but I did not think they wou'd have avowed the taking away the Guns, as the Robberies which had been committed before, they always pretended to be ignorant of ー You, Sir, are better able to determine what to call this Avowal of theirs, to me it seems that the same Spirit of Rebellion exists in all the Colonies; but if there be any difference it is more violent as you look to the Southward, it is however too great a point for me to determine upon, whenever you, Sir, are not as yet empower'd to give such Orders as I dare say before this time you may have thought Necessary.