Capt. Eliphalet Thorp declares and says That he last Sabbath day sailed from Fairfield with a Flag of Truce, in order to transport Mrs. Hannah and Miss Ruth Brown, wife and daughter of Nicholas Brown, over to Hempstead on Long Island, and arrived there on Monday, and was there informed by an officer and a justice of the peace, that they had strict orders not to permit any flag to be received any where on Long Island and advised me to proceed to the Scorpion man of war which lay at New-City Island, which I accordingly did, and when I got on board of her, Capt. Brown, the Captain of her, told me that I must immediately turn back and carry the women with me, for that he could not receive them, and he then gave me a copy of Lord Howe's orders respecting flags of truce; and further added, that if any more came, he shou'd seize and treat them as spies; upon which I was immediately obliged to return and bring back the women with me, as witness my hand, this 23d day of July, A.D. 1777.

Scorpion, off New-City Island, July 22, 1777

"No flags of truce are in future to pass between the Colony of Connecticut and Long Island without the special licence of the General Commanding his Majesty's forces, nor any correspondence by letter or otherwise permitted, but under the above restriction. Flags of truce are to be confined in future to New York only — matters regarding the naval department excepted.

By order of the Viscount Howe, Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships in North America.
Philip Brown, Capt. of his Majesty's ship Scorpion."