(No 4:)2
Sir. Your brother has been so obliging as to communicate to me from time to time, such Intelligence as you have transmitted to him respecting the State of affairs in Maryland, and about 10 days ago I had the Satisfaction to receive your Letter of the 5th. of May.
I sincerely wish you may not have been too sanguine in your hopes that the time is not far distant when Peace & Harmony will be restored, and Confidence re-established on a permanent Basis; At the same time I observe with Satisfaction, what you say of the Temper and Moderation of the Persons chosen to represent the Province of Maryland in the Continental Congress, & I am not without some reason to believe that there may be others in that Congress of the same Disposition.
At present however, the rebellious proceedings of the people in most of the Colonies, wear the Appearance of an actual Revolt, & it is his Majesty's firm Resolution, in consequence of the Advices which he has received, that the most vigorous Efforts shoud be made both by Sea and Land, to reduce his rebellious subjects to Obedience, and the proper Measures are now pursuing, not only for augmenting the Army under General [Thomas] Gage, but also for making such Addition to our Naval strength in No. America as may enable Adml. [Samuel] Graves to make such a Disposition of his Fleet as that, besides the Squadron necessary for the New England Station, there may be separate squadrons at New York, within the Bay of Delawar, in Chesapeake Bay, & upon the Coast of Carolina.
After what has passed there can be no doubt what ought to be the Plan of Operations for the Squadron upon the New England Station, & I think it necessary to acquaint You, for your own Information, that Admiral Graves will be instructed to exert the most vigorous Efforts for suppressing the Rebellion now openly avowed & supported in that Country, & to seize & detain all Ships & Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants thereof, such only excepted as are the property of persons who are friends of Government who have shewn an Attachment to the Constitution.
There is still some room to hope that the Colonies to the Southward may not proceed to the same Lengths with those of New England: It is however, His Majesty's Intentions that the Commanders of the separate squadrons I have mentioned should be instructed to prevent all Commerce between the Colonies within their respective Stations & any other places than Great Britain, Ireland, or his Majesty's Islands in the West Indies; that they should receive on board; and give Protection to any officers of the Crown who may be compelled by the Violence of the People, to seek for such an Asylum, & to proceed, as in case of a town in actual rebellion against such of the Seaport towns, being accessible to the King's ships, as shall hereafter offer any violence to the King's officers, or in which any troops shall be raised, or Military works erected, other than by his Majesty's Authority, or any Attempts made to seize or plunder any public Magazine of Arms or Ammunition.
With regard to the Plan of operations to be adopted by General Gage, it must depend upon his own Judgment, & the opinion of the able Generals with him; and I have only to add, that it is His Majesty's express Command that you do exert every Endeavour, & employ every Means in your power to aid & support him & Admiral Graves in all such operations as they may think proper to undertake for carrying the King's Orders into full Execution, and restoring the Authority of his Majesty's Government.
The Attention you appear to have given to the Preservation of peace & good Order in your Government, is very much approved of by the King, and I have his Majesty's Commands to assure You of his Royal Acquiescence in your wish to return to England when the State of Affairs in your Government will admit of it.
In the mean time I hope your private Affairs here will not suffer by the very honourable Resolution you have taken of remaining in Maryland so long as the present Disorders continue.