Hond Sir
the Committee of Corespdce in this Town beg leave to inform you that Some Time past we received Advice from George Town, that Col: [Samuel] Thompson was fitting two Vessels there, with Design to attempt the taking the Kings Ship Canceaux stationed in this Harbour commanded by Capt [Henry] Mowat, a Gentleman, whose Conduct since he has been here, has given no Grounds of Suspicion, he had any Design to distress or injure us; but on the other hand he has afforded his Assistance to sundry Vessels in Distress. We thought such an Attempt had the Appearance of laying a Foundation for the Destruction of this Town, the Comittee of Correspondence met & wrote to the Comittee of Correspondence at George Town desiring they would prevent their Coming; we also wrote to Col: Thompson, desiring him to desist from such an attempt, as it would through the Town into the greatest Confusion imaginable: we sent an Express, & received his Answer, that he had dropt the Design of Comingー
But, on Monday night [May 8] he landed upwards of Sixty Men, on the Back side of a Neck of Land joyning to the Town, who came there in a Number of Boats, & lay undiscovered till about the middle of the Next Day; at which Time, Capt Mowat, the Doctor of the Ship, & Parson [John] Wiswall, were taking a Walk on said Neck, when a Detachment from Col: Thompson's Party rushed from their Concealment, surrounded the Gentlemen, & made them Prisoners, & conducted them to the Colonel, who was with the main Body, on the back Side of the Neck. Capt. Hog, who now commanded the Ship, immediately clapped Springs on his Cables. She laying within Musket Shott of the Town, & swore if the Gentlemen were not Releas'd by Six o'Clock, he would fire on the Town. He fired two Cannon, & although there were no Shott in them, it frightened the Women & Children to such a Degree, that some crawled under wharves; some ran down Cellar, & some out of Town. Such a Shocking Scene was never before presented to View here ー The Gentlemen who were in custody were conducted to a publick House Where Capt Mowat declared, if he was not released it would be the Destruction of the Town. Every Gentleman present used their Utmost Endeavours to accomodate the Matter. Col: Thompson consented that a Comittee should be chosen, consisting of Officers from his Party and Gentlemen from the Town, to consult in what manner the affair could be accomodated; but, as it was late, the Committee chose to refer the Consideration of it till next Morning. Capt. Mowat then requested, he might go on Board his Ship that night & he would pawn his Word & Honour that he would return next Morning, at what Time, and at what place should be appointed. Coll. Thompson consented, provided Coll [Enoch] Freeman & Brigadier Preble would pass their Words, that the several Gentlemen should return according to their Promise, & also pawn their Word & Honour, if the Gentlemen fail'd of coming, that they would deliver themselves up, & stand by the Consequences, which was consented to. Capt Mowatt not coming according to his Promise, which was to have been at Nine o Clock the next Morning, the Sponsors appeared according to Promise, & were confined. Capt Mowatt wrote to them, & let them know he had fully determined to have comply'd with his promise, but he had sent his man on Shoar to carry some dirty Linen to his washing Woman & to bring of[f] some clean: that said man made Oath, that two of the Body under Arms, one of which, swore by all that was sacred, the moment he came on Shore he should have what was in his Piece, and the other, that he should never return on Board again with his Life: & that two more of his men made Oath, they heard several of the Men under Arms say, the moment he came on Shore they would have his Life; this was what he wrote to plead an Excuse for not complying with his promise. Coll. Thompson told the two Gentlemen under Confinement, that he must have some Provision & Refreshment for his men, which they procured to the Amount of thirteen or fourteen Pounds Money; on which they were dismised. ー about ten o'Clock, he sent an Account to them for Time & Expense, amounting to £158.18 M. and gave them till next morning, nine o Clock to return an Answer; which they did, in the Negative, He said he would have Satisfaction before he left Town. He then seized all the Goods he could find belonging to Capt. [Thomas] Coulson & Wm Tyng Esq. They also carried off one Boat belonging to Coulson, & one other to Capt Mowatt; they also obliged Capt [Jeremiah] Pote to furnish them with some Provision & a small Matter of Cash; they also brought one Man on his Knees, for speaking disrespectfully of the Coll. & his Men. Coll. Thompson, we doubt not, is a true Friend to his Country & a Man of Courage & Resolution, but, [as] our Town lays so much exposed to the Navy, that, had he succeeded in his Attempt (which there was not the least Probability of) it must have proved the Destruction of this Town & the Country back, who are in the greatest Distress for want of Provisions. We have only related plain Facts, that the Honourable Members of the Provincial Congress may not be imposed on with false Accounts, to whom Please to comunicate this Letter.
We are with Great Esteen Gentn [&c.]