Volume 1

Sir,  Yesterday I arrived in this port, with His Majesty's Ship under my Command, from New London, on a cruise, of which I had the honour to acquaint You, the 8th instant. Since my absence from this Place, I find the Inhabitants (they say here of Providence) have seized upon the King's Cannon that was upon Fort Island, consisting of six twenty-four Pounders, eighteen eighteen Pounders, fourteen... Continue Reading
Date: 12 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
On Tuesday last [December 6] his Majesty's Ship Swan,1 commanded by Capt. James Ayscough, weighed Anchor for Boston, by Way of the Sound. We hear that at a Meeting of the General Committee of this City and County, two Sub-Committees were appointed to superintend the Sales of two Cargoes of Goods arrived here since the first Day of December. And that it was the opinion of the Committee... Continue Reading
Date: 12 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
After I had embarked on board Le Despenser the 7th Ulto I wrote you as well as circumstances would permit a few Lines in answer to yours of the 3d which reached me on the point of departing from Falmouth, my Letter was sent on Shoar to be put into the Post office by persons who were Strangers to me, the Consideration of which had led me to this particular retrospect. I had in the general an... Continue Reading
Date: 12 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
We hear that a Regiment of Troops embarked last Sabbath [December 11] at Boston, said to be destined for this Place, for the Purpose of "arresting, detaining and securing Gun Powder."
Date: 13 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The schooner Polly, Reuben Hawes, master, having arrived in this province since the 1st instant, with twenty-three pipes of Madeira wine, the property of Messrs James Dice and Anthony Stewart, and another pipe the property of Dr. George Stewart, shipped the 5th day of October last; and Mr. Stewart requesting that the said wines should be sold under the direction of the committee, according to the... Continue Reading
Date: 13 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
May it please your Excellency:  I received your Excellency's favour of yesterday, and[d] in obedience thereto kept a strict watch all night, and added two men to my usual number, being all I could get. Nothing material occurred till this day one o'clock, when I was informed there was a number of people coming to take possession of the Fort, upon which, having only five effective men with me, I... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  It is with the utmost Concern I find Myself called upon by my Duty to the King to communicate to You a most unhappy Affair perpetrated here this Day. Yesterday in the Afternoon One Paul Rivere2 arrived in this Town Express from a Committee in Boston to another Committee in this Town, and delivered his Dispatch to Mr. Saml. Cutts a Merchant of this Town who immediately convened a... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The people here have, I think openly declared themselves against government, and in such a manner, as surely must be pronounced rebellion: ー Is it possible that a people without arms, ammunition, money, or navy, should dare to brave a nation, dreaded and respected by all the powers on earth. ー What black ingratitude to the parent state, who has nourished, protected and supported them from their... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The Letter from Lord Dartmouth and the Copy of the Kings Order in Council Copies of which are enclosed were brought by the Scarborough, received by Express on Wednesday Evening last [December 7] and next Morning laid before the General Assembly. They immediately ordered Copies of them to be sent to Mr. [Thomas] Cushing to be communicated to the [Massachusetts] provincial Congress.2... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
In consequence of the Cannon being mov'd from the Fort att New Port to Providence, we Yesterday Remov'd ours into the Cuntry, but I Lement the Unhappy Situation we are in for want of Powder, we are universally without any, for our Town Stock in this Town we have not a barrell and they know not ware to git any. I think if the Asembly is Cal'd they should Purchase 4 or 5 hundred barrells. If they... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee met at 6 o'clock P.M. Mr. Hereld Blackmore, informed that he had imported since the first instant in the Sloop Mary and the Brig ----, five negro slaves, and craved advice how to proceed, as he had given orders for the purchasing and shipping said slaves previous to the resolutions of the provincial Congress. The committee desired that Mr. Blackmore, would not sell, or send them out... Continue Reading
Date: 14 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord,  Sir Joseph Yorke's2 Letter to the Earl of Suffolk, a Copy of which was. inclosed with other Papers of Intelligence in Your Lordship's. to be marked secret and Confidential of the 19th of October, confirms the Reports spread here, of People sending to Europe for all kinds of Military Stores. I hope this Intelligerice is received in time to give a Chance of intercepting the... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord,  Your Lordship's Circular Letter of the 19th of October, inclosing an Order of the King in Council to prohibit the Exportation of Arms, Gun-Powder or other Military Stores from Great Britain is duely received. And I have concerted Measures with the Admiral and the Commissioners of the Customs for Stopping and Securing all Military Stores that shall be attempted to be imported into this... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The Scarborough arrived with your Lordship's Dispatches of the 17th of October No 11 on the 3d Inst, and Admiral [Samuel] Graves has consented to land all the supernumerary Marines which by Report may amount to above 400 Men, as soon as all arrive and Quarters are prepared, that Major [John] Pitcairne who commands those Marines may have a better Opportunity to form and discipline them, than if... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  On the 3d Instant his Majesty's Ship Scarborough anchored here from Spithead and Captain [Andrew] Barkley delivered to me your Letter of the 14th October, acknowledging the Receipt of my Letters of the 31st of August, 3d of September, and Duplicate of the 8th of August . . . Also your letter of the 20th of October inclosing a printed Copy of the Kings Order in Counsil prohibiting the... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Upon the faith of the general Laws of Society, and imagining Myself in the King's Dominions, I Yesterday did Myself the Pleasure to spend the Evening with some Gentlemen of your Town, when to my great Surprize I was informed that some of your People intended to attack and insult me; Conscious to Myself, I never gave any Cause of Offence to any Person, and that it must be my Office they meant to... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  I think every Intelligence however trifling, relating to the King's Service, proper for your Information, which is an Apology for the following, ー Last Night I was sitting at Mr. [George] Romes, with some Gentlemen of the Town of Newport, when a Man came into the House and said there was a Mob raising with an Intent to tarr and feather the Captain of the Man of War, and the Man of the House... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
I wrote you Yesterday by Mr Clements, have only to add that I have drawn on you in favour of Sam Belden in Two Orders to the Amo of £248, 8, 5 pay 30 Days Sight and hope by that time you will be in Cash to pay them. You must Send me Eight or Nine Casks of powder by the first opper. If I Should want Four or Five hundred Casks do you think it may be had in St Eustatia or Curraso. Should be Glad you... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
The only distinction between freedom and slavery consists in tis: In the former state, a man is governed by the laws to which he has given his consent, either in person, or by his representative: In the latter, he is governed by the will of another. In the one case his life and property are his own, in the other, they depend upon the pleasure of a master. It is easy to discern which of these two... Continue Reading
Date: 15 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1
On Wednesday last [December 14] after 12 o'clock, an insurrection suddenly took place in town and immediately proceeded to his Majesty's castle, attacked, overpowered, wounded and confined the Captain, and thence took away all the King's powder. Yesterday numbers more assembled, and last night brought off many cannon, &c, and about sixty muskets. This day the town is full of armed men, who... Continue Reading
Date: 16 December 1774
Volume: Volume 1

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