State of Rhode Island		Council Chamber
and Providence Plantations.		Providence May 26th. 1778

Sir

This is to inform you That a party of the Enemy supposed to be about Seven Hundred, landed upon the Eastern part of this State, the Night before last towards break of Day, and burnt about Thirty Houses and Stores in the Towns of Bristol and Warren, as also our Flat bottom’d Boats, to the Number of about Seventy or Eighty which lay at a Place called Kekamuit,¹ which has greatly alarmed the Inhabitants of this State, especially as we have been for a considerable Time past intirely neglected by our Sister States, not assisting with their Quota of Troops according to the Agreement entered into by the Convention at Springfield,² and unless we can be better furnished for the future I see nothing to hinder immediate Destruction from taking place, for unless the major Part of our Militia are continually upon Duty, the Shores cannot be properly guarded, and in that Case we shall very soon be deprived of the Necessaries of Life, that considering our unhappy Situation and how distressing the Scene has now opened I am convinced I need not use any further Arguments to Convince you of the Necessity of your States sending forward their Quota of Troops with the utmost Dispatch. I am with great Respect Sir [&c.]

P.S. Our Magazine at Warren is also
blown up and a considerable Quantity
of military Stores been destroyed.