Hond Sir Before my return to the Ship which was the Day I left Your Honor, An Instance of Misdemenor had hapned, which will seriously shew the great necessity of my having some Rule given for my direction with Respect to inflicting proper Punishments on those who may deserve it On the Day that Capt [Elisha] Hinmans Marrage was Celebrated, while I was with you, My Officers tho't it best to Salute from the Ship which as the Guns wanted blowing of[f] perhaps was not amiss, had I been present should have Order'd it A mischevious Ladd when the Guns were loaded told as mischevious a Boy to put a Shot in it which he did, entirely unknown to any of the Officers, and this done with circumstances truly diabolical, the ship lay Broadside to the Town when the Guns were charged but by the Turn of the Tide laid the Gun toward the lower end of the Town, The Boy mistook, and for a Shot took a Hand Granado, which when the discharge was made, whistled, by Acct the like was never scarce, By Chance it did no Damage, tho it pass'd near severall Houses and sundry Persons, On my Return the Man and Boy were both confin'd in Irons I must Beg Your Honors Direction in this matter, shall the continentall Laws be my Guide? Or will you be pleased to favor me with some other Rule, Once before by Accident a Shot was thrown into the Town, which was truly accidental, this has been done by real design Wherefore I must Beg Your Honors direction for my proceedings ー And Dr Sir must desire You that as soon as consistanly may be I may have a line from you in answer to my Requests when present with you I am with great Respect Your Honors [&c.]

On Bord the Oliver Cromwell
March 26 1777

To His Honor the Governor