Last Tuesday [30;May] about 30 or 40 Men from on Board the Scarborough Man of War, now in this Harbour, came on Shore at Fort William and Mary, and have tore down great Part of the Breast Work of said Fort, and did other damage.

The Day before this Attempt, the Scarborough took two Provision Vessels, loaded with Corn, Pork, Flower, Rye, &c. coming in from Long-Island; which were for the Relief of this Place; as the inhabitants are in great Want of Provisions; and notwithstanding the most prudent Application of the principal Gentlemen of this Town, the Captain refused to release them. O shocking situation.

Upon this Refusal it was apprehended the most violent Outrages and Tumults of the People would immediately follow this Detention of their Provisions, the Consequences of which would be most probably very fatal to his Majesty's Subjects, by bringing into the most imminent Danger, the Lives and Properties of his said subjects, which ought by all Means to be prevented if possible.

Upon this unwarrantable Transaction, the Inhabitants of this and the Neighbouring Towns, were greatly alarmed; and the next Morning between 5 and 600 Men, in arms, went down to the Battery called Jerry's Point, and brought off Eight Cannon, 24 and 32 Pounders, being the whole that were there, weighing 4,800 pounds each, and brought them up to this Town. While they were taking off the above Cannon, the Canceaux, with a Tender, set sail with the two Provision Vessels for Boston. The next day the Town was full of Men from the Country in Arms.

This uncommon Exertion of arbitrary Power immediately alarmed the Inhabitants, and the Committee of Safety having met, a Memorial was, by their Approbation presented to the Governor and Council, who took every prudent Method in their Power to pacify the People, and to obtain a Release of the Captures. His Excellency repaired on board the Scarborough, and informed the Captain that the Provisions were the Property of some of the Inhabitants, who had before contracted for the same, but the only Answer he could obtain was "that Admiral Graves and the General had forwarded Orders to take every provision vessel that should be met with, on every Station, and to send them forthwith to Boston for the Supply of the Army and Navy." Captain Barclay, the Commander of the Scarborough, informed two of the Committee at Fort William and Mary, that his Orders were such that he must even take all Vessels with Salt or Molasses, they being a Species of Provision, and send them to Boston.