Portsmouth 3d. June 1775.
(Copy)
Sir The Select Men and Freeholders of this Town have this Morning represented to me that the Inhabitants are extremely distress'd by sundry of their Fishermen being impress'd Onboard his Majesty's Ship Scarborough under your Command whereby the sustenance of the People is greatly reduced.
These Gentlemen on behalf of the Town, declare their universal disapprobation of the firing On your Boat, and that the Act is held in great detestation by them ー That they are desirous to have the Perpetrators, when discovered brought to condign Punishment; They further declare that no obstruction is meant or in any degree intended towards the free passing and repassing of your Boats, which they consider as safely to be done, and will most earnestly and sincerely exert themselves to secure, confidently relying that there will be no danger therein. Theyalso express an ardent desire that the admission of Provision Vessels into this Port for the necessary Supply of this and the adjacent Towns, now in great want, might enable them to afford the usual Supply of fresh Provisions to his Majesty's Ships in this Harbour.
These things being by them solemnly and seriously resolved, I beg leave to represent to You that a dismission of the Fisherman aforesaid may have a happy tendency towards a restoration of harmony and be a very powerful Evidence that his Majesty's Servants are ever ready and disposed to lead by Acts of kindness to the re-establishment of Law and Peace among his Subjects, notwithstanding any errors of Individuals might justify the exertion of their power; In this view I hope it may be Gonsistent with your duty to comply with the united desire of this People in the case aforementioned, which I verily believe will have a happy Effect on the Minds of the People in general, and be useful therein to the Public Service.