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Sir,  Intelligence being given me that the Assembly of Rhode Island had passed an Act for taking the Stock off the Islands with intent to prevent the Kings Forces from being Supplied, I wrote the inclosed Letter to the Town of Newport to prevent (if possible) their giving any Assistance. And as I was informed at the same time 250 Men were at Stonytown ready to embark to Block Island for that purpose ー I got under way the 29th Ulto with His Majesty's Ship Rose, Tender md two Sloops whom I manned in Order to prevent them (leaving the Glasgow at Rhode Island) ー About 7 o'Clock PM I saw a Sloop and Schooner off Block Island, gave Chace, lost them in the dark. Next Morning the 30th the Tenders Chaced these Vessels into Stonytown, the Tenders returned and acquainted me, the Town fired upon them. We stood in, the Tenders going ahead. One of the Tenders attempting to board a Vessel, a firing begun from the Town, the Tenders returned it, about this time we came to an Anchor off the South end of the Town ー the Tender and the Town continuing the fire, About 10 Minutes after we were at an Anchor we received three or four Musket Shot from the Windmill, right abreast the Ship about 2 Cables and half distant, upon which I ordered one of our Guns to be fired into the Town, and waited some time expecting that would put a stop to it ー They took no Notice but continued firing from all parts of the Town ー Then we began and fired about 120 Shot during which time they sent off to me two Letters (which I send inclosed with my Answers) we took every Vessel that was afloat from the W arves, Consisting of a Schooner from Surinam loaded with Molasses and Sugar, a Schooner that was Employed carrying the Rebels over to Block Island to take the Stock, in this Vessel they left a Drum, two Firelocks and some Haversacks ー a Schooner with Hay and two Sloops, they ceasing fire about an hour after we weighed and came further out in Company with the Vessels. At the beginning of this Action there was about 300 Rebels in the Town, at the latter end more than 3,000 Skulking behind Hills and Rocks and fences. All the Country about came in, We had three Men Wounded, can't learn what damage is done the Town. ー New London and all the Coast is greatly alarmed and 500 Rebels were stop'd, that were under Orders for the Camp. On the 4th instant Arrived at Newport the Governor returned me the inclosed Answer from the Town to mine of the the 28th of August ー it appears by this Town Meeting the late transactions have had such an effect as to almost destroy the Rebel faction, they passed a Vote to have nothing to do with the Continental Congress, and not to be concerned in taking away the Stock from the Islands in consequence of which upwards of 40 Rebel families have leit the Town.

The 8th Arrived here the Swan from Convoying a Brigg clear of the Islands. We have just got an Account that one of the Schooners loaded with Hay we took at Stonytown and who parted from us in a gale of Wind off Fishers Island is seized at New London and the people made Prisoners.

The 30th Ulto the day or the day after the Nautilis Sailed from Philadelphia three Vessels Arrived there, one from Bermuda belonging to Philadelphia which had broke open in the Night and taken out of the Magazine of that Island 126 Barrels of Gunpowder, One from So Carolina with a quantity of Powder taken from a Storeship bound to Saint Augustine the third from St Croix with Arms and Powder, these three Cargoes supposed to be almost 19 Tons. I have the Honour to be [&c.]