[Extract]

Sir  Your Account of the Cannon being taken from the saluting Battery at New York, the death of one of your Boats Crew, and your firing upon the Town, gives me very great Concern. I cannot at present determine upon the propriety of your Conduct in this Affair, but must immediately advert to the probable consequences of it; And some of these will be the withholding Supplies of Provisions from the Kings Ships and using every secret and perhaps op[en] means to destroy or injure them. Should this be the case, I would have you acquaint the Mayor of New York for the Information of its Inhabitants that as his Majesty has been pleased to order a part of his Fleet to be stationed there for the protection of his dutiful and loyal Subjects and their property, and to support legal Authority, I hope they will take Care that it receives no insult, and that the proper persons be not hindered or molested in furnishing such Supplies of Provisions as shall be required for the Kings Ships as usual. If provisions are sent without further trouble I shall be happy; If on the contrary you find that by threats or persuasion, the Contractors Agent does not supply, and that pretences are formed to evade without giving a positive Denial; you are again to acquaint the Mayor that I do insist upon his Majesty's Ships receiving every Supply of Provisions they may want, paying for them at the customary reasonable Rates. And in Order to take away all pretences for refusing to furnish you with provisions, if the Contractors Agent does not serve the Navy, you are at liberty to contract with any other person or persons for that purpose on the usual terms, or at such a reasonable advance as these unfortunate times make absolutely necessary. And you are accordingly to draw Bills of Exchange on the Commissioners for victualling his Majesty's Navy for the amount of all such provisions as shall be so purchased and received on Board: It's being delivered on board in good Order to be the condition of payment. But if notwithstanding this moderation on your part they obstinately refuse to supply the Kings Ships, you are to send to the Mayor an Account of such Provisions as will then be necessary to compleat your proportion to four Months at whole allowance for your Complement, giving him Twenty four hours to return an Answer whether the Demand shall be complied with or not, and fix the third day for receiving the provisions and no longer. And you are also to inform him that if your requisition is not punctually attended to that at the expiration of the third day you will begin to fire upon the Town. Should Supplies be still withheld you are hereby required and directed to fire upon the House of that Traitor, [Isaac] Sears, which I am told stands very conspicuous, and beat it down, to convince the Inhabitants you will put your Threats into Execution.

And it being uncertain what Effect this Proceeding may have upon the Inhabitants, you are to provide against the worst by shortening your mens allowance of Provisions and keeping your Ship in the best condition possible for Action, least the City of New York should prefer you as Enemies rather than friends and fellow Subjects; and in case they oppose, and endeavour by firing from the Shore or from Shipping to distress or annoy you, or preparations are discovered to be making for that purpose; You are to intreat them to desist, and upon a Refusal take the speediest and most effectual methods in your power for your own Safety. And at first these I think will be to burn or sink every Vessel of consequence near to or about the Town, to suffer none to pass up or down the River, and, if it is possible to distinguish the Houses of Rebels, from those well affected to Government, to destroy them. I sincerely hope there will be no necessity for such severe usage. I trust the Inhabitants of New York will no longer suffer a few wicked Men to usurp the Government of, and bring destruction upon, the City and its Inhabitants; but, let what will be the Event, his Majesty shall not be refused supplies where 'tis possible for his Fleet to command them.

Supposing matters to be driven to Extremeties aforedescribed, your own discretion must govern your proceedings afterwards. Keep your Station as long as possible, as I shall send you another Ship soon, but should anything unforseen oblige you to leave the River you are to repair to Boston and either leave or not the smaller Ships on the Station as his Majesty's Service may be best promoted. I am &c