Sir

Long have the good people of this colony been oppressed by your conduct, in interrupting their lawful trade, and preventing the importation of the provisions necessary for their subsistence.

The acts of the British Parliament, already filled with restrictions of trade, oppressive in the highest degree, seem by you, to be thought too lenient.

Not controlled by those you affect to call your masters, you have detained the persons and taken away the properties of His Majesty's American subjects, without any warrant from the acts of trade; by which, you have greatly impeded the intercourse between this and the other colonies as well as between the different parts of this colony. The inhabitants expecting the interposition of the lawful authority of the colony, have borne these outrages with a patience almost criminal.

The Legislature have heard their complaints, and in consequence of an act passed by the General Assembly this day, I demand of you the reason of your conduct towards the inhabitants of this Colony, in ー stopping and detaining their vessels. And I also demand of you, that you immediately restore the two packets, belonging to some inhabitants of the town of Providence; and all other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of this colony which you have taken and unjustly detained.

So long as you remain in the colony, and demean yourself as becomes your office, you may depend upon the protection of the laws, and every assistance for promoting the public service, in my power. And you may also be assured that the whole power of this colony will be exerted to secure the persons and properties of the inhabitants against every lawless invader.

An immediate answer is requested to this letter.

I am, sir, your most humble servant