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Sir,  I have received the Letter with which you have favoured me by Capt [Matthew] Squires, and I thank you as well for that as the assistance which by the Otter Sloop You have sent to His Majesty's Government in this Colony.

After having seen the greatest part of the Colony in Arms, and suffered continual insults accompanied by threats of the utmost violence against my Person, upon so slight a pretence as my having removed Gun Powder afforded them; and finding that the meeting of the Assembly, which I have called together for the purpose of taking into Consideration the Plan of reconciliation held out by the Parliament, has served only to increase the Tumults in and the disorders of the Country, I have thought it most Conducive to the good of His Majesty's Service to fix my residence onboard the Fowey.

I have found by experience that I could rely on no protection but such as was furnished me, by the Zeal of Captain [George] Montagu, from His Majesty's Ships under his Command; and as the marching the few Men he could be able to spare me, through a covered Country the distance of several Miles, exposes them to very great risk from the Superior number of the People who have made no hesitation at declaring their intention of attacking them, I thought it most prudent to avoid such unequal contests, and for the preventing of the shedding of Blood I have resolved to quit the Place where the Governors usually reside, which is at the distance of some Miles from any Place where the Men of War can approach, and consequently lies at the mercy of the People, and to retire to the only safe retreat at present in the Colony for any Officer of the Crown; and my Intention is to remain in this Situation until I receive Instructions from His Majesty, for the procuring of which, and for the conveying of the most speedy Intelligence of these transactions to His Majesty, I have applied to Captain Montagu to dispatch Mr [Henry] Collins with the Magdalen to England; in conformity to which she is to sail immediately

If the Circumstances of the Service at Boston, and His Majesty's orders to you permit, I am still in hopes that you will augment the Sea Force in this part of America as much as will be possible, as the keeping of these considerable Countries lying upon the great Rivers which empty into the Bay of Chesapeake in awe cannot but contribute much to the Success of the General Plan for enforcing the Authority of Government in the Colonies.

It were to be wished that small Vessels could be kept constantly passing from Station to Station along the Coast for the purpose of regular and uninterrupted intelligence between all the ports where any of His Majesty's Servants are employed; who by these means may mutually aid each other. The land Conveyance is no longer to be depended upon. I am Sir, [&c.]