[Extract]

. . . An Express arrived from Casco Bay last Evening that brings an account that the Enemy had been firing a Day or two upon Falmouth  what has been the consequence we have not yet learnt, the Enimy had orders to burn Falmouth and Portsmouth unless the Inhabitants would deliver up their Arms and give Hostages for their future good behavior ー The Enemys' conduct fulfills the Scripture "Whose tender Mercies are Cruelties" Will not this brutal conduct rouse a spirit of Indignation throughout America ー Such a shocking scene as was Exhibited at Bristol you cannot conceive of ー The People of Newport are all moveing into the Country ー The Night after Wallace returned from Bristol the confusion in Newport was near equal to what it was there ー The Inhabitants Carted out there Goods and furniture and stord them in Barns & out Houses all about the Island, they must sustain very great losses from the confusion and disorder the Goods were mov'd in ー Capt Escek Hopkins commands a party of about two hundred men Stationed there by order of Govenor Cook Capt Wallace has made the Inhabitants the following proposition if they will supply his Vessels with fresh Provisions Beer &[c] and remove the Troop off the Island he will spare the Town, but if they dont comply with these conditions he has positive Orders to lay the Town in Ashes, which he is determined to execute  What will be the Event God only knows ー There is a Committee from Newport down here to see Govenor Cook to get an Order for the Removal of the Troops and Liberty to furnish the Ships with fresh Provisions ー The Committee are Capt John Jepson Mr John Malbone & Sam Dyer Esqr ー The matter was laid before the Continental Committee who advisd to furnishing the Ships with fresh Provisions, but not to remove the Troops off the Islands ー Which I suppose will take place Accordingly ー But there appears a strange hobble in our Gait, here we are at Loggerheads at other places only Sparring and others again in perfect Tranquillity ー Here we are cuting them off from geting fresh Provisions and removing the Stock from the Islands which amounts to an entire Depopulation ー While at New-york, Philadelphia and many other parts of America their Ships are supplied with every thing they stand in Need on and live in the midst of peace and plenty ー If we are to be cons'ider'd as one People and they as a common Enimy upon what Principles are they so differently treated in different Governments ー O! could the Continental Congress behold the distreses and wretched condition of the poor Inhabitants driven from the Seaport Towns, it must, it would kindle a blaze of Indignation against those Commisiond Pirates and Licensed Robbers ー that they would find no rest or Abideing Place in America