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Sir,  Since my last, of the 5th Instt I had information of this Colony's fitting out Arm'd Vessels from Providence to attack the King's Ships ー Report says a Brig of 18 Carriage Guns, 200 Men, a Sloop of 14 ー 80 Men and four or five other smaller, besides two fitting out at New London, and two at Dartmouth ー In consequence of this, I sent the two packets out different ways to reconnoitre; Unluckily One of them fell in with two of their Sloops, and after an Action of half an Hour was run onshore, the particulars of which is inclosed, given me by the Officer who commanded Onboard ー At this time I had four or five Vessels loaded with Provisions upon the point of Sailing to Boston, the Owners agreeing with me for their Proceedings ー After setling this matter and hearing the Pirates were at Anchor about four Leagues from Us ー I got under Weigh as secret as possible, expecting to fall upon them by Surprize ー However they got Intelligence and moved higher up towards Providence in shallow Water, where it was not proper for us to pursue them ー On our return to Newport we found a great number of the Towns People had taken advantage of our absence, Arm'd a number of Boats and Vessels ー taken the Victuallers, carried them to Town, dismantled & unloaded them, and this done in the space of two or three hours. this procedure, together with their behaviour on hearing of an Action in the Massachusetts Bay ー sending every assistance of Men, Provisions & ca to the Rebel Camp, their Public Acts of Assembly all demonstrate they are as much in Rebellion, as [Israel] Putnam and his Camp ー One of the Brigs sent loaded with Rum and Sugar, belongs to a [William] Vernon, as great a Rebel as any in the Country who was upon his March to the Camp when he heard of the Detention of his Vessel.

Inclosed are Copies of Letters that pass'd between me and a Man who calls himself Lieutt. Governor