Sir

Mr Francis Malbone this day going on board Capt Wallace by order of the Council, in the Absence of Mr [Samuel] Dyre, He the Said Capt Wallace Immediately asked him the Opinion of the Town Relating the two officers² taken the Night before in the Town & Carried to head Quarters whether it was not a Breach of the Truce, and was Answered by Mr Malbone that they were not taken by the Inhabitants of the Town therefore the Town Could not have Violated the Truce on which he Capt Wallace said he Esteemed it as a Violation of the Truce, and that he then made a Demand of the Town that the Two Officers at Quarters Should be Returned, if they were not he would make all the Prisoners in his Powers which he was Sure would be many, on which he Mr Malbone Answered that Mr Dyre was Expected from Providence & Desired that he would Suffer the Boats to Pass until his Return which he Promised he would do, and threatened much that if those two officers were not Released that he would have Satisfaction of the Town for Suffering the Armed Men coming into Town with Many Threats &c After Capt Malbone had taken the Greatest Pains to Convince him that it could not be a Breach of the Truce, he Answered that he had Given Possitive Orders that none of his Men Should go on Shore but that those two Officers Landed in the way of their Duty in Pursuit of three of their Men who had Run away and their Intention was not to Disturb the Peace of the Town, when Immediately on their Landing before they Got of[f] the Wharfe they were taken, and As the [he] Looked on the Town to be in a State of Neutrality therefore the takeing of his Officers and Makeing them Prisoners was a Violation of the Truce and Insisted upon their being Returned and as the Town is in Great want of Wood & other Necessaries which will be Stopt unless this Affair is Setled which will put us in the Utmost Distress, We therefore pray Your Honor to take the Same under Your Serious Consideration and Do what you Shall Judge in Your Wisdom shall be Necessary to be Done for the Well being of this Town,

Signed by order and in behalf of the Town Council of Newport