sr

It having been referred to the Committe of safety & Correspondence of this Town to determine whether the Brig Kingston-Packett Samuel Ingersoll Master ー taken at Nova Scotia on suspicion of being engaged in Business contrary to the Association² of the United Colonies should be permitted to proceed on her voyage or not, the Committe beg leave to assure you sir that it is not from any desire to avoid doing the utmost service in our power for our Country ー that we must decline giving our judgment in a matter of this impqrtance. It appears many Merchants have considered the prohibition in the same light with the Owner of the above Brige ー many Vessels being thus employed ー

should the Committees in different Towns give different judgments, it would lead to great difficulties ー We must therefore request that this Important Question be determined by Judges whose Jurisdiction is Genera ー

I am sr in the name & by Order of the Comte of safety & Correspondence of Salem [&c.]