May it please your Honors

The Committee of Safety and Correspondence of this Town beg leave to represent to your Honours, that about the 24th [sic 29th] day of January last the Sloop Rainbow Lemuel Perkins Master loaded with Wood was taken by one of our Privateers commanded by Capt [Samuel] Tucker, upon a suspicion that she was bound to Boston, and carryed into Cape ann; upon her Arrival there the Master produced a Certificate in his favour from the Committee of Safety of Newcastle upon which and his solemn declaration that he was bound for Salem he and his Vessel were released and suffered to proceed on his Voyage, that soon after his departure from Cape ann he was taken (as he says) by a British Man of War and carryed into Boston where his Cargo of Wood was Sold, which done he was proceeding with his Vessell to the eastern Shore but meeting with contrary winds he put into this Harbour and came to Anchor under cover of the Guns of the Fort, upon the Committee having information thereof, they apprehended it to be their duty to make inquiry into the affair,
² in the course of which they found Capt Perkins's conduct to have been attended with such circumstances as to make them think it necessary to detain his Vessell and to send him to the Committee of the Honorable Board to be proceeded with as they shall in their wisdom think proper. The Committee have likewise directed Capt Benjamin Ward to wait upon your Honors who is one of their members and who is fully acquaint[e]d with all the circumstances relative to this matter that have come to the knowledge of this Committ[ee.] To him therefore the Committee beg leave to refer your Honors for a more particular account of this Affair.

By order of the Committee