[Extract]
No. 61
My Lord. As by the last Intelligence from Boston, the General Informs; That there was great probability, that the Rebels woud attempt the Reduction of this Province, early in the Spring, I thought it an essential Duty in me, to use my Utmost Endeavours, to collect all the Force that coud possibly be Muster'd, within this Province to oppose their attempts ....
The number of Families from the Continent hath been much fewer than I expected, it seems, the Rebels took every Method to prevent their coming, by Stopping all their Vessels, and Seizing their Effects so that the Friends of Government among them, have in amanner been Totally ruin'd, those who came here early took the oppertunity, and bringing with them their Vessels and Effects, have most of them been Employ'd in the Fishery, and in Trade, so that their demands on Government, have been trifling, not above three Families have applied for Relief, which I have Order'd Agreeable to His Majesty's Instructions, and have not as yet drawn for more than One hundred pounds on the Treasury; but the last letter from General How[e], informs me, that two hundred Families will Embark from Boston to this place, among whom are many necessituotis, which will distress us greatly, as Provision is not to be, purchas'd on any Account, the small Supplies we have had for the support of the Town, has been from Boston and the West Indies; I hope therefore the Provision I wrote for to be sent here in my Letter No 52, wherein I have more fully explain'd the Circumstances of this Province, has been thought an essential Measure, and that it will soon arrive, and relieve us from that Scene of Distress, which is likely soon to take place here.
I inclos'd in my Letter No 58 Several Memorials from the Inhabitants of Cumberland, and other places; by Advices since receiv'd from thence, We are inform'd, that the Inhabitants there, have had Meetings and Consultaa tions of a very treasonable and alarming nature, th~t there has been persons among them from the Continent, and. that about fourteen of the Inhabitants had gone to New England, suppos'd with an intent to Invite the Rebels into this Province, these matters I laid before the Council, and it was by thei:n advis'd that application be made for three hundred Men to ,March into. that District, to Support the Authority of the Crown and for the Security of such as were well attach'd to Government, this General (Eyre] Massey thought he coud not Comply with, as it woud be greatly lessening the defence of the Naval Yard, but has at last agreed to.send a Captain with fifty Men, who are to Sail for that place, as soon as the Navigation of the Bay is Clear of Ice.
