Last Saturday capt. James Barron arrived in town with despatches from the secretary of state for governor [Robert] Eden of Maryland, which he took from on board a small vessel that had been sent by lord Dunniore to carry them to Annapolis. They were in the custody of a certain mr. [Alexander] Ross from Fort Pitt, an old offender, and an associate of the infamous [John] qonnolly. The packet contained three letters. The first, dated Nov. 10th, only serves to announce his lordship's succeeding the earl of Dartmouth as secretary for the American department. The second, of Dec. 23d, enclosed the act of parliament for seizing American property; and assures him of his majesty's being determined, in concurrence with his parliament, to pursue the most vigorous measures for reducing his rebellious subjects in North America; and then closes with the king's exhortation to the people of his government, couched in terms of the same import, which we have already seen in sundry proclamations from his governours. The third letter, being more interesting, is inserted at full length, and is as follows:
[Here is inserted George Germain's letter of December 23, 1775, to Robert Eden, which will be found under that date in Volume 3.]
By two deserters who came into York last Sunday, from [John] Goodrich's pink, commanded by one Picket of the Eastern Shore, we learn that the tenders took off our capes a French sloop with 150 barrels of powder and 250 stand of arms; there were three engineers on board likewise, whom the governour ordered to be put into irons. They also inform, that lord Dunmore has fitted out a vessel with 16 oars, that carries 50 men, 6 three-pounders, and 12 swivels; and that another was on the stocks, under the inspection of Goodrich.