Gentlemen  We the Committee of Deer Iseland ー Would inform you that July the 16th We were Alarmed by A Report that A Number of men of War Were Arived In Penopscut bay ー we Amediately Sent out a Whale Boat to know the Certainty of What we had heard ー but the first Boat; Returned and only Informed that they were Kings Ships ー In the evening We sent of[f] a nother ー Which Returned this morning with Inteligence; that their was one man of War, which mounted 20 guns ー 4 Transport ships 3 or 4 Sloops which they could discover. These were Loading with Wood, on long Island alias Dylows Island ー Which the People had been so Wicked on that Island to get out for them. ー Alarmed at this the Inhabitants met and A Number Voluntarily agreed to go and defend it ー Wee wrote Letters to the Committees of the Neighlbouring towns ー sent of[f] dispatches with them ー And doubt not but that they will be ready to go with our men tomorrow & to deffeat the attempt of our Cruel and unnatural Enemies to furnish themselves with Necessaries to Protract their Barbarous War ー We expect also that they will before they leave us ー take away our sheep cattle &c these they say (we are Informed) they will Pay for; ー and we doubt not but they will now (as some of their servants have here to fore done) give a most extravagant Price for the same; but we hope Gentlemen that our Posterity shall not find that their fore fathers; When greatly distressed by want of Provitions of all most every kind; and Amunition also ー that they were such sons of Esau; as to sell their birth rights for a mess of Pottage ー we are very sensible they were not Purchasd so easy ー but we are Put under the disagreeable Necessity of informing; that our defences cannot continue Long if we have not help, Provitions amunition; and men will be Absolutely necessary  our Greatest exspectations are to keep the enimy In Play till our bearers Return ー We have Relying on you; but our lives in our hands ー and should not help Come We must exspect to be destroyed ー but of your Redyness we doubt not to grant all that lies in your Power As We are embarqued all in one Common caus ー we mean not to be awed by their frowns: and are Resolved never to be soothed by their flatteries ー they Promise us Protection and Provitions if we will but furnish them all our lumber and other Necessaries which we usd to spare to People In the westward ー . As we live at so great a distance we cannot see every order of Congress: We therefore would be glad Gentlemen of your written advise: And orders In what Method it is best for us to Conduct In this day of Darkness And distress ー . We have In this and the Neighbouring towns Chose Delegates to Meet At Frenchmans Bey; the 19th of this month ー . they are to Chuse for us one member, who is to act as An Agent for all these Parts at the Honourable Provincial Congress ー . We should have imployed him; but Reflecting on that Proverb ー While the grass Grows the Cattle Starve ー We Waited not; but have sent of[f] this Dispatch as soon as We could ー . We should also have waited for a advice & orders from you Gentlemen before we should have Recommendd any thing to have been done ー But had we lain Still ー the Ships would have been Loaded ー and our Common enimy have been supplyd ー We also are put under the melancholy Necessity ー of Informing that We have just Receivd information that on some of the Islands they are indeavouring to sell Bacon and fresh meat ー . but with Pleasure We tell this is not the General spirit ー Patriotick virtue we hope is not yet at so low an ebb with us ー . as to prefer self to the Publick ー this Precious Jewel of love to our country, we trust delights to dwell ー as well in the humble Cottage as In the most splendid Palace ー for Further Particulars We Recommend you to Bearer the Revd. Joseph Patrick A yong Gentle who has appeared Ingaged In the Publick Cause In Both Publick and Private.

and to Capt Eaton who also is we trust A man that may [be] Rely'd on

Deer Island July the 18 1775