About twelve OClock A.M. last Sunday, I was at the House of Sylvester Robinson, Esq; in Point-Judith, in Company with several Gentlemen, and observed several Ships of War with Tenders, standing Southward. While we were conjecturing their Destination, ー a Neighbour of Mr Robinson came in just as we were sitting down to dine, and told us that Capt Wallace was landing his Marines on the Beach near the End of the Point. Not long after, I set out in Company with Mr Robinson, Dr Gleason, and Mr Robert Hassard, to make what Discoveries we cou'd of Capt Wallace's Design; and having reached Col Hassard's House, where we found the Family in the greatest Confusion, securing their Effects, and consulting their personal ー Safety, I gave it as my Opinion, that some Body ought to repair to Capt Wallace, and desire him not to desolate the adjacent Farms, and offered to go my self, provided Mr Hassard wou'd bear me Company; to which he consented. This those who were present acquiesced in, and if I am not mistaken, approved of.

On approaching near Capt Wallace he asked "who's that? ー Mr. Aplin?" ー I told him "yes." He then said, that his Object was to take a little Hay, and that he meant to take only the Remainder of a Stack which was then uncovered; adding, that he was willing to pay for whatever he shou'd take. I replied, that neither the Farm, nor any Thing on it belonged to me, but that one Mr Niles, a Friend of mine, occupied the Farm; that his being absent from Home, bro't me to him to desire him not to desolate it. He told me that he meant no such Thing, unless his Men were fired upon; in which Case he wou'd ravage as he went. I intimated that there were not less than six hundred Men about entering the Point, and that they wou'd soon be strengthened by the adjacent Country, which had been already alarmed. This I mentioned to shorten his Stay. He asked me if I thought thr. armed People that were on their March, had the Heels of the Ships? ー which made me think that he intended making some Descent to the Northward.

Upon his expressing some Suzprize at the sudden Rising of the People, I took Occasion to put him in Mind, that Desolation marked him wherever he went. He said that he never suffered his Men to ravage unless they were molested, and that he was always willing to pay for what he was allowed peaceably to take. He then asked me, who the Man was that stood by me? ー I replied Mr Hassard. He asked him to lend him a Cart to convey the Hay to the Boats? Mr Hassard replied that he had none, and that he lived several Miles distant from thence. [Mr Hassard stood within Hearing during the whole Conversation] ー Just after we took Leave of him, he called after me and told me, that if Mr Niles had got Home, he wished to see him, or any of the Farmers (as he called them) that wou'd come unarmed ー I told him, I would bear the Message.

In my Way to the House, I drove along before me a large Flock of Sheep that were not far distant from the Out-Guards. When I got there, I saw several Gentlemen, and among them, Mr Niles; all whom I made acquainted with what had passed. ー Mr Niles was very anxious that I shoud go along with him, and had his Request backed by Mr Caleb Gardiner and (I think) Mr Dyer. I consented, provided we were joined by any Body else. Dr Gleason offered, and accompanied us, together with Mr Hassard, to Capt Wallace. Nothing Material passed more than is above related, saving Capt Wallace's offering Pay for what he shou'd take, which was refused by Mr Niles, who told him, that he cou'd hold no Correspondence with any that belonged to the King's Ships. ー Mr Niles had very little Conversation with Capt Wallace that was out of my Hearing.

The above is all that I can at present recollect of an Affair, which has been attended with very disagreeable Consequences to me. I can only add on the Occasion, that I have broken no Law intentionally, and that if I have transgressed the Line of Prudence, it was the personal Friendship that I bore Mr Niles, and the defenceless Situation of the Point-Farms, that led me into the Error: For at the Time when I first Went to Capt Wallace, there was not an armed Man upon the Point to protect any Thing there. I therefore thought it best both for the Public and Individuals, that Nothing shou'd be unnecessarily destroyed.