So Kingstown Feb. 13th. 1776
Sir
It appearing to the Committee of Correspondence of this Town, upon recollecting the Examination of John Patterson the Deserter from Capt Wallace at Point Judith 4th Feb. Instant, That a Person prior to Mr Joseph Aplin, Doctr Gleason, Silas Niles & Robert Hazard, had been to the Shore siogly & conversed with sd Wallace previous to his Landing ー Upon interogating Mr Joseph Aplin last saturday, He declared to the Committee, that he knew nothing of any Person going to Wallace, before himself, together with Doctr Gleason, Niles & Hazard aforesd, The Committee thought it their duty to make the strictest enquiry into sd Matter, & was soon informed that the Person alluded to by the Deserter was Mr William Aplin, brother to the aforesd Joseph, & who upon Examination proved to be the Person, & the sd William declared before the Committee, the whole affair (as he says) of his going to sd Wallace, & declared that he told his sd Brother at Mr Stephen Hazard's in the evening of sd 4th Instant, that [t]he sd William Applin had been down to sd Wallace, & conversed with him, previous to his sd Brother Joseph's going to Wallace, on the same day, I here inclose Mr William Aplin's relation of the affair, with some Questions asked him by the Committee & his Answers thereto, knowing your Honours most fervent Zeal in the Grand Cause of Liberty, The Committee have not the least doubt, but your Honour will immediately, do everything in your Power, that the truth of this unhappy affair, may very soon appear, all which is submited for your Honour's Consideration, By order & behalf of sd Committee by Yr Honours most Obediant and Humble Servt ー
J Peckham Clk of sd Committee