(Copy)

Sir In answer to your two Letters of yesterday, relating to the firing upon the Barge belonging to the Ship under your Command, and the taking away the Cannon from the Battery, we are to acquaint you, that it appears from a great Number of Affidavits that the People did not fire from the Battery till they were first fired upon with a Musket from the Barge the Ball from which they Swear passed very near several of them ー As to the taking away the Cannon we are to inform you, that the same were taken away by Permission of the Provincial Congress, now sitting in this City, who the People have thought proper to constitute to act for them, in this critical Situation of Publick Affairs. ー Our Duty now calls upon us to acquaint you that we are at a loss to account how you could be obliged in duty to fire upon the City in defence of these Guns, in the heart of the Seat of Civil Government, neither can we Account what inducement there could be to fire a Broad Side upon the City at large, half an hour after the Barge had returned to the Ship and the Cannon had been all removed from the Battery ー You may rest assured we shall take the necessary Steps in our Power in the Affair agreable to Law.

We are Sir [&c]

Signed on behalf of ourselves and the Magistrates

N.B. Another Signature unintelligible