Hon^d Sir

I take the liberty of informing you of the proceedings relative to the Weymouth Packet, the Tryall came on about 10 ^oClk this Morning, as soon as my Libell was read Captain Hardings¹ Councill demanded my Power, and upon my saying it was not with me, said he would willingly take my word for the contents; I then inform'd the Court I was willing to mention anything which would not be detrimental to my cause, intending to inform the Court my instructions from your Excellency from time to time were to conform to the Resolves of the Continental Congress, but was overrul'd as unprece­dented, the door when open'd would be enlarg'd &^c. Captain Perkins² then produc'd several depositions to prove the State of Connecticut had adopted the Continental re­solves, but the contents of one was so uncertain and the Captions of the whole so im­properly taken, the Court were of the mind they could not be admitted, Captain Hard­ings Councill mov'd for an adjournment of the Cause, which  was done accordingly to the 28^th Inst.—It was necessary to determine (the court adjudg'd) wether the State of Connecticut had made Laws of their own, or had adopted the mode the Congress  had laid down, or were willing to have her divided agreable to the Laws of this State—I must request your Excellency would be as particular as you should think necessary.—With re­spect to my Power of acting it is not so full as I could wish—Your Excellency I hope will pardon me, in recommending that a proper Warrant under the State Seal, seperate from any letter, enjoining and requiring me to conduct agreable to the instructions I may from time to time receive, be sign'd by your Excellency and handed to me by the first good opportunity, M^r Dana³ thinks it will be absolutely necessary.—I forgot to men­tion in its place, that not a word has been said in Court respecting her being Kings prop­erty, that comes after the previous Question, upon what Law she must be  try'd.—I have now in my hands the Commander in chiefs division of Prize money arising from Smed­leys Captures,⁴ I shall wait your Excellency's order about it and should be glad to know wether the Commander in Chief is entituled to one twentieth of the whole sum, or only of the Captors half—there was a small error in the Tea I sent to Lebanon, it should have been only 33¼^lb instead of 34½^lb. I remain [&c.]

Gov^r Trumbull