To the Most Honorable the Delegates of the United Colonies. in Congress assembled at Philadelphia.

In the Absence of the Governor and Deputy Governor Commodore Esek Hopkins hath applied to us for the re-delivery of 20 Pieces of Cannon which he had landed in this Colony. We have thought it absolutely necessary to detain them until your Honors should be made acquainted with the Circumstances of the Colony, not doubting but that upon mature Consideration it will be thought best for the common Interest to permit them to remain here. We beg the most favourable construction of this Measure, and assure your Honors that no Persons living are more sensible of the Necessity of establishing the Authority of Congress nor more ready to pay Obedience to it.

Your Honors have doubtless frequently with Pain reflected upon the unhappy State of the Town of Newport, which was entirely defenceless, surrounded by a powerful Naval Armament, and daily threatened with, and in Danger of, immediate Destruction; for it was incontestably in the Power of the British Fleet to destroy it at Pleasure. In this Situation it is not at all strange that near a Third Part of the Inhabitants removed, and that a Majority of the Remainder were induced to temporize, and even to assume an Appearance rather unfriendly to the United Colonies. ー To this Situation alone is the former Conduct of Newport to be attributed and not to Want of Spirit or Love of their Country. ー In this State of Affairs the British Fleet quitted the Harbor, and Commodore Hopkins most providentially arrived with Twenty six Cannon and some Shot which he offered to the Town. The Inhabitants, elated with the Prospect of having the Means of Defence, assembled in a full Town-Meeting and unanimously Voted to work upon the necessary Fortifications, and to defend the Town, and immediately entered upon it with Vigor. ー This decisive Resolution gave every Friend to the United Colonies a new Spring, as many of us looked upon Newport as worse than lost to the common Cause. Three considerable Works have been erected; these Cannon have been with great Expedition mounted upon Carriages and placed upon the Platforms, and the Town of Newport is now capable of being defended against all the Frigates in the British Navy. Fortifications are also making at Bristol Ferry and on the East Side of Rhode Island, which, when completed, will effectually secure a Communication with the Continent, and enable us to defend that most valuable Island. ー We were happy in the Idea of having put a total Stop to supplying the Enemy, of destroying the very Seeds of Disaffection in the Colony, and of being an united People. We looked upon the saving the Town of Newport, the commanding the Harbor, in which from its Easiness of Access Vessels from Sea may find a quick Protection under the Cannon of the Forts, and which will at all Times afford a safe Asylum to the Continental Ships, and to Privateers and their Prizes, as well as to other Vessels, and which by Means of the Works now erected may pass in and out in Spite of all the British Fleet, as Objects of very great Importance to the common Cause. ー But our pleasing Prospects are greatly interrupted by the Order to deliver Twenty of these Cannon to Messrs [Levi] Hollingworth and [Thomas] Richardson to be transported to Philadelphia. From the Face of it, which is directed to the Commodore, and in his Absence to Mr [Daniel] Tillinghast, it appeared clearly to us that your Honors thought the Cannon were barely landed here, and had no Idea of their being fitted with Carriages and planted in Forts erected purposely for their Reception.

We beg Leave to refer you for a general State of the Colony to the Memorial from the Assembly which is now before your Honors, and is in no Degree exaggerated, by which you will be able to judge of the exposed Situation of the Colony, of its great Exertions for the common, as well as our own, Defence, and of the utter Impossibility of our defending oitrselves. To which we would add that there are now in the Colony, exclusive of those brought by the Commodore but Twenty four Pieces of heavy Cannon being 24 and 18 Pounders. The Assembly had contracted with the Owners of Furnace Hope for Sixty more But the Commodore having brought 26 heavy Cannon into the Colony the Assembly consented that the Cannon for the Continental Ships should be first made, as the Owners of the Furnace could not possibly supply both Departments in Season, so that we have yet had but Four 18 Pounders from them; nor can the others be made under a long Time unless a Stop be put to those making for the Ships. ー We are informed by the Commodore that he landed Thirty six heavy Cannon at New-London, which from its Situation can be defended with one Quarter of the Number required for the Defence of the Bay, Town, and Harbor of Newport. And when the Difference of the Towns of Newport and New-London in Point of Number of Inhabitants and Value, in Point of Importance to the United Colonies, and in the Abilities of the Two Colonies of which they are Part to defend them, are considered we think it will not admit a Doubt from which Place the Twenty Cannon wanted are to be removed. ー

We beg Leave also to mention to your Honors some of the probable Consequences of depriving us of those Cannon. ー All the disaffected, all the lukewarm, and all the timid cry out that this Colony hath been totally neglected by Congress, while every other Colony that is exposed is defended by Continental Troops; which the most hearty in the common Cause cannot deny. This, with the dangerous Situation of the Town of Newport, the Capital of the Colony, containing upwards of 1300 Dwelling-Houses and between 9 and 10,000 Souls, hath produced a very great Division, and was near overthrowing that Administration which had so greatly exerted the Force of the Colony. The Blow however was averted, and the most seasonable Arrival of those Cannon with the decisive Resolution of the Town of Newport hath given Union Spirit and Vigor to the Colony. Take them from us and we cannot answer for the Event. The Town of Newport, and the Island of Rhode Island are lost: A small Part of that Army now at Halifax may in their Way to the Westward effect their Destruction without being detained Three Days. It will be impossible for the Inhabitants to defend themselves. They will not even attempt it. There is Danger that those People who are so desirous of Reconciliation with Great Britain upon any Terms will gain the Ascendancy, and of the Colony's being lost to America. ー Leave us the Cannon we can save Newport, which hath been induced in Consequence of their Arrival to take such Steps as may bring upon them the British Arms, and who will be most cruelly treated in being deprived of them. We can keep Possession of Rhode Island which is of great Consequence to the Inhabitants and Trade of Taunton and Swansey Rivers; and we shall be an united People, ready with our Lives and Fortunes to support the Measures of Congress.

We submit this Representation to your Honors which will be delivered to you by John Collins, Esqr the First Assistant in this Colony to whom we beg Leave to refer you for further Information, not in the least doubting that upon full Inquiry and Deliberation your Honors will consent that the Cannon remain here until we can be otherwise supplied.

Signed by Order and in Behalf of such Members of the General Assembly as could conveniently be convened, by

[Endorsed] May 20th 1776 No 7. A memorial from A number of the members of the Assembly of Rhode-island respecting the cannon brot there by Comr Hopkins. read May 29. 1776. ー