Gentlemen

At one oClock yesterday your Letter came to hand inclosing a Resolve of Convention giving information of Capt Montague's Conduct, with directions to be prepared to repel any violence offered by him, and to prevent his procuring provisions, should have been very happy to have received your Commands three Hours sooner, by that means I might have prevented Mr James Dickinson, Wm Thomas, John Stevens & Nicholas Martin going onboard the Fowey Man of War with several head of Sheep & Hogs, some as a present to the Governor others for Sale, Mr Dickinson inform'd me some time before he set out that the Governor had permission from your Honors to take live Stock onboard the Man of War whenever she should come up and that He was to procure it for him, this Step has been taken by those Gentlemen without the Permission or Knowledge of the Committee of the County. Immediately on the receipt of your Letter, I hired a Boat put 20 Men onboard and sent in pursuit of them with orders to bring those Gentlemen with their Sheep and Hogs back again, about 8 oclock in the evening my Boat met with them on their return having safely lodged all their Stock onboard the Man of War. I inform'd them of the Resolve of Convention and your orders to me; they have given me their Honor to attend at any time and place you may direct to answer for their Conduct. As I thought it necessary to inform you as soon as possible of this matter, have hired a Boat for the purpose in which Mr Anderson goes over & can fully relate to every particular respecting those Gentlemen. shall be much obliged to you to send me by him an order for £100 or 150 as am getting the Soldiers Cloathes made up, and frequently purchasing little necessary Articles. I am Gentln [&c.]