Last Sunday Afternoon Lieut. Calcott, of the Merlin, a British Ship ofWar, which lay a little without the Harbour of Newport, came in a Barge, with a Flag, to that Town: The General Assembly of this State being thensitting, he was conducted to the State-House, where he delivered to his Honor the Governor a Letter and Declaration from Lord Viscount Howe, of which the following are authentic Copies.
[Here is inserted Howe's circular letter to the Colonial Governors, of June 20, 1776, and his Declaration of the same day.]
Lieutenant Calcott also delivered Copies of the above Letter and Declaration for the States of Massachusetts-Bay, New Hampshire and Connecticut: He returned next Morning to the Ship, with the following Answer from his Honor the Governor.
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Newport, July 21, 1776.
My Lord,
I am favoured with your Lordship's Letter, of the 20th of June last, inclosing your Declaration. I have communicated them to the General Assembly of this S.tate, now sitting here, and at their Request inform your Lordship, that they will transmit Copies of them to the Most Honorable the General Congress of the United States of America, to whom every Application respecting the Dispute between the said States and Great-Britain ought to be addressed, and must be referred.
I have the Honor to he, with great Respect and Esteem, my Lord [&c.]
Nicholas Cooke.
