Bonds being given by Isaac Snow, James Leech & Ebenr Prout a Commission was Issued out to the said Isaac Snow as Commander of the Schooner called the America and Instructions were given him accordingly

The Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, & Safety for the Town of Newbury Port Would beg leave to Represent to Your Honors that a Sub Committee was appointed by them to Inspect all Vessels Arriving at or Departing from this Harbour that the Regulations of the Honble Congress of this State might not be Violated that while on their Duty on board the Sloop Two Friends (which was some time past taken & bro't into this Place by Captns Obrian & Lambert, And acquitted by a Court of Admiralty held for this District) William Hazen Master bound for St Johns they were Informed of two Men that were bound to Nova Scotia in said sloop and of whom it was Suspected that if not prevented they would be of real Damage to this State to let pass Upon further Inquiry we were Satisfied as to the unfitness of their going and prevented them it appeared they were to be sent by Mr Epes Sargent of Cape Ann (the one being his Son & the other a Master of a Vessel who had for sometime past been in his Employ) down to East Passage where he had a Snow and tis said a Schooner or two laying with Considerable Interest which we have Reason to think has for sometime past been Employ'd in and under the protection of that Government By a Letter from Mr Epes Sargeant which was wrote directly upon his being frustrated in this plan, to Capt Sayward Master of his Snow there and intercepted just before the Sloop sail'd fully Convinces us of the above Suggestions. ー We are induced to Trouble Your Honors with this Information by a Report that the said Mr Sargeant did on his leaving this Town hire a two Mast boat in Ipswich & applied to a Friend in Salem who procured a Commission for said Boat that She has Actually sail'd it is supposed directly for East Passage and that his Son is gone in her. Which Your Honors will be pleased to Act upon as shall in Your Wisdom seem fit

In Behalf & Pr Order of the Committee

In Council Septr 14th 1776 On the Representation from the Committee of Newbury Port relative to Epes Sargeant Read & Ordered that the said Epes Sargeant be notified to appear and make Answer in Council on Thursday the 26th day of September inst to such Matters as are in said Represenstation suggested to his Prejudice and that the Secretary be directed to serve him the said Epes Sargeant with a Copy of said Representation and this Order thereon and also serve the Committee of the Town of Newbury Port with a Copy of the above Orde'r that they may appear if they think proper.