Last Wednesday [April 26], as Mr. John Brown, of Providence, merchant, was going from this town to Providence, in one of the Packets, the Packet was stopped, by order of Captain [James] Wallace, of the ship Rose, and Mr. Brown taken on board the ship Swan; soon after which another packet was stopped as she was going up. These Packets had on board a quantity of flour, which Mr. Brown had purchased for a number of vessels he was fitting out. Part, or all of the flour was taken on board the ships; and the next day Mr. Brown was sent off in one of the Packets, to be carried to Admiral [Samuel] Graves at Boston, without having a single reason given for his being thus violently seized and carried out of this colony, contrary to all law, equity and justice.