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HISTORY 
 
 OF THB 
 
 
 IN 
 
 NARRAGANSETT BAY, 
 
 IIST 1773. 
 
 
.A HISTORY 
 
 OK THE DESTRUCTION 
 
 OF 
 
 HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S 
 
 SCHOONER GASPEE, 
 
 IN NARR^AJIANLSETT BAY, 
 
 ON THE lOTH JTJJSTE, 1772 ; 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY THE 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE CONNECTED THEREWITH; THE ACTION OF 
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RHODE ISLAND THEREON, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COMMISSION OF INQUIRY APPOINTED BY KING GEORGE 
 THE THIRD, ON THE SAME. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT, 
 
 SECRETARY OF STATE. 
 
 PKOVIDENCE: 
 
 A. CRAWFORD GREENE, PRINTER TO THE STAXB. 
 
 1861. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 398668 
 
One hundred and twenty-five copies printed for private distribution. 
 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 [THE proceedings of the General Assembly, relative to the destruction of the 
 British sdiooner Gaspee, in the waters of Narragansett Bay, on the night of 
 the 9th June, 1772, will be found in the records of the August session of 
 that year. What followed, connected with this important event in the colonial an 
 nals of Rhode Island, extends through this, and a part of the following year. In 
 presenting this history to the public, the editor, has brought the whole of the pro 
 ceedings together, including the events which preceded the destruction of that vessel. 
 This will present a continuous account of the affair, with the accompanying docu 
 ments, from the time it occurred, to the report of the royal commission of inquiry 
 on the same. 
 
 The correspondence and most of the documents herewith printed, are preserved 
 in the original, among the archives of the State, and are chronologically arranged 
 and bound in one volume. 
 
 In 1 845. the Hon. William R. Staples caused these documents to be printed in the col 
 umns of the Providence Journal, with preliminary observations. He also interspersed 
 the various documents with his own remarks, in order to present a plain and contin 
 uous " Documentary History " of the destruction of the Gaspee. This was after 
 wards printed in a pamphlet form ; but has long been out of print. 
 
 To these various documents, the present secretary of state, and editor of the Co 
 lonial Records, has been enabled to add several letters and documents of great interest 
 which were not previously among the State archives, and which had never been 
 printed. For several of these, he is indebted to the kindness of his friend, the Hon. 
 George Bancroft, who procured copies of the originals on file in Her Majesty s 
 state paper office, London. The others are from a variety of sources, including 
 that great depository of historical documents. Copies of these several papers, 
 have now been procured, and deposited in their proper places among the " Gas- 
 pee documents," referred to. Among the most important of these new documents, 
 are letters from Admiral Montagu to the Earl of Hillsborough ; letters from 
 Chief Justice Horsinanden, of New York, one of the royal commissioners of in 
 quiry into the Gaspee affair, to the Earl of Dartmouth, giving an account of the 
 proceedings of the court; and the official report of inquiry to the King, about 
 the burning of the Gaspee.] J. R. B. 
 
G THE DESTRUCTION OP THE GASPEE. 
 
 The records of the proceedings and the correspondence 
 of the preceding years, show that an illicit trade had long 
 been carried on, not only in Rhode Island, but in the other 
 English colonies. They show, too, that efforts had been 
 repeatedly made by the commissioners of customs, to put 
 a stop to this practice, by placing armed vessels in Narragan- 
 sett Bay, and at other places along the coast, from Casco 
 Bay to Cape Henlopen, in 1764. Serious riots, too, had, 
 in several instances occurred, in consequence of the vigi 
 lance of the custom house officers, in their endeavors to 
 check this illicit trade. 
 
 The vessel assigned to this station, in 1764, by the King s 
 authority, was the schooner St. John, Lieut. Hill, commander. 
 This vessel seized the cargo of a brig, which had discharged 
 near Rowland s Ferry, and following her at sea, made a prize 
 of her, and brought her to Newport. Other difficulties, which 
 grew out of her presence, at Newport, led to the fitting out 
 of an armed sloop, with the intention of destroying her, which 
 was only prevented by the presence of the " Squirrel" man of 
 war, in that harbor. Nevertheless, the people on board the 
 sloop landed on Goat Island, seized the battery, and discharged 
 its guns at the large ship. 
 
 During the same year, another event took place in the har 
 bor of Newport, which tended greatly to exasperate the peo 
 ple. The Maidstone, a vessel belonging to the British navy, 
 lay here, several months, and gave great dissatisfaction, by im 
 pressing seamen from vessels entering the harbor, as well as 
 in taking them from the boats and small craft in the bay. 
 Other ships of the royal navy, which visited Newport, also had 
 difficulties with the people there, all of which tended to arouse 
 them, and lead to some measures of retaliation. The climax 
 was reached, when a brig from Africa, entering the port, was 
 boarded by the officers from the Maidstone, and her entire 
 crew pressed into the naval service. The same night, a mob 
 of about five hundred men and boys, exasperated by the affair, 
 seized one of the boats belonging to the Maidstone, which lay 
 at the wharf, pulled her on shore, and after dragging her 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 7 
 
 through the streets to the Common, in front of the court house, 
 burnt her, amid the shouts of an immense crowd, which the 
 occasion had brought together. The affair was so suddenly 
 concocted and carried into effect, that the authorities had no 
 time to interfere. 
 
 The next important event in order, in resisting the authority 
 of the government in its efforts to suppress illicit trade, was 
 the affair of the armed sloop Liberty, Capt. Keid, which the 
 commissioners of the customs had sent to Newport, in 1769. 
 This officer had exhibited an extraordinary zeal in executing 
 the orders he had received, and had greatly annoyed vessels 
 entering our ports. 
 
 On the 17th July, while cruising in Long Island Sound, he 
 took a brig and a sloop, belonging to Connecticut, which he 
 suspected had been engaged in illicit trade, and brought them 
 to Newport. The commander of the brig, Capt. Packwood, 
 it appeared, had duly reported his cargo at the custom house, 
 before sailing, and no proof was exhibited that he had made 
 any attempt to evade the revenue. On the 19th, as no 
 charges had been made, or prosecution entered against the 
 brig, Packwood went on board the Liberty. The captain be 
 ing absent, some difficulty took place, which led to the firing 
 of several musket balls at Capt. Packwood s boat on her re 
 turn to the shore. Obtaining no redress for this outrage, the 
 people of Newport boarded the obnoxious vessel, cut her cables, 
 and suffered her to drift on shore, near Long Wharf. They then 
 cut away her masts, threw her armament overboard, when, 
 with the first high tide, she drifted over to Goat Island. The 
 first night she lay here, a party from Newport, went over and 
 burnt her. 
 
 His Majesty s armed schooner, the Gaspee, of eight guns, 
 Lieut. Dudingston, accompanied by the Beaver, made their ap 
 pearance in the waters of Narragansett Bay, in March, 1772, on 
 duties similar to those of the " St. John " and " Liberty," to 
 which allusion has been made, viz.: to prevent breaches of the 
 revenue laws, and to stop the illicit trade> so long and so success- 
 
8 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 fully carried on in the colony. The commander of the Gaspee 
 was quite as exacting as Capt. Reid of the Liberty had been. 
 He stopped all vessels, including small market boats, without 
 showing his authority for so doing ; and even sent the property 
 he had illegally seized, to Boston, for trial, contrary to an act 
 of Parliament, which required such trials to be held in the 
 colonies where the seizures were made. In these acts, Dudings- 
 ton had clearly transcended his powers. Shortly after the Gas- 
 pee had commenced her illegal proceedings, the complaints 
 from the people of Providence were so numerous to the Deputy 
 Governor, Darius Sessions, that he submitted the question to 
 Chief Justice Hopkins, who did not hesitate to give his opinion j 
 " that no commander of any vessel has a right to use any au 
 thority in the body of the colony, without previously applying 
 to the Governor, and showing his warrant for so doing ; and 
 also being sworn to a due exercise of his office." Upon re 
 ceiving this opinion, the Deputy Governor, who then resided 
 in Providence, addressed the following letter to Governor Jo 
 seph Wanton, at Newport : 
 
 The Deputy Governor to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Providence, March 21, 1772. 
 
 Sir : The inhabitants of this town, have, of late, been much disquieted in their 
 minds, by repeated advices being brought of a schooner, which, for some time past, hath 
 cruised in the Narragansett Bay, and much disturbed our navigation. She suffers 
 no vessel to pass, not even packet boats, or others of an inferior kind, without a 
 strict examination ; and where any sort of unwillingness is discovered, they are com 
 pelled to submit, by an armed force. Who he is, and by what authority he as 
 sumes such a conduct, it is thought needs some inquiry ; and I am requested by 
 a number of gentlemen, of this town, on their behalf, to acquaint Your Honor 
 therewith, and that you would take the matter into consideration ; and, if the com 
 mander of that schooner has not as yet made proper application, and been duly 
 authorized in his proceedings, that some proper measures be taken to bring him 
 to account. 
 
 It is suspected he has no legal authority to justify his conduct ; and his com 
 mission, if he has any, is some antiquated paper, more of a fiction than anything 
 else ; and this seems to be confirmed by Mr. Thomas Greene, who says he saw it; 
 and believes it to be no other than the commission the famous Reid had, who lost 
 his sloop at Newport, or something else, of no validity. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. I) 
 
 In consequence of the above mentioned application, I liave consulted with Chief 
 Justice Hopkins thereon, who is of opinion, that no commander of any vessel has 
 any right to use any authority in the body of the colony, without previously apply 
 ing to the Governor, and showing his warrant for so doing ; and also, being sworn 
 to a due exercise of his ofh ce ; and this, he informs me, has been the common custom 
 in tliis colony. I am, sir, &c.. &c., 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 This letter led to the following correspondence between the 
 Governor and the commanding; officer of the schooner : 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to the Commander of the Gaspee. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, March 22, 1772. 
 
 Sir : A considerable number of the inhabitants of this colony have complained to 
 me, of your having, in a most illegal and uu warrantable manner, interrupted their 
 trade, by searching and detaining every little packet boat plying between the sev 
 eral towns. As I know not by what authority you assume this power, I have sent 
 off the high sheriff, to inform you of the complaint exhibited against you, and ex 
 pect that you do, without delay, produce me your commission and instructions, if 
 any you have, which was your duty to have done when you first came within the 
 jurisdiction of this colony. I am your humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 To the commanding officer of a schooner near Brenton s Point. 
 
 Lieut. Dudingston to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Schooner Gaspee, Rhode Island, 
 March 23, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Last night I received your letter informing me, that a " number of the in 
 habitants of this colony had complained " to you, of my having, " in a most illegal 
 and unwarrantable manner, interrupted their trade, by searching and detaining every 
 little packet boat, plying between the several towns." A 
 
 In answer to which, I have done nothing but what was my duty ; and their com 
 plaint can only be founded on their ignorance of that. When I waited on you, on 
 my arrival, I acquainted you of my being sent to this government, to assist the 
 revenue. I had my commission to show you, if required, as it was ever understood 
 by all His Majesty s governors I have had the honor to wait on, that every officer 
 commanding one of His Majesty s vessels, was properly authorized, and never did 
 produce it, unasked for. The officer I send, is equally qualified and has been in the 
 boats in boarding most of the vessels, and can give any information relative to my 
 proceeding. Sir, your humble servant-, W. DUDINGSTON-, 
 
 To Governer Wanton. 
 
 2 
 
10 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASFEE. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Lieut. Dudingston. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, March 23, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Yonrs, of this day, I have received, which does not give me that satisfaction 
 I had a right to expect ; neither was the bearer of the letter qualified to give me any 
 authentic information respecting the legality of that authority you have presumed 
 to exercise within this colony. I expect that you do, without delay, comply with 
 my request of yesterday ; and you may be assured, that my utmost exertions shall 
 not be wanting to protect your person from any insult or outrage, on comiii" 
 ashore. I am your humble servant, J. WANTON. 
 
 To Mr. W. Dudingston, of the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 With this, the correspondence between Governor Wanton 
 and Lieut. Dudingston ended. The lieutenant s sense of pro 
 priety was evidently shocked by the letters from Governor 
 Wanton, and of his peremptory demand to exhibit to him his 
 commission and instructions. He seems to have believed that the 
 authority from which his commission emanated, was paramount 
 to that of the colonial governor. He therefore enclosed the 
 letters of Governor Wanton, together with his own, to Admiral 
 Montagu, at Boston, who was then in command of His Maj 
 esty s fleet on this station. The admiral plainly espoused the 
 side of Dudingston, and feeling his own dignity wounded at the 
 demand of the Governor on his lieutenant, addressed the inso 
 lent letter, which follows, to Governor Wanton : 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 9 Boston, 8th April, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Lieutenant Dudingston, commander of His Majesty s armed schooner, and 
 a part of the squadron under my command, has sent me two letters he received from 
 you, of such a nature, I am at a loss what answer to give them, and ashamed to find 
 they come from one of His Majesty s governors. He informs me, that he waited 
 upon you, and showed you the admiralty and my orders for his proceedings ; which, 
 agreeably to his instructions, he is to do, that you may be acquainted that he is on 
 that station to protect your province from pirates, and to give the trade all the as 
 sistance he can, and to endeavor, as much as lays in his power, to protect the rev 
 enue officer, and to prevent (if possible,) the illicittrade that is carrying on at Rhode 
 Island. 
 
 He, sir, has done his duty, and behaved like an officer ; and it is your duty, as a 
 governor, to give him your assistance, and not endeavor to distress the King s offi- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE (3ASPEE. 11 
 
 eers for strictly complying with my orders. I shall give them directions, that, in 
 case they receive any molestation in the execution of their duty, they shall send 
 every man so taken in molesting them, to me. I am also informed, the people of 
 Newport talk of fitting out an armed vessel to rescue any vessel the King s schooner 
 may take carrying on an illicit trade. Let them be cautious what they do ; for as 
 sure as they attempt it. and any of them are taken, I will hang them as pirates. I 
 shall report your two insolent letters to my officer, to His Majesty s secretaries of 
 state, and leave them to determine what right you have to demand a sight of all 
 orders I shall give to all officers of my squadron ; and I would advise you not to 
 send your sheriff on board the King s ship again, on such ridiculous errands. The 
 captain and lieutenants have all my orders, to give you assistance whenever you 
 demand it, but further, you have no business with them ; and, be assured, it is not 
 their duty to show you any part of my orders or instructions to them. 
 
 I am, sir, &o., &c., J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 This produced the following dignified and spirited answer : 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Bhode Island, May 8, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Your letter, dated April the 8th, at Boston, I have received. Lieutenant 
 Dudingston has done well in transmitting my letters to you, which I sent him ; but 
 I am sorry to be informed there is any thing contained in them that should be con 
 strued as a design of giving offence, when no such thing was intended. But Mr. 
 Dudingston has not behaved so well, in asserting to you " he waited on me, and 
 showed me the admiralty and your orders for his proceedings, which, agreeably to 
 his instructions, he is so to do ;" but in that he has altogether misinformed you ; for 
 he. at no time, ever showed me any orders from the admiralty or from you ; and 
 positively denied that he derived any authority either from you or the commission 
 ers ; therefore, it was altogether out of my power to know, whether he came hither 
 to protect us from pirates, or was a pirate himself. You say, li he has done his duty 
 and behaved like an officer." In this, I apprehend you must be mistaken ; for I 
 can never believe it is the duty of any officer, to give false information to his supe 
 riors. As to your attempt to point out what was my duty as Governor, please to be 
 informed, that I do not receive instructions for the administration of my govern 
 ment, from the King s admiral, stationed in America. 
 
 You seem to assert, that I have endeavored to distress the King s officers, for 
 strictly complying with your orders. In this, you are altogether mistaken ; for I 
 have at all times heretofore, and shall constantly for time to come, afford them all 
 the aid and assistance in my power, in the execution of their office. 
 
 The information you have received, " that the people of Newport talked of fitting 
 out an armed vessel to rescue any vessel the King s schooner might take carrying on 
 an illicit trade," you may be assured is without any foundation, and a scandalous 
 imposition ; for, upon inquiring into this matter, I cannot find that any such de 
 sign was ever conceived, or so much as talked of; and therefore, 1 hope you will 
 
12 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 not hang any of His Majesty s subjects belonging to his colony, upon such false 
 information. 
 
 I am greatlv obliged for the promise of transmitting my letters to the secretary of 
 state. I am, however, a little shocked at your impolite expression, made use of upon 
 that occasion. In return for this good office, I shall also transmit your letter to the 
 secretary of state, and leave to the King and his ministers to determine on which 
 side the charge of insolence lies. 
 
 As to your advice, not to send the sheriff on board any of your squadron, please 
 to know, that I will send the sheriff of tin s colony at any time, and to any place, 
 within the body of it, as I shall think fit. 
 
 In the last paragraph of your letter, you are pleased flatly to contradict what you 
 wrote in the beginning ; for there you assert that Dndingston, by his instructions, 
 was directed to show me the admiralty and your orders to him ; and here you assert, 
 that I have no business with them ; and assure me, that it is not his duty to show 
 me them, or any part thereof. I am, sir, &c., &c., J. WANTON. 
 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 The Governor- laid the preceding letter from Admiral Mon 
 tagu, before the General Assembly, at their May session, 1772, 
 and the following resolution passed that body, in relation to 
 the answer sent to the admiral : 
 
 " Eesolved, that His Honor the Governor, be requested to 
 transmit a copy of the letter written to Admiral Montagu ; 
 and likewise, that His Honor the Governor, be requested to 
 transmit to the secretary of state, a narration, containing the 
 proceedings referred to in said letter, together with a copy of 
 the admiral s letter, as soon as may be ; and that he present 
 a copy thereof, to this Assembly, at the next session of the 
 same." 
 
 The letter of the Governor, led to some further correspond 
 ence between the admiral and the lieutenant, of which only the 
 following letter is found among the archives : 
 
 Lieut. Dudingston to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Schooner Gaspee, Rhode Island, 
 
 May 22, 1772. 
 
 Sir: I have received your letters of the 14th and 18th instant, and copy of com- 
 sioners to you. By theirs, I see plainly, I cannot look to them to be supported 
 for sending the sloop and rum to Boston, notwithstanding I was assured by their of 
 ficers at this port, no seizure could be safe with them. There was only the alterna 
 tive to send her, or remain in this harbor, and guard twelve hogsheads of rum ; a 
 
TI1E DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 13 
 
 bait, the inhabitants of this government would willingly put in my way, if that 
 could fix the schooner. I was not, at the time, ignorant of the statute to the con 
 trary ; but never doubted, if the sloop got safe, I should be supported by than, as I 
 informed the board. 
 
 The owner of the rum resided in Coventry, which is but little further from Boston, 
 than Newport ; and of course, could, at as little expense, defend this property at the one 
 as the pther. As I find the exigencies not considered, but law referred to by them, 
 for the future shall take care not to act repugnant to it, let what may be the eon- 
 sequence. If I should have any doubt about that, I will take the opinion recom 
 mended to their officers, relative to the officers in the navy being arrested here by 
 the attorney general. I shall also be on my guard, not to put it in their power to 
 arrest me, or any officer under my command in this government. 
 
 What passed between the Governor and me, was, as near as I can recollect, what 
 follows. The morning after my arrival from Boston, was when I first saw him. 
 
 Lieut. D. Sir, I command His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, and am ordered into 
 this government by Admiral Montagu, to assist the revenue. 
 
 Governor Is it the schooner Capt. Allen commanded V (meaning the lieutenant 
 I superseded). 
 
 Lieut. Yes. 
 
 Governor We have had many different schooners here lately; (mentioning the 
 Sultana, St. John and Halifax). 
 
 Lieut. Yes: and you may remember me here about two years ago, when the 
 Colonels Dalrymple and Robinson came with me. (I am not sure whether he said 
 he did or not.) 
 
 Governor What vessel was that which seized the packet ? 
 
 I told him whom she was commanded by and belonged to, and my being there at 
 the time, and said, it would not have happened had the officer come near the Gas- 
 pee, which was his duty, with more on the subject, too trivial for you to hear. He 
 then related the conduct of the collector and Mr. Reid, late commander of the 
 custom house sloop Liberty, am] said it was in their power to have saved her be 
 fore she had received much damage ; and said he would not mind what they repre 
 sented concerning him, if they had told facts. I said I had heard it otherwise men 
 tioned; but hoped I should meet with no difficulty in the execution of my duty. 
 
 Governor You ma} depend on my support and assistance. 
 
 I then observed, it was not clear to me, if I made a seizure, it would be safe. 
 
 Governor I will do all in my power. 
 
 I then instanced what had been the fate of one made by the officers of the port a 
 little before ; and added, I did not think if I made one, I should put it to the trial. 
 
 Governor I suppose you will be much here. I shall always be glad to see you. 
 
 Lieut. D. I shall be where I find I can best execute the service. I was much 
 obliged to him. 
 
 Governor I hope, Captain, we shall have a good understanding. 
 
 I said it was my wish, and should give him as little trouble as possible. Much 
 was said about his government and police ; but never did he ask me to show my 
 orders, or even mention them. The weather kept me some days in the harbor ; 
 and I was in company with some of his friends ; but never heard my authority 
 questioned, till I sent the sloop to Boston, on my return here ; at which time, I gave 
 him my reason in a letter, (a copy of which, I enclose to you), for not showing my 
 
]4 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 orders, as he, till then, had never required me to do so ; at which time I sent them 
 by an officer, which I informed you of. 
 
 I must now beg leavejo observe, if he had asked me to show my orders, is it possi 
 ble I should behave so much unlike an officer and gentleman, in telling a falsehood, by 
 doing which, I must be ruined as an officer, and in reputation forever ? The fallacy 
 is easily seen, when it is considered, the only thing that makes the schooner respect 
 ed, is said to be denied by me. Had such an assertion come from a private char 
 acter, I should hope for reparation, for an attempt to wound my reputation as an 
 officer. In my present situation, I have only to hope my word will be respected as an 
 officer, as much as his, as a Governor, who can make it appear by no better evidence 
 than an old woman and clerk in the naval office, and not in the station of a gentle 
 man ; and I do not think either would be base enough to witness so great a falsehood. 
 
 As to his letter, it cannot be looked upon as his. but the Assembly s, where it was 
 put to the vote to answer your letter or not. They were all for the answer ; the 
 Governor alone, for sending it to Lord Hillsborough. 
 
 Mr. Greene is one of the house, the owner of the rum. I could ^expect no 
 quarter from people of that stamp. On the 20th, the sloop was condemned. I 
 have taken the liberty to enclose my letter to the commissioners for your perusal, 
 open ; as it was the intention of the people here, to have the sloop sold in the man 
 ner they have been used to, and which always falls into the old owners hands, 
 without opposition. I hope soon to have the board s answer, to determine her des 
 tination. I am, sir, &c., &c., W. DUDINGSTOX. 
 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 At the next session of the Assembly, which was in August 
 following, and to which reference is made in the Colonial Re 
 cords, Vol. VII, p. 51, Governor Wanton presented a copy of 
 his letter to the secretary of state, which was as follows : 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to the Earl of Hillsborough. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, May 20, 1772. 
 
 My Lord : In conformity to a vote of the General Assembly, of this colony, I 
 herewith transmit Your Lordship a copy of a letter I received from Admiral Mon 
 tagu, and the answer. They have also requested me to transmit to Your Lordship 
 a narrative of all the proceedings referred to, in said letter. 
 
 As Admiral Montagu has endeavored to fix a stigma on my character and admin 
 istration as Governor of this colony, by charging me with attempting to distress the 
 King s officers from strictly complying with his orders, Your Lordship will in 
 dulge me with giving a short account of my proceedings, by which the ungenerous 
 accusation of Admiral Montagu, will, I flatter myself, appear not to have the least 
 foundation in truth. 
 
 On the 21st of March last, a number of the inhabitants of this colony, gentlemen 
 of established character, and whose loyalty to their sovereign is not to be ques 
 tioned, exhibited to me a complaint in writing, that a certain schqoner was cruising 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 15 
 
 in the Narragansett River, boarding every vessel and boat that passed, and other 
 wise interrupting them in the pursuit of their lawful business; and not knowing by 
 what authority the persons belonging to said schooner exercised that power within 
 the body of the colony, requested me to make such inquiry concerning the same, 
 as was consistent with law. 
 
 It therefore, became my indispensable duty, in order to satisfy the complaints, to 
 demand of the commanding officer of said schooner, the reason of his thus acting, 
 and whether he was vested with such powers as would justify his proceedings, which 
 produced my letter to him of the 22d of March. It was answered by Win. Dud- 
 ingston, of the schooner Gaspee ; but, as he did not give me that satisfaction I 
 conceived I had an indisputable right to expect, I wrote another letter ; whereupon, 
 he sent me, by one of his officers, an order from the lords of the admiralty, for his 
 commanding the schooner Gaspee ; also, their letter to the commissioners at Boston, 
 requesting that board to give him a deputation in the customs, both which, I re 
 turned to the officer in the same hour he brought them, without attempting in the 
 least, to distress or oppose him in the execution of his duty. 
 
 This, My Lord, is a true state of facts ; and I believe Your Lordship is con 
 vinced that, in my proceedings, I have done nothing but what was my duty ; and 
 that Admiral Montagu s accusation is as groundless as it is illiberal. 
 
 When I wrote my first letter, I do, upon my honor, declare, that I did not know 
 whether the schooner complained of, was the Gaspee or not ; and even if I did, in 
 my opinion. I am justifiable, as I was entirely unacquainted with Mr. Dudingston s 
 authority, either as an officer in the revenue or navy ; and I do not believe he 
 had any right to officiate as a custom house officer within the body of this colony, 
 before he had communicated to me, or some proper authority, his commission for so 
 doing. 
 
 I must not omit mentioning, that the information which Admiral Montagu says he 
 has received, that the people of Newport talk of fitting out an armed vessel to rescue 
 any seizures which may be made by the King s vessels, is, Your Lordship may be 
 assured, a malicious representation, calculated, by the enemies of our happy con 
 stitution, to injure the colony, and bring upon the inhabitants his Majesty s dis 
 pleasure. 
 
 I acknowledge it a singular happiness, that this affair is brought before Your 
 Lordship ; and that your candor and inflexible integrity will fix the charge of insolence 
 where it really belongs. I submit the dispute with pleasure, from a thorough con 
 viction, that Your Lordship s opinion thereupon, will be consonant to the strictest 
 equity 
 
 It is now my turn to complain of Mr. Dudingston s illegal proceedings, in carrying 
 a quantity of rum, he had seized on board a small boat, lying within the county of 
 Kent, in this colony, to Boston, for trial ; notwithstanding, by the 8th of His 
 Majesty, it is expressly declared, that all forfeitures of this kind, shall be tried in 
 that colony where the offence is committed. 
 
 To recite every particular of his unwarrantable proceedings, would, My Lord, be 
 too tedious. Let it then suffice, that since the Gaspee and Beaver have been sta 
 tioned in this colony, the inhabitants have been insulted without any just cause, with 
 the most abusive and contumelious language ; and, I am sorry that I have reason to 
 say, that the principal officers belonging to said vessels, have exercised that power 
 with which they are vested, in a wanton and arbitrary manner, to the very great in 
 jury and disturbance of the colony. 
 
16 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 I have, My Lord, constantly afforded the King s officers all the assistance in my 
 power, in the legal discharge of their trust ; but if any of them, through prejudice, 
 io-norance of their duty or youthful indiscretion, insult this colony, it is my duty, as 
 His Majesty s Governor, to remonstrate against it. 
 
 I am, &c., &c., J. WANTON. 
 
 To the Right Honorable Earl of Hillsborotigh, one of His Majesty s principal 
 secretaries of state, Whitehall. 
 
 llie foregoing letters present an account of the events which 
 preceded the memorable night of the 9th of June, when the Gas- 
 pee was destroyed. That Dudingston did not act wisely, to say 
 the least, in exerting the authority he did, without first exhibiting 
 his commission, is evident. But it is certain, that in sending 
 some of the property seized by him, within the jurisdiction of the 
 county of Kent, in Rhode Island, to Boston, there to be adjudi 
 cated upon by the court of vice admiralty, he was clearly in the 
 wrong; as an act of Parliament expressly declares that such seiz 
 ures shall be adjudicated in the colony where the seizure is made. 
 The goods here referred to, consisted of twelve hogsheads of 
 rum, and some sugars, which were on board a sloop, bound 
 from Greenwich to Newport, and were the property of Jacob 
 Greene & Co., of Warwick.* 
 
 Dudingston seems to have been aware that this act was an 
 illegal one, as he did not dare to go on shore, having been 
 threatened with a suit at law by the owners of the goods. 
 
 Next in order, is the destruction of the Gaspee, the narrative 
 of the particulars of which, we shall give, as written by Col. 
 Ephraim Bo wen, the last survivor of the party which de 
 stroyed this vessel. 
 
 Narrative, of the Capture and Burning of the British Schooner 
 
 Gaspee. 
 
 "In the year 1772, the British government had stationed 
 at Newport, Rhode Island, a sloop of war, with her tender, a 
 schooner, called the Gaspee, of eight guns, commanded by 
 William Dudingston, a lieutenant in the British navy, for 
 
 * The firm consisted of Jacob, William, Elisha, Christopher and Perry Greene. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEfi. 17 
 
 the purpose of preventing the clandestine landing of articles, 
 subject to the payment of duty. The captain of this schooner 
 made it his practice to stop and board all vessels entering or 
 leaving the ports of Rhode Island, or leaving Newport for 
 Providence. 
 
 On, the 10th day of June, 1772, Capt. Thomas Lindsey left 
 Newport, in his packet for Providence, about noon, with the 
 wind at the north ; and soon after, the Gaspee was under sail, 
 in pursuit of Lindsey, and continued the chase as far as Nam- 
 quit Point, which runs off from the farm in Warwick, about 
 seven miles below Providence, now owned by Mr. John Brown 
 Francis, our late Governor. 
 
 Lindsey was standing easterly, with the tide on ebb about 
 two hours, when he hove about, at the end of Namquit Point, 
 and stood to the westward ; and Dudingston, in close chase, 
 changed his course, and ran on the Point, near its end, and 
 grounded. 
 
 Lindsey continued on his course up the river, and arrived 
 at Providence about sunset, when he immediately informed 
 Mr. John Brown, one of our first and most respectable mer 
 chants, of the situation of the Gaspee. He immediately con 
 cluded that she would remain immovable until after midnight, 
 and that now an opportunity offered of putting an end to the 
 trouble and vexation she daily caused. 
 
 Mr. Brown immediately resolved on her destruction, and he 
 forthwith directed one of his trusty shipmasters to collect eight 
 of the largest long boats in the harbor, with five oars to each ; 
 to have the oars and row-locks well muffled, to prevent noise, 
 and to place them at Fenner s Wharf, directly opposite to the 
 dwelling of Mr. James Sabin, who kept a house of board and 
 entertainment for gentlemen ; being the same house purchased 
 a few years after, by the late Welcome Arnold, one of our en 
 terprising merchants ; and is now owned by, and is the resir 
 dence of Col. Richard J. Arnold, his son.* 
 
 " This house, then unfinished, was occupied as an inn. It was soon after purchased 
 and completed by Welcome Arnold, who resided there, till his death, in 1798. It then be 
 came the residence of his eldest son, Samuel G. Arnold, father of the writer [the Hon 
 
 3 
 
38 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 About the time of the shutting up of the shops, soon after 
 !/ sunset, a man passed along the main street, beating a drum, 
 and informing the inhabitants of the fact that the Gaspee was 
 aground on Namquit Point, and would not float off until three 
 o clock, the next morning ; and inviting those persons who 
 felt a disposition to go and destroy that troublesome vessel, to 
 repair in the evening to Mr. James Sabin s house. About 
 nine o clock, I took rny father s gun, and my powder horn and 
 bullets, and went to Mr. Sabin s, and found the south-east 
 room full of people, where I loaded my gun, and all remained 
 there till about ten o c-ock, some casting bullets in the kitchen, 
 and others making arrangements for departure, when orders 
 were given to cross the street to Fenner s Wharf, and embark ; 
 which soon took place, and a sea captain acted as steersman 
 of each boat ; of whom, I recollect Capt. Abraham Whipple, 
 Capt. John B. Hopkins (with whom I embarked), and Capt. 
 Benjamin Dunn. A line, from right to left was soon formed, 
 with Capt. Whipple on the right, and Capt. Hopkins on the 
 right of the left wing. 
 
 The party thus proceeded, till within about sixty yards of 
 the Gaspee, when a sentinel hailed, "Who comes there?" 
 No answer. He hailed again, and no answer. 
 
 In about a minute, Dudingston mounted the starboard gun 
 wale, in his shirt, and hailed, " Who comes there ?" No an 
 swer. He hailed again, when Capt. Whipple answered as 
 follows : 
 
 " I am the sheriff of the county of Kent, G-d d n you. 
 I have got a warrant to apprehend you, G-d d n you ; so 
 surrender, G-d d n you." 
 
 Samuel G. Arnold], and subsequently of his youngest son, Richard J. Arnold, the present 
 owner, who has altered and enlarged it materially, within a few years. It is now the win 
 ter residence of the author of this history. The house is Xo. 124, on the east side of South 
 Main Street, on the north-east corn r of Planet Street. 
 
 This brief sketch may find an excuse in the rich revolutionary associations that surround 
 it. The year before his death, Col. Ephraim Bowen, the last survivor of the Gaspee 
 expedition, wrote an account of that affair, which was engrossed by his daughter, and now 
 hangs in the dining room of the old mansion ; the identical room in which the plot was 
 laid." Note to Arnold * Hist, of Mode Island, Vl. II. p. 312. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 19 
 
 I took my seat on the main thwart, near the larboard row 
 lock, with ray gun by my right side, facing forwards. 
 
 As soon as DuJingston began to hail, Joseph Bucklin, who 
 was standing on the main thwart, by my right side, said to me, 
 " Ephe, reach me your gun, and I can kill that fellow." I 
 reached it to him, accordingly ; when, during Capt. Whipple s 
 replying, Bucklin fired, and Dudingston fell ; and Bucklin ex 
 claimed, " I have killed the rascal." 
 
 In less than a minute after Capt. Whipple s answer, the 
 beats were alongside of the Gaspee, and boarded without op 
 position. The men on deck retreated below, as Dudingston 
 entered the cabin. 
 
 As soon as it was discovered that he was wounded, John Maw- 
 ney, who had for two or three years been studying physic and sur 
 gery, was ordered to go into the cabin, and dress Dudingston s 
 wound, and I was directed to assist him. On examination, it 
 was found the ball took effect about five inches directly below 
 the navel. Dudingston called for Mr. Dickinson to produce 
 bandages and other necessaries, for the dressing of the wound, 
 and when finished, orders were given to the schooner s com 
 pany to collect their clothing, and every thing belonging to 
 them, and put them into their boats, as all of them were to be 
 sent on shore. 
 
 All were soon collected, and put on board of the boats, in 
 cluding one of our boats. They departed, and landed Dud 
 ingston at the old Still-house Wharf, at Pawtuxet, and put 
 the chief into the house of Joseph Rhodes. 
 
 Soon after, all the party were ordered to depart, leaving one 
 boat for the leaders of the expedition ; who soon set the vessel 
 on fire, which consumed her to the water s edge. 
 
 The names of the most conspicuous actors in this remark 
 able event, are as follows, viz : Mr. John Brown,* Captains 
 
 * JOHN Baowx, and his brother JOSEPH BEOWX, were (as Admiral Montagu observes in 
 his letter to Governor Wanton,) among the most prominent citizens of Providence. This 
 family, as is vrell known to the people of Rhode Island, have ever been among its most dis 
 tinguished citizens. 
 
 The first of them, Chad Brown, was one of the five associates of Roger Williams, who 
 were the earliest founders of the State. John Brown, at the period referred to, was the 
 
20 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Abraham Whipple,* John B. Hopkins,f Benjamin Dunn and 
 five others, whose names I have forgotten ; and John Ma\v- 
 ney,| Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin|| and Turpin Smith, f 
 
 leading merchant in the colony. He was also distinguished as an earnest patron of litera 
 ture and science ; being among the founders of Brown University, and otherwise contribut 
 ing liberally for the encouragement of science. His brother Moses, who died Sept. fi, 1836, 
 in his 99th year, was a distinguished philanthropist and encourager of education. Obadiuh, 
 his cousin, was the founder of the Friends Boarding School." 
 
 The descendants of these brothers, have been equally distinguished in commerce, naviga 
 tion and manufactures, as well as liberal benefactors of our literary and charitable 
 institutions. 
 
 * ABRAHAM WHIPPLE was captain of a merchantman, in the West India trade. Daring the 
 French war, he commanded the "Game Cock," a celebrated privateer, which, in one cruise, 
 took twenty -three prizes. His shrewdness and braver} , led to his selection as captain of the 
 party which destroyed theGaspee. On the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he became 
 a commander in the American navy, and rendered his country most important service. 
 
 t JOHN B. HOPKINS, was a son of Commodore Esek Hopkins, a distinguished oflicer of the 
 revolution, and nephew of Gov. Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the declaration of In 
 dependence. He commanded the ship Cabot, one of the fleet that sailed from Rhode Island, 
 February 17, 1770. In an action that took place on this cruise, he was severely wounded. 
 
 J JOHN MA.WNEY, was a descendant of one of the Huguenot families, that came to this 
 country about the year 1700. He was educated to the profession of medicine; though, hav 
 ing inherited an ample estate, he never practised it to a very great extent. He was at one 
 time, a colonel in the Rhude Island militia, and afterwards sheriff of the county of Provi 
 dence. He was distinguished for his classical attainments, and to the close of his long life, 
 read with unabated interest, the Greek and Latin poets. He suffered greatly in the public 
 esteem, on account of his bold and unblushing irreverence and infidelity. 
 
 It is believed that there are none of his descendants now living; it is certain that there 
 are none in the male line. He died at a great age, on his estate, in that part of Cranston, 
 now known as Elmwood. 
 
 BENJAMIN PAGE, was a prominent ship master, and for many years commander of a ship 
 in the East India trade. 
 
 || JOSEPH BCCKLIN, was well known in Providence, and kept a prominent restaurant, or 
 place of resort, in South Main Street, where gentlemen resorted for their suppers. Here, 
 too, they assembled, to discuss politics; and where, possibly, the expedition which de 
 stroyed the Gaspee, was discussed, as well as at Mr. Sabins s house, which was near it. 
 
 If TURPIN SMITH, after the revolution, became a prominent shipmaster ; in which pursuit, 
 he accumulated a handsome property. After his retirement from maritime life, he lived in 
 Providence, greatly respected and beloved, discharging faithfully all the duties of a good 
 citizen. He attained to more than four score years, and left to his posterity the rich in 
 heritance of an unspotted name. 
 
 Extract from the Providence Journal, relative to the Gaspee affair, in the celebation of 
 the 4th of July, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary. In speaking of the parties in the procession, 
 the account says : 
 
 " After these, the four surviving captors of the King s armed schooner Gaspee, rode in an 
 elegant barouche, procured by Mr. Blake, of the Franklin House, expressly for this occasion. 
 Mi . Blake, himself, appeared on the box, and managed with great dexterity, the four spirited 
 horses attached to the carriage. 
 
 It was a matter of most interesting association and recollection, to witness these four sur 
 viving lads, who burnt the Gaspee (as the orator so happily termed them), at the end or 
 fifty-four years, riding iu a splendid equipage, and receiving the award of a republican tri- 
 
TI1E DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 21 
 
 my youthful companions ; all of whom are dead, I believe j 
 every man of the party, excepting myself ; and my age is 
 eighty-six years, this 29th day of August, 1839. 
 
 EPIIRAIM BOWEN."* 
 
 Colonel Bowen is in error as to the day on which the Gaspee 
 was destroyed. lie gives it as the 10th ; whereas, it is cer 
 tain that it was on the night of the 9th of June. Capt. Lind- 
 sey s sloop, called the Hannah, according to the Providence 
 Gazette, of June 13, arrived at Newport on Monday the 8th, 
 from New York, where she reported her cargo at the custom 
 house ; and on the following day, proceeded up the bay, to 
 Providence, chased by the Gaspee. The attack was planned 
 and carried into execution on the night of the 9th, by the 
 burning of the vessel ; but as the destruction was not complete 
 until the morning of the 10th, either day is applicable to the 
 event. The proclamation of Governor Wanton, in relation to 
 the affair, which is dated on the 12th, says the vessel was de 
 stroyed on " the 9th instant, in the night." Col. Bowen is 
 also in error, as to the name of the captain, which was Benja 
 min, and not Thomas Lindsey.f 
 
 Mr. John Mawney, who was one of the party conspicuous 
 
 umph, for a deed, the commission of which, at that time, had well nigh caused them to ride 
 iu a cart to Execution Dock, or to be drawn on a hurdle to Tyburn, for high treason ; an 
 event they anticipated as vastly more likely, than that in 1826, the jubilee of American free 
 dom, they should become the time honored objects of the greatest interest to an immense 
 concourse ot citiztns, thronging the streets, and crowding to the altar of freedom, to offer up 
 the sacrifices and thanksgivings of a great, prosperous and free people. These four veterans; 
 Col. Ephraim Bowen, Capt. Benjamin Page, Col. John Mawney and Capt. Turpin Smith, are 
 among our most respecteo citizens ; and on this occasion, the spirit that first animated 
 them, in 1772, seemed to kindle anew in their still vigorous frames. We believe, from the 
 present ages of these veterans, they were all not over twenty years of age, at the time of the 
 attack upon the Gaspee." 
 
 * The compiler of the present history of the Gaspee affair, was well acquainted with 
 the venerable Col. Bowen, and often rode in his chaise with him, between Provi 
 dence and his residence, in Pawtuxet. On these occasions, the Colonel liked to give his 
 revolutionary remniscenes ; among which, his connexion with the destruction of the Gas- 
 pee, was prominent. The writer also remembers John Mawney and Turpin Smith, who, 
 with Col. Bowen, always had a prominent place in the proceedings connected with the 4th 
 of July celebrations in Providence. J. R. B. 
 
 t Arnold s History of Rhode Island. Tol II. p. 320: 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE QASPEE. 
 
 in the affair, published in the Providence American and Ga 
 zette, in the year 1826, a statement, in which some additional 
 facts are given. 
 
 After hearing the drum beat, he hastened to Mr. Sabin s, 
 the place of rendezvous, where he learned the object of the 
 meeting ; and on being urged by some of his acquaintances, 
 was induced to accompany them, as surgeon. 
 
 Statement of Dr. John Maivney. 
 
 " To this," he says, " I readily consented, and went to 
 Corlis wharf, with Capt. Joseph Tillinghast, who commanded 
 the barge, it being the last boat that put off ; and in going 
 down, we stopped at Capt. Cooke s Wharf, where we took in 
 staves and paving stones ; which done, followed our com 
 mander, and came up with them a considerable distance 
 down the river ; after which, we rowed along pretty rapidly, 
 till we came in sight of the schooner, when Capt. (the late 
 Commodore Whipple.) ordered us to form a line, which was 
 instantly complied with ; after which, we rowed gently 
 along, till we got near the schooner ; when we were hailed 
 from on board, with the words, Who comes there ? 
 Capt. Whipple replied, I want to come on board. 
 The reply was, Stand off, you can t come on board. 
 On which Capt. Whipple roared out, I am the sheriff of 
 the county of Kent ; I am come for the commander of this 
 vessel, and have him I will, dead or alive ; men, spring to 
 your oars ! when we were in an instant on her bows. 
 
 I was then sitting with Capt. Tillinghast, in the stern of the 
 barge, and sprang immediately forward ; and seeing a rope 
 hang down her bows, seized it, to help myself in. The rope 
 slipping, I fell almost to my waist in the water ; but, being 
 active and nimble, I recovered, and was the first of our crew 
 on deck ; when Simeon H. Olney handed me a stave, with 
 which, seeing one that I took to be of the crew of the schooner, 
 floundering below the windlass, I was in the attitude of lev- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 23 
 
 elling a stroke, when he cried out, f John, don t strike." 
 Being very intimately acquainted with Capt. Samuel Dunn, I 
 knew his voice, left him, and sprang back of the windlass, 
 where there was commotion and noise, but which soon sub 
 sided ; the crew jumping down the hold, I immediately fol 
 lowed, when I ordered them to bring cords to tie their hands, 
 and told them they should not be hurt, but be sent on shore. 
 They brought some tarred strings, with which I tied the hands 
 of two behind, when John Brown, Esq., called to me, saying I 
 was wanted immediately on deck, where I was instantly 
 helped. 
 
 When I asked Mr. Brown what was the matter, he replied, 
 Don t call names, but go immediately into the cabin, there is 
 one wounded, and will bleed to death. 
 
 I hastened into the cabin, and found Lieut. Dudingston in a 
 sitting posture, gently reclining to the left, bleeding profusely, 
 with a thin, white woolen blanket, loose about him, which I 
 threw aside, and discovered the effect of a musket ball, in his 
 left groin ; and thinking the femoral artery was cut, threw 
 open my waistcoat, and taking my shirt by the collar, tore it 
 to my waistband, when Mr. Dudingston said, Pray sir, 
 don t tear your clothes, there is linen in that trunk ; upon 
 which, I requested Joseph Bucklin to break open the trunk, 
 and tear linen and scrape lint, which he immediately attempt 
 ed ; but finding the linen new and strong, could not make the 
 lint. 
 
 I then directed him to place his hands as I had mine, which 
 was, the ball of my left hand on the orifice of the wound ; and 
 gave him the word to slip his hand under mine, and to press 
 hard, to prevent the effusion of blood ; which being done, I 
 went to the linen, and attempted to scrape it into lint, but 
 found I could not effect it. As daylight was fast coming on, 
 and our time short, I then tore the linen into strips, for com 
 presses and the necessary bandages ; which was done, by 
 knotting them into long strips, placed the compresses five Or 
 six deep, and with the ligatures by the lieutenant. 
 
24 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 All being prepared, I told Bucklin to raise his hands, when 
 I instantly placed the compresses on the orifice ; and placing 
 the bandage round the thigh, over the wound, and crossing it 
 above, drew tight, so that the effusion of blood was stopped. 
 
 During the operation, I was several times called upon at 
 the door, but was not ready. When the door was opened, 
 many rushed in, and attacked the bottles. I having boots on, 
 stamped on them, and requested others to assist, which was 
 readily done. During this, Mr. Dudingston was carried out of 
 the room, and I never saw him after, notwithstanding I had 
 several invitations, through Dr. Henry Sterling. 
 
 When I came on deck, I saw Capt. Tillinghast, and s-nne 
 others. We got into the boat, and rowed up the river a cer 
 tain distance, and went by land up to town ; when Capt. Til 
 linghast, who was then living with me, after taking breakfast, 
 went on the hill to view the smoking ruins of the vessel, which 
 was all in flames soon after we left it.* 
 
 JOHN MAWNEY." 
 
 This statement of Dr. Mawney, differs somewhat from that 
 of Col. Bowen, though in nothing- that is material. It is quite 
 natural, that among so many men, incidents might take place 
 which all did not observe. The attention of the doctor was 
 particularly directed to the wounded officer ; though, it 
 would appear that he had been as ready to inflict, as to cure 
 wounds. 
 
 " From a subsequent statement of Dr. Mawney, it appears 
 that Lieut. Dudingston was not wanting in gratitude to his 
 surgeon. After his wound was dressed, he offered Dr. Maw 
 ney a gold stock buckle, as a testimonial of his gratitude. 
 
 * The Providence Gazette, of June 13, 1772, after giving an account of the burning of the 
 Gaspee, adds the following : 
 
 * We hear that one Daggett, belonging to the Vineyard, who had served the beforemen- 
 tioned schooner, as a pilot, but at the time of her being destroyed, was on board the Beaver 
 sloop of war, on going ashore a few days since, at Narragansett, to a sheep-shearing, was 
 seized by the company, who cut off his hair, and performed on him the operation of shear 
 ing, in such a manner, that his ears and nose were in imminent danger." 
 
THE DESTRUCTION Otf THE GASPEE. 25 
 
 This was refused ; but a silver one was afterwards offered and 
 accepted, and worn by Dr. Mawney, but a little while before 
 his death."* 
 
 The first official notice of the destruction of the Gaspee, is 
 a letter from Deputy Governor Sessions, to Governor Wanton, 
 written the day following that event, after he had paid a visit 
 to Lieut. Dudingston, at Pawtuxet. It appears that the first 
 act of the Deputy Governor, on hearing of the affair, was to 
 see the wounded officer, and endeavor to do all that lay in 
 his power to ameliorate his sufferings, and administer to his 
 comforts. 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Providence, June 11, 1772. 
 
 Sir : A very disagreeable affair has lately happened within this part of the 
 colony. Last Tuesday night, as His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, lay aground 
 on the point of land, called Xamquit, a little below Pawtuxet, she was boarded in a 
 hostile manner, by a number of persons unknoAvn, who, in the attack, dangerously 
 wounded the commander, William Dudingston, by firing a pistol or musket ball \/ 
 through his arm, from whence it passed and entered near his groin, and is now 
 lodged in some part of his body. 
 
 As soon as they had secured the possession of the vessel, they took out the captain, 
 with all the people ; the greater part being first pinioned, put them into boats, and 
 then put them ashore on the main land, near Pawtuxet ; after which, they put fire 
 to the schooner, which soon reduced her to ashes, down to the water s edge. 
 
 Upon my receiving the news, I immediately set out for Pawtuxet, attended by 
 some gentlemen from this town, went directly to Capt. Dudingston, told him if he 
 needed any money, surgeons, or a removal of his person to a place more conven 
 ient, I would give him all the assistance in my power. 
 
 He replied, he wanted no favors with respect to himself, but only desired some 
 care might be taken of his people, that they might be collected together, and sent 
 either to Boston, to the admiral, or else to the Beaver, at Newport, which I prom 
 ised to take care to do. 
 
 I then informed him, that the design of my visit, at that time, was not only to af 
 ford him any relief his circumstances might require, but also to gain a declaration 
 from his own mouth respecting the attack that had been made on his person, and 
 the vessel he commanded, that the perpetrators might be brought to justice. 
 
 He answered, he would give me no account of the matter. First, because of his 
 indisposition of body ; and secondly, because it was his duty to forbear any thing of 
 the nature till he had done it to his commanding officer, at a court martial, to which, 
 if he lived, he must be called ; but if he died, he desired it might all die with him. 
 
 * Judge Staples s Documentary History, p. 10. 
 
26 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 I then asked him if he was willing I should examine any of his officers and 
 people. 
 
 He said he was willing. I then proceeded to examine a number of them, they all 
 agreeing nearly to the same thing ; and herewith convey to Your Honor copies of the 
 most material of their declarations. The dangerous tendency of this transaction, is too 
 obvious, to pass it over with the least appearance of neglect ; and therefore, doubt 
 not Your Honor will give it due attention, and prosecute such measures as wisdo m 
 and prudence shall dictate. 
 
 It is the prevailing opinion of the gentlemen in this Quarter, that a proclamation, 
 with a large reward, be issued, for apprehending the persons who have thus offended. 
 You will please consult the gentlemen your way ; and, in the mean time, I will en 
 deavor to collect the sentiments of the members of the Assembly, and other princi 
 pal gentlemen by name, and send the same to Your Honor, as soon as may be. 
 
 I am, &c, &c., DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 Enclosed in this letter, were the following affidavits : 
 Affidavit of Bartholomew Cheever. 
 
 The examination of Bartholomew Cheever, seaman, lately belonging to His Maj 
 esty s schooner, the Gaspee, taken by Darius Sessions, Deputy Governor of the 
 colony of Rhode Island, &c., is as followeth, viz. : 
 
 That the said schooner, being bound from Newport up to Providence, to take on 
 board some of His Majesty s seamen, that were expected from Boston, did, on the 
 9th of this instant, at about three o clock, in the afternoon of said day, run aground 
 on a point of land, about six miles below the town of Providence, where she, the 
 said schooner, lay until twelve o clock, at night, at which time, he, the said Cheever, 
 was called upon deck, to take the watch. About three-quarters of an hour after 
 wards, the schooner yet being aground, he observed some long boats, about six or 
 seven in number, full of men, drawing near to the schooner ; upon which, he in 
 formed the commander, Capt. Dudingston, who immediately came on deck, and or 
 dered him to hail them, and bid them stand off, on their peril ; to which they an 
 swered, " D n you, we have you." 
 
 The captain then ordered him to call all hands on deck, which he did ; but before 
 many of them got up, the boats were alongside, and the crews getting on board ; 
 and as they were entering the schooner, he saw the flash and heard the report of a 
 musket, and heard the captain cry out, he was a dead man. 
 
 "We were then ordered into the hold, and taken out separately, and put into the 
 boat alongside, the most of us being pinioned, and then put on shore on the main 
 land ; where we had not been long, before we saw the schooner on fire, where she 
 continued burning, till the fire reached the water s edge. 
 
 Question Did you, or do you know, or do you remember, ever to have seen be 
 fore, any of those persons that boarded the schooner at that time ? 
 
 Answer No. his 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW X CHEEVER. 
 mark. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OP THE GASPEE. 27 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c., -j 
 Warwick, June 10, 1772. ( 
 
 The above named Bartholomew Cheever was solemnly sworn to the truth of the 
 foregoing declaration, to the which he has subscribed as above, before 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
 Affidavits of John Johnson and William J. Caple. 
 
 The examination of John Johnson, boatswain of His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, 
 commanded by William Dudingston ; together with the examination of Win. J. Ca 
 ple, a seaman on board said schooner, taken this 10th day of June, in the twelfth 
 year of His Majesty s reign, A. D. 1772, before the Hon. Darius Sessions, Deputy Gov 
 ernor, severally say : 
 
 That on the 9th of June, being bound with said schooner, to the town of Provi 
 dence, in order to take on board some of His Majesty s seamen, which were expected 
 from Boston, in order to re-place them on board His Majesty s ship to which they 
 belonged, about three o clock in the afternoon of said day, the schooner grounded 
 on a point in the Narragansett Bay, about six miles southward of the town of Provi 
 dence ; and about the middle of the, night, following, the schooner still being on 
 ground, there being but one hand on deck, he discovered seven or eight long boats, 
 with a number of persons aboard them ; on which, the person on deck informed the 
 commander, Wm. Dudingston, who hailed the boats, and ordered them to keep off 5 
 but the persons on board said boats, not regarding the commander s orders, came near, 
 in order to board said schooner ; on which, the captain or commander, called all 
 hands; but before he was on deck, we heard two small arms or pistols fired; 
 when coming on deck, the schooner was boarded ; and being in the hatchway, said 
 Johnson received several blows with a stick, and as soon as we were on deck, we 
 were bound, and all the rest of the seamen bound likewise, and put on board their 
 boat, and landed on the west side of said bay, together with the captain or com 
 mander, who was much wounded. 
 
 Question Have you any knowledge t>f the persons that boarded the schooner ? 
 
 Answer No. his 
 
 JOHN X JOHNSON. 
 mark. 
 
 his 
 
 WILLIAM J. X CAPLE. 
 mark. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c., 
 
 War^ck, June 10, 1772. 
 
 The within John Johnson and Williani J. Caple maue solemn oath to the truth of 
 the within or foregoing declaration, to which they have subscribed, before 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 On the following day, June 12, Governor Sessions addressed 
 another letter to Governor Wanton ; the bearer of which, 
 probably brought back to him the proclamation of Governor 
 Wanton, which follows : 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Providence, June 12, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Since I wrote you yesterday, by Hacker, I have received the advice of all 
 the civil authority in this town, as well as an application in writing, signed by a 
 great number of the most reputable inhabitants, who are unanimously of opinion, 
 and earnestly desire that Your Honor forthwith issue a proclamation, with proper 
 reward, for the apprehending and bringing to justice any and every person that was 
 concerned in destroying the schooner Gaspee, or in assaulting and wounding 
 William Dudingston, the commander of said schooner ; and, if Your Honor finds it 
 expedient to put forth such a proclamation, it is requested that a copy thereof, may 
 be sent by the bearer, who goes express, and has orders to wait until it is deter 
 mined whether a proclamation be issued or not ; and if it be, to bring it back with 
 him timely, that it may be inserted in our newspaper to-morrow. 
 
 Some exceptions are taken at the Gaspee s being called His Majesty s schooner, 
 as it is thought by some, she, in fact, really was not, and consequently did not de 
 serve that appellation. 
 
 If the evidence we have in that respect, be sufficient to denominate her a King s 
 vessel, she ought to be called so ; if not, then only without any compliment, the 
 schooner Gaspee ; which is submitted to Your Honor s better knowledge and dis 
 cretion, by Your Honor s most humble servant, 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 P. S. Dr. Sterling, who attends Capt. Dudingston, informed us yesterday that 
 he was in a fair way to recover of his wounds. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 To the Hon. Joseph Wanton, Esq., at Newport. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 29 
 
 Proclamation of the Governor of Rhode Island, relative to the 
 Destruction of the Gaspee. 
 
 By the Honorable Joseph Wanton, Esquire, Governor, Captain General and Com 
 mander in Chief of, and over the English Colony of Rhode Island and Provi 
 dence Plantations, in New England, in America 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 Whereas, on Tuesday, the 9th inst., in the night, a number of people unknown, 
 boarded His Majesty s armed schooner the Gaspee, as she lay aground on a point 
 of land, called Namquit, a little to the southward of Pawtuxet, in the colon} r , afore 
 said, who dangerously wounded William Dudingston, the commander, and by force 
 took him, with all his people, put them into boats, and landed them near Pawtuxet, 
 and afterwards set fire to the said schooner, whereby she was totally destroyed. 
 
 I have, therefore, thought fit, by and with the advice of such of His Majesty s 
 Council as could be seasonably convened, to issue this proclamation, strictly 
 charging and commanding all His Majesty s officers, within the said colony, both 
 civil and military, to exert themselves with the utmost vigilance, to discover and ap 
 prehend the persons guilty of the aforesaid atrocious crime, that they may be 
 brought to condign punishment. 
 
 And I do hereby offer a reward of one hundred pounds, sterling money of 
 Great Britain, to any person or persons, who shall discover the perpetrators of the 
 said villainy, to be paid immediately upon the conviction of any one or more of 
 them. 
 
 And the several sheriffs in the said colony, are hereby required forthwith to 
 cause this proclamation to be posted up in the most public places in each of the 
 towns in their respective counties. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Newport, 
 
 this 12th day of June, in the twelfth year of the 
 
 reign of His Most Sacred Majesty George the 
 Third, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, 
 and so forth. Anno Dora. 1772. J. WANTON, 
 
 By His Honor s command: 
 
 HENRY WARD, Secretary. 
 
 God save the King. 
 
30 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASPEE. 
 
 Notwithstanding the wound of Lieutenant Dudingston, he 
 probably on the morning of the 10th of June, dispatched a mes 
 senger to Admiral Montagu, with the news of the loss of his 
 vessel. 
 
 The messenger was doubtless William Dickinson, a midship 
 man ; as the following letter, dated the llth, was received by 
 Governor Wanton, from the admiral, endorsing the deposi 
 tion of Dickinson. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, 11 tli Juno, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Enclosed I transmit Your Excellency a deposition taken before me, of the 
 piratical proceedings of the people of Providence, in Rhode Island government, by 
 attacking His Majesty s schooner with an armed force, wounding her commander 
 in a dangerous manner, and then setting her on fire. 
 
 I am to request Your Excellency will use such methods as you shall think proper, 
 for apprehending and bringing the offenders to justice. I am now dispatching a 
 sloop to England with the account I enclose to you ; and am, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Excellency Governor Wanton. 
 
 The deposition enclosed, was that of William Dickinson, 
 which was as follows : 
 
 Deposition of William Dickinson. 
 
 William Dickinson, midshipman of His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, sayeth : 
 
 That the said schooner was at single anchor about three leagues below Provi 
 dence, in Rhode Island government, 10th of June, 1772, and about half past twelve 
 o clock, in the night or morning, the watch gave the alarm that a number of boats 
 were coming down the river, and very near us (being an exceeding dark night), we 
 hailed them, and ordered them to keep off. 
 
 They instantly gave us three cheers ; on which, we fired at them with muskets, 
 which they immediately returned with a half a dozen muskets (or thereabouts). 
 We then fired our pistols, on which they boarded us upon the starboard bow, and 
 fired a number of small arms. Immediately Lieutenant Dudingston (her com 
 mander,) cried out, " Good God, I am done for." He Avas wounded in his groin and 
 arm. 
 
 WTiile we were disputing forward, relative to their boarding us, three other boats 
 boarded us, upon the quarter. In the three boats which boarded us upon the quar 
 ter, there were thirty or forty men, at least ; and in the whole, I suppose about one 
 hundred and fifty in number, on which we thought proper (the lieutenant being 
 wounded,) to surrender. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 31 
 
 When they had got possession of the schooner, they used the people very 
 ill. by pinioning of them, and throwing them into their boats, and refused the lieu 
 tenant and officers any uecessaries but what they had on, and not even suffered 
 the commanding officer to have his papers, and robbed his servant of several silver 
 spoons, and throwed his linen and apparel overboard. 
 
 We were then sent ashore, in two different boats ; the lieutenant and part of the 
 men in one boat, and myself with the rest of the people in the other boat, at the 
 distance of about two miles asunder, as we found at daylight. I remained on the 
 beach ; and about half past three o clock, saw the schooner on fire ; and about half 
 past four, I saw three boats put off from her, full of men, and rowed up towards 
 Providence ; and an hour after, another boat came by her, and landed her men at 
 Pawtuxet. 
 
 Questions by Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Q. How long had you been lying in Providence River ? 
 
 A. We came to an anchor there, at about four o clock, in the afternoon of the 
 9th of June. 
 
 Q Had you sent any boat ashore. 
 
 A. No ; but employed sounding the harbor. 
 
 Q. Had you been at Providence before, during the time you were upon that 
 station ? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Do you imagine that the people who boarded you, came from Providence ? 
 
 A. Yes ; I believe the most part, but cannot say all, as one boat landed her men 
 
 at Pawtuxet. 
 
 Q. What distance is Pawtuxet from Providence, by land ? 
 
 A. Five miles. 
 
 Q. What distance were the boats from the schooner, when they were first 
 seen ? 
 
 A. I was not upon deck at first, myself; but when I saw them, they were about 
 one hundred yards. 
 
 Q. Why did you not fire your great guns at them ? 
 
 A. They boarded us upon the bows, and were so near to us, that we had not 
 time to get our guns out at the bow ports. 
 
 Q. Did any of the people that boarded you, appear like gentlemen ? 
 
 A. Yes ; many of them appeared like men of credit and tradesmen ; and but 
 few like common men. 
 
 Q. Did they make use of any opprobrious language ? 
 
 A. Yes ; by threatening to put the lieutenant to death, and calling us piratical 
 rascals. 
 
 Q. Where did you leave the Beaver ? 
 
 A. Off Golden Island, in the mouth of Seaconnet Passage. 
 
 Q. What distance from you ? 
 
 A. About twenty-five miles. 
 
 Q. Could she be in sight when this happened ? 
 
 A. No ; the main land is between. 
 
 Q. Is there any thing more that you can recollect ? 
 
 A. Yes ; one of the people took me by the collar, and said, " D n you, where 
 
32 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 is your pilot Daggett ?" I answered, he was discharged six weeks ago. He an 
 swered, " D n your blood, you lie ;" and said they would find him, and riee him alive. 
 
 Q. Did they suffer the lieutenant to put on any clothes, after he was 
 wounded ? 
 
 A. No ; he was in his shirt, with his great coat over his shoulders, and a blanket 
 round his body. 
 
 Q. Was any other person wounded, except the lieutenant ? 
 
 A. Yes ; one in the head. 
 
 And I further declare, that when Lieutenant Dudingston came on deck, I saw him 
 go and stand by the starboard foreshrouds, in his shirt, with a pistol in one hand and 
 a hanger in the other. After he was wounded, he got aft, and sat down by the 
 cabin companion way, when the two ring-leaders, with a niimber following them? 
 came to him, and said : 
 
 " Now, you piratical rascal, AVC have got you. D n you, we will hang you all by 
 the laws of Great Britain. D n you, what made you fire, when we answered you 
 that the head sheriff was in the boat V" 
 
 The captain (N. B. The head sheriff and captain are fictitious names that the 
 ring-leaders went by) said, " Stand aside, let me dispatch the piratical dog." 
 
 He then lifted a handspike over Mr. Dudingston s head, who asked " if they 
 would give no quarters ?" 
 
 They answered " No." 
 
 He then desired they would let me bind up his wounds, for he was shot, and 
 showed them the wound in his left arm. 
 
 They then said, " D n your blood, you are shot by your own people." 
 
 He was then taken down into the cabin, by some of the mob. They then pin 
 ioned me, and put me into the boat, where I remained for half an hour ; when one 
 of the mob called to their people in the boat to loosen me, for the lieutenant wanted 
 me. I went down in the cabin to him. He was laid on the after lockers, and 
 one of the mob washing and binding up his wounds. The mob then got him on 
 deck, and put him into a boat, and put off. 
 
 Soon after, I was ordered into the boat again, and put off. In going on shore, I 
 saw a negro with the lieutenant s hanger ; being asked by another how he got it, 
 he said he took it from the captain. 
 
 Being down in the cabin, with Lieutenant Dudingston, the ring-leaders, and some 
 of the principal of the mob demanded his papers and orders for his proceeding in 
 such piratical manner. I then showed them the commission from the lords of the 
 admiralty, with all his orders and instructions that he had received from the ad 
 miral, which they took and carried away. 
 
 In going ashore, one of the mob that rowed the boat, said, that he and several 
 more, would not have been there, but that they were taken out of a house by force, 
 and compelled to go ; that they beat a drum round the town of Providence, in the 
 evening, to raise a mob. W. DICKINSON. 
 
 Province of the Massachusetts Bay, > 
 Suffolk, sc. Boston, June 11, 1772. ) 
 
 The above named William Dickinson, personally appearing, maketh solemn oath 
 to the truth of the foregoing deposition, as written upon this and the six preceding 
 pages, which is taken at the request of the Honorable John Montagu, Esq. 
 
 Before me, EDMUND QUINCY. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 33 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu, in reply. 
 
 Newport, June 12, 1772. 
 
 Sir : I have this moment received Your Honor s letter, of yesterday, upon the 
 destruction of His Majesty s schooner Gaspee. 
 
 Upon the first information of this unhappy affair, which gives me, and every 
 friend to government, the highest concern, I called together all the members of 
 the General Assembly that I could conveniently, who unanimously advised me to 
 publish the proclamation, of which I enclose you a copy. 
 
 I have not, as yet, been able to collect all the circumstances of this daring insult 
 upon authority, so as to give you a perfect idea of it ; but by the evidence of three 
 of the people of the Gaspee, taken before His Honor the Deputy Governor, copies 
 of which, I transmit, you will perceive that there is a material difference between 
 them and the account given by William Dickinson. 
 
 You may rely upon the utmost and continued exertions of the officers of 
 this colony to detect and bring to justice the perpetrators of this violent 
 outrage. 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you, that Lieutenant Dudingston is in a fair way of 
 recovery. I am, sir, &c., &c., J. WANTON. 
 
 To His Honor Admiial Montagu. 
 
 On the 12th, Lieutenant Dudingston had so far recovered, 
 as to be able to write a letter to Admiral Montagu, wherein he 
 presented his version of the destruction of his vessel. This 
 differs but little from those of Col. Bowen and Dr. Mawney, 
 as to the attack of the boats, his being wounded and the sur 
 render of his vessel to an overpowering force. " 
 
 It will be inferred, however, from the Lieutenant s account, 
 that he and his crew were pretty harshly handled, which may 
 have been true. He had given great offence to the people, by 
 his overbearing conduct, and by his unlawful seizure of prop 
 erty ; so that they were little disposed, in the contest on board 
 his vessel, to treat him kindly. But after he had been taken 
 to Pawtuxet, wounded, every attention was paid him. 
 
 It is natural, that in stating the case to Admiral Montagu, 
 Dudingston would represent the circumstances as favorable to 
 himself and crew as possible. 
 5 
 
34 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Lieut. Dudingston to Admiral Montagu,. 
 
 Pawtuxet, 12th June. 1772. 
 Sir: On Wednesday morning, about one o clock, as His Majesty s schooner was 
 
 C <t V 
 
 lying upon a spite of sand called Namcutt, the sentinels discovered a number of 
 boats coming down the river, towards us. 
 
 As soon as 1 was acquainted with it, I came upon deck, and hailed the boats, for 
 bidding them to come near the schooner, or I should order them to be fired upon. 
 
 They made answer, they had the sheriff with them, and must come on board. 
 
 I told them, the sheriff could not be admitted on board at that time of night ; on 
 which they set set up a halloa, and rowed as fast as they could, towards the vessel s 
 bows. I was then using every means in my power, to get the guns to bear upon 
 them, which I could not affect, as they came right ahead of the vessel, she being 
 aground. I then ordered the men to come forward with their small arms, and pre 
 vent them from boarding. 
 
 As I was standing myself to oppose them, and making a stroke with my sword, at 
 the man who was attempting to come up, at that instant I found myself disabled in 
 my left arm, and shot through the groin. I then stepped from the gunwale, with 
 an intention to order them retire to close quarters ; but soon saw that most of 
 them were knocked down, and myself twice, (after telling them I was mortally 
 wounded) . 
 
 They damned me, and said I was not wounded ; if I was, my own people had 
 done it. As loss of blood, made me drop down upon deck, they ordered me to beg 
 my life, and commanded the people to surrender. As I saw there was no possibility 
 of defending the vessel against such numbers, who were in every respect armed, and 
 commanded with regularity, by one who personated the sheriff, I thought it best for 
 the people s preservation, to propose to them that I would order them to surrender, 
 if they assured me they should not be hurt ; which they did. 
 
 I then called out, which was immediately echoed by the people round me, that I 
 had given them orders to surrender. They hurried all the people below, and or 
 dered them up, one by one, and tied their hands behind their backs, then ordered 
 them into different boats. 
 
 I then begged they would either dispatch me, or suffer my wounds to be dressed j 
 upon that, they allowed my servant to be unbound, to get me things for dressing, 
 and carried me below. But what was my surprise, when I came down in the cabin, 
 two surgeons were ordered down from the deck, to dress me, who were furnished 
 with drops, and began to scrape lint for that purpose. 
 
 During this time, I had an opportunity of observing the persons of about a dozen^ 
 who were in the cabin. They appeared to me to be merchants and masters of ves 
 sels, who were at my bureau, reading and examining my papers. They promised 
 to let me have the schooner s books, and my clothes ; instead of which, as they were 
 handing me up, to go into the boat, they threw them overboard, or into some of the 
 boats. I was soon afterwards thrust into a boat, almost naked. 
 
 During the time they were rowing me on shore, I had an opportunity of observing 
 the boat ; which appeared to me, to be a very large long-boat. I saw by the man 
 who steered her, a cutlass lying by him, and directing the men to have their arms 
 ready. As soon as they put off, the sheriff gave them orders to land me on some 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 35 
 
 nock, and the boat to come off immediately ; and told me if I did not consent to ~v/ 
 pay the value of the mm, T must not expect to have any thing belonging to me, 
 saved. 
 
 I made answer, whatever reparation the law would give, I was ready and willing ; 
 as to my things, they might do with them, as they pleased. They were accordingly 
 o-oms to land me on this neck, when I told them they had better throw me over 
 board. One man, who had a little more humanity than any of the rest, said they 
 had better land me at the Point of Pawtuxet. As I was unable to stand, they un 
 bound five of the men, and gave them a blanket to carry me up. When I was half 
 way on shore, I heard some of the schooner s guns go off, and heard the people say 
 she was on fire. 
 
 i had not been carried far, when the people exclaimed, I was on an island, and 
 they saw no house ; on which, they laid me down, and went in quest of one. Soon 
 after, they came to acquaint me they saw one, which I was carried to ; a man was 
 immediately dispatched to Providence, for a surgeon. A little after, the people 
 joined me, with the midshipman ; all of whom, that I could persuade, are sent on 
 board His Majesty s sloop Beaver. 
 
 The schooner is utterly destroyed, and every thing appertaining to her, me, and 
 the schooner s company. If I live, I am not without hope of being able to convict \/ 
 some of the principal people that were with them. The pain, with the loss of 
 blood, rendered me incapable of informing you before of the particulars. Thtrre 
 are none of the people any ways wounded, but bruised with handspikes. 
 
 I am, sir, &c., &o., 
 
 W. DUDINGSTON. 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Tn the above letter, Dudingston says, that in taking him 
 ashore, they told him, if he " did not consent to pay the value 
 of the rum " he had seized, " he must not expect to have any 
 thing saved belonging" to him ; to which, he made answer, 
 that he was ready to make " any reparation the law would 
 give." 
 
 It appears, by the following letter, from the collector of cus 
 toms, at Providence, that the owners of the goods referred to, 
 lost no time in laying their hands on his person. 
 
 William Checkley^ to the Commissioners of Customs. 
 
 [Providence], 12th June, 1772. 
 
 Honorable Gentlemen : Hearing this morning, that the high sheriff was gone to 
 arrest Capt. Dudingston, on the suit of Jacob Greene and others, for goods which 
 Capt. Dudingston lately seized in the river, and carried to Boston, I went down im 
 mediately, and found the sheriff had just before arrested him ; a copy of the writ I 
 herewith enclose to Your Honors. 
 
 I offered to be security for him but Capt. Dudingston told me he should not ask 
 
36 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 any person to be security, as he did not expect to live long, and the sheriff might do 
 as lie pleased. The surgeons told me he was too ill to be moved ; and as I expect 
 the sheriff will use great severity with him, I humbly request Your Honors to give 
 me such direction in the matter as to you shall seem necessary.* 
 
 I am, &c., &c., 
 
 WILLIAM CIIECKLEY. 
 To the Honorable His Majesty s Commissioners of Customs. 
 
 On the receipt of Lieutenant Dudingston s letter, of the 12th 
 June, Admiral Montagu addressed the following to Governor 
 Wanton. 
 
 The only thing that surprised the admiral in the statement 
 of the lieutenant, was, that of his finding two surgeons in the 
 cabin of the Gaspee, when he was taken down wounded ; 
 whence he doubtless inferred, that the attacking party expected 
 to shed blood, and that it was a previously contrived plot. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, loth June, 1772. 
 
 Sir : By return of express, I am favored with Your Excellency s letter, and am 
 much obliged for the part you have taken in endeavoring to find out and bring to 
 justice, those rebellious, lawless and piratical people, who were concerned in wound 
 ing the King s lieutenant, and burning his schooner. 
 
 It will not bear a dispute but that they belonged to Providence, as they were 
 heard by four or five gentlemen that were in the town, and are now here, beating 
 the drum to arms, to raise a body of people to destroy the King s schooner. I have 
 perused the depositions which Your Excellency enclosed ; and although they differ 
 in words, yet the matter is much to the same purpose. 
 
 I have, since I received yours, received one from Lieutenant Dudingston, whose 
 account nearly agrees with the other, with this addition only : that when he was 
 carried down to his cabin, after he was wounded, he, to his great surprise, found 
 two surgeons, that came off from the shore in the boats, ready to dress his wounds, 
 with drops and scraping of lint ; and at least a dozen of these people who were in 
 the cabin, who were at his bureau reading and examining his papers, appeared to 
 him to be merchants and masters of vessels. 
 
 It gives me pleasure to hear the lieutenant is in a fair Avay of recovery. 
 
 I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Excellency Governor Wanton. 
 
 * Jacob Greene & Co., the owners of the rum and sugar, referred to, commenced a suit 
 at the July term of the court of common pleas, and recovered judgment against Dudingstou 
 for the illegal seizure. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 37 
 
 Admiral Montagu lost no time transmitting to His Majesty s 
 secretary of state, the Earl of Ilillsborough, an account of this 
 affair. His letter is dated on the very day of Go/ernor Wan 
 ton s first letter to him ; and his account of it was given from 
 the version as presented to him by Lieutenant Dudingston, or 
 some one else from the Gaspee, on the day she was destroyed. 
 His account is very brief. 
 
 The deposition referred to, is doubtless that of William Dick 
 inson, a midshipman of the Gaspee, a copy of which, was 
 transmitted by the admiral to Governor Wanton, in his letter 
 to him, of the llth June. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to Lord Hillsborough. 
 
 Boston, in Xew England, ^ 
 12th June 177 2. \ 
 
 My Lord : I was in hopes I should not have had occasion to trouble Your Lord 
 ship with any public letters, while I have the honor to command on the continent ; 
 but the lawless and piratical people of Rhode Island obliges me to write to you. 
 
 By the enclosed deposition, Your Lordship will see that this nest of daring smug 
 glers have wounded in a most dangerous manner Lieut. Dudingston, and burnt the 
 King s schooner Gaspee, under his command, for no other cause, except his being 
 dilligcnt in the discharge of his duty, by giving every proper assistance to the fair 
 trader, and using every endeavor to suppress the illicit trade that is carried on to a 
 great degree, in that province, and which can never be checked unless there are 
 more men-of-war stationed there, to keep the inhabitants in order. 
 
 I beg leave to refer Your Lordship to the enclosed deposition, for the particulars, 
 and wait Your Lordship s instructions for what is to be done. Permit me to add, 
 that the lieutenant that is wounded, is a sober, dilligent, good officer ; and has most 
 strictly done his duty since I have had the honor of commanding here, frequently 
 at the hazard of his life, in assisting the revenue. Should he survive, which I have 
 little hopes of, I beg leave to recommend him to Your Lordship s favor and pro 
 tection. I have the honor, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To the Right Honorable Lord Hillsborough. 
 
 P. S. Herewith I transmit to Your Lordship copies of letters which have passed 
 between me, Lieutenant Dudingston and the Governor of Rhode Island, which I 
 did not think necessary to trouble Your Lordship with, until this melancholy affair 
 of the schooner happened. J. M. 
 
38 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The following is the official account of the destruction of the 
 Gaspee, transmitted by Governor Wanton, to the Earl of 
 Hillsborousrh. 
 
 The. Governor of Rhode Island to the Earl of Hillsborough. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, 
 June- 1C, 1772. 
 
 My Lord : I did myself the honor to write to Your Lordship on the 20th ultimo. I 
 am now reduced to the necessity of addressing Your Lordship upon a most disa 
 greeable subject ; the destruction of the schooner Gaspee, under the command of 
 Lieutenant William Dudingston, by persons unknown. The particulars relating to 
 this unwarrantable transaction, so far as I have been able to collect them, are as 
 follows : 
 
 On the 9th inst., she run aground on a point of land called Namquit, a little 
 below Pawtuxet, on the Narragansett River, within this colony. About three- 
 quarters of an hour after twelve o clock, at night, there being but one hand 
 on deck, six or seven boats, full of men, were by him discovered drawing towards 
 said schooner ; and before many of her hands had time to get upon deck, was 
 boarded by the people in the boats, who, as soon as they had secured the possession 
 of the schooner, took out the captain and all the people, and set them ashore on 
 the main land ; after which, they set fire to the schooner. In the attack, Mr. Dud 
 ingston was wounded by a ball through his arm, from whence it passed anil lodged 
 in some part of his body. 
 
 Mr. Sessions, the Deputy Governor of this colony, immediately upon hearing of 
 this unhappy affair, went to Mr. Dudingston, and offered him all the help and as 
 sistance in his power ; but Mr. Dudingston said he wanted no favors for himself. 
 
 The Deputy Governor then told him, that he came not only to oiler him any 
 relief his distressed circumstances might require, but also to gain a declaration from 
 his own mouth respecting the destruction of the schooner under his command, that 
 proper and rigorous measures might be taken to discover and bring the perpetrators 
 to justice. 
 
 Mr. Dudingston answered, he would give him no account, because of his indispo 
 sition ; and also, because it was his duty to forbear any thing of that kind, till he 
 had done it to his commanding officer, at a court martial, to which, if he lived, he 
 must be called ; but if he died, he desired it might all die with him. 
 
 The Deputy Governor, with the consent of Mr. Dudingston, then proceeded to 
 examine a number of his men, and, on the llth, transmitted copies of the most mate 
 rial of the examinations to me ; upon the receipt whereof, I immediately convened 
 such of His Majesty s Council and the house of deputies as could be seasonably no 
 tified; and laid before them the proceedings of the Deputy Governor, which they highly 
 approved of, and unanimously recommended my issuing a proclamation, with a re 
 ward of 100, sterling, for the discovery of any of the persons concerned in this 
 violent insult upon government, which I cheerfully complied with, and sent theni 
 into the several towns within this colonv. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 39 
 
 This transaction give? me the utmost uneasiness ; and Your Lordship may be as 
 sured, that the utmost vigilance of the civil authority will not be wanting, to bring 
 the perpetrators to exemplary and condign punishment ; and in justice to the inhab 
 itants of the colony, I must not omit mentioning, that the conduct of those who , 
 committed this outrage, is, by them, universally condemned. 
 
 I wish. My Lord, those officers who have lately been sent into this colony, under a 
 pretence of assisting trade, had conducted with that temper, prudence and discretion 
 which persons entrusted with the execution of the laws ought, upon every occasion, 
 to manifest. 
 
 In my last, I informed Your Lordship, that the inhabitants had been insulted with 
 out any just cause ; and I am extremely sorry that I have still reason to say, that 
 the trade of this colony is interrupted in a most unprecedented and oppressive man 
 ner, without contributing, in the least, to the service of the revenue. Inward bound 
 vessels have been detained several days, without the least colorable pretext, and 
 then delivered \:p. 
 
 One from South Kingstown, for having on board a small quantity of tobacco, of 
 the growth of this colony, which the owner was transporting to Newport, for a mar 
 ket ; another, for having only three or four dozen wine laid in by the captain, for sea 
 stores. The small freight boats, plying between the several towns, with the produce 
 of the colony, are, by the severity of these officers, subjected to great inconvenience, 
 which very sensibly affects the whole colony ; and particularly, the town of Newport, 
 its metropolis, whose inhabitants are principally supplied with the necessaries of life 
 by water ; and the obstructions they now experience, have contributed not a little 
 to enhance the price of fuel and provisions, to the great disadvantage of the town ; 
 and in my humble opinion, if such measures are permitted to be pursued, the colony 
 will ere long be involved in the deepest calamity. 
 
 These, My Lord, are serious and important truths ; and as Your Lordship, from 
 your thorough knowledge of the colony, must be perfectly acquainted with the na 
 ture ami extent of our trade, the profits of which, ultimately centering in Great 
 Britain, lor the purchase of her manufactures, I have no room to doubt of Your 
 Lordship s interposition in behalf of this colony, that all cause of complaint against 
 any of the King s officers stationed here, may be removed, and the inhabitants 
 treated with that respect which is due to the subjects of His Britannic Majesty. 
 
 As a proof, My Lord, that the trade of this colony stands upon as fair and legal 
 a footing as the trade of any part of His Majesty s dominions, out of two hundred 
 sail of vessels which have entered this port since the 1st day of March last, only 
 two in that number have been prosecuted and condemned for breach of acts of 
 trade, one of which, belongs to the Massachusetts Bay, notwithstanding they have 
 been searched and rummaged with the greatest severity. These two vessels, al 
 though seized and condemned here, were sent by Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver, and 
 Lieut. Dudingston, to Boston, for sale, in direct opposition to the orders of the court 
 of vice admiralty, within this colony ; and the marshal of the said court prevented 
 by force from libelling one of these vessels for payment of the mariners wages. 
 
 These, My Lord, are but a few of the many grievances which the people of this 
 colony have been for months past harrassed and perplexed with ; but as the Gen 
 eral Assembly will soon be convened, I make no doubt they will order a more par 
 ticular remonstrance to be made. 
 
 In the mean time, permit me, My Lord, to implore your attention to the com- 
 
40 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 plaints of a much abused and injured people, whoso loyalty and affection to their 
 sovereign, claims Your Lordship s countenance and patronage.* 
 
 I am, &c., &c., J. WANTON. 
 
 To the Right Honorable the Earl of Ilillsborough. 
 
 " There is little room to doubt," as Judge Staples observes, 
 <c but that Governor Wanton and the officers of the colony 
 would have been satisfied that the authors of the mischief 
 should remain undiscovered ; although their duty as officers, 
 and their interests, required them to exhibit a great zeal and 
 loyalty on the occasion. 
 
 On the other hand, Admiral Montagu and his brother officers 
 in the navy and revenue, were sincere in their exertions to 
 bring the perpetrators to condign punishment." This appears 
 from the following letter, relative to the deposition of the negro 
 Aaron, which is often referred to in the proceedings which 
 follow. 
 
 * The following extract of a letter, relating to the Gaspee affair, is found with the cor 
 respondence of Admiral Montagu, in the state paper office. It does not appear to whom it 
 was written. 
 
 " Charles Dudley, Esq., to 
 
 Rhode Island, 23d July, 1772. 
 
 * * The attack upon the Gaspee was not the effect of sudden passion and resentment, 
 but of cool deliberation and fore-thought. * It had long been determined she should be 
 destroyed. 
 
 The paragraph in the enclosed newspaper, under the Newport head, was the prelude to 
 the diabolical scene. * * 
 
 The next public step, was a memorial or petition from the merchants in Providence ; first 
 laid before the superior court of judicature, then sittin g in the town, and afterwards before 
 the Governor, praying that the commander of an armed vessel, then cruising in the bay, 
 should be called upon by the civil authority, to know by what powers he was authorised to 
 search ships and other vessels on the high seas ; though it was notorious that the armed 
 vessel in question, sailed under British colors, and belonged to His Britannic Majesty. 
 
 The piece from the paper, Newport, February 24, speaks of an armed schooner, that had 
 seized ten or twelve hogsheads of rum the first part of last week ; also, last Thursday, 
 three hogsheads of molasses, belonging to a poor man. Some say, this piratical schooner 
 belongs to King George the Third ; but we should think it a little below His Br-t-n-c 
 Majesty, to keep men-of-war employed in robbing some of his poorest subjects." 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 41 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, 8th July, 1772. 
 
 Sir : By express, last night, from Capt. Linzee, of His Majesty s sloop Beaver, I 
 received the enclosed account ; and, although it comes from a negro man, it carries 
 with it the appearance of truth, as it agrees in many circumstances with Lieutenant 
 Dudingston s letter (to me), and also with the deposition of the midshipman of the 
 Gaspee ; added to this, a man belonging to the Gaspec, swears to this negro s being 
 in the boat that put him ashore, and challenged him as soon as he saw him come 
 on board the Beaver. 
 
 These corroborating circumstances, put it out of all doubt with me, that he was 
 actually concerned in taking and burning the King s schooner. And as he has im 
 peached several others that were concerned in that piratical act, I am to beg Your 
 Excellency will get the people mentioned in the enclosed account, apprehended, 
 that they may be examined before you, in the presence of Lieutenant Dudingston, 
 who, I dare say, will remember the person of the surgeon that dressed his wounds ; 
 and may possibly recollect the persons of Potter and Brown, who appear to me, to 
 have been the ring-leaders in destroying His Majesty s schooner. 
 
 As this affair was transacted in Your Excellency s government, I must totally 
 rely on you, to have these people secured, and (if there is sufficient proof against 
 them) brought to justice. I doubt not but that you will exert yourself as much as 
 is in your power ; and I flatter myself, that, with your assistance, the King will 
 have justice done him, and the offenders brought to punishment ; which I hope will 
 in future prevent the King s officers from being, upon all occasions, insulted, and 
 check the lawless and piratical behaviour of the people of Rhode Island. 
 
 I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Excellency Governor Wanton. 
 
 P. S. I should be glad if Your Excellency would inform me, whether this act 
 was committed on the high seas, or in the body of the county ; if on the former, I 
 doubt not but, as one of the commissioners, you will use every proper method to get 
 them apprehended, that they may be tried. 
 
 If you should think it proper to take the negro s deposition on oath, I should be 
 glad if you would suffer a proper person to go on board the Swan, to take it ; and 
 that you will favor me with a copy of it. 
 
 Statement of the Negro Aaron. 
 
 Aaron, a negro man, lias declared that he rowed from Providence, the evening 
 His Majesty s schooner Gaspee was burnt, towards Warren, where he met a man, 
 called Potter, of Bristol, in a rowing boat, with eight men, armed with pistols, guns 
 and clubs ; the said Potter desired him to go with him. 
 
 In consequence of Potter s desire, I rowed by his boat, until I came within a 
 quarter of a mile of the King s schooner, that was on shore on a spite of land. I 
 then got into Potter s boat, by his desire ; he told me, with others, that he was to join 
 other boats, that were coming down from Providence, in order to burn the King s 
 
 6 
 
42 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 schooner, that lay on shore. In about half an hour after, we joined seventeen boats 
 from Providence, commanded, as they informed me, by John Brown. 
 
 Immediately after the boats joined company, we rowed towards the schooner ; be 
 fore we came close to the schooner, they hailed the boats, and forbid them coming 
 on board ; but notwithstanding the officer of the schooner forbidding the boats 
 to come on board, we had orders to row up to the schooner ; which we did imme 
 diately, and boarded her. 
 
 I saw Brown fire a musket when in the boat, under the bows ; the captain of 
 the schooner immediately fell from the place he was standing on ; the surgeon, that 
 was ordered to dress the captain, was a tall, thin man, called AVeeks, of Warwick ; 
 very soon after we got on board the schooner, the rnens hands, belonging to the 
 schooner, were tied behind their backs, and put in boats and put on shore. 
 
 I rowed the bow oar in the boat that the captain came on shore in ; I think there 
 were five people belonging to the schooner, in the boat. The captain lay abaft all 
 the oars ; Potter, of Bristol, was in the boat, and John Brown, of Providence ; 
 Brown steered the boat on shore ; I had on a red and white spotted handkerchief, 
 tied on my head, and two frocks on my body. 
 
 A list of five men s names, that were concerned in destroying His Majesty s 
 schooner Gaspee : 
 
 John Brown and Joseph Brown, principal men of the town of Providence : 
 Simeon Potter, of Bristol ; Doctor Weeks, of Warwick ; - Richmond, of 
 Providence. 
 
 N. B. One of the Gaspee s men declared, as soon as he saw the negro, that he 
 was the man that rowed the bow oar in the boat he went on shore in ; and that he 
 assisted the negro to row the oar. 
 
 Admiral Montagu, at the same time, communicated the par 
 ticulars which he had obtained from Aaron, to the Earl of 
 Hillsborough. He also takes the occasion to add remarks rela 
 tive to the character of the leading men supposed to have been 
 implicated in the burning of the Gaspee, which are not at all 
 flattering. Here follows his letter. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Earl of Hillsborough. 
 
 Boston, llth July, 1772. 
 
 My Lord : Since I had the honor of writing to Your Lordship last, I have re 
 ceived an express from Capt. Lirizee, of His Majesty s sloop Beaver, at Rhode Is 
 land, informing me he had discovered and detained an indented black servant, who 
 was in one of the boats that boarded the Gaspee schooner; that one of the men now 
 on board the Beaver (late of the Gaspee), remembered the man the moment 
 he saw him. 
 
 Enclosed, I transmit to Your Lordship the said black man s deposition (on being 
 examined), by which Your Lordship will be able to judge of the people concerned, 
 and of the measures necessary to be taken. 
 
 I beg leave to observe to Your Lordship, that I have inquired of many of the 
 principal people of this place, who all knew Potter, of Bristol, mentioned in the en- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 43 
 
 closed deposition, and in general agree that he is a man of fortune, but of the most 
 ^infamous character possible to describe ; and has been guilty of almost every vice a 
 pirate can be guilty of. The Browns, of Providence, are principal people of that 
 place. 
 
 It appears to me, My Lord, that these people were the ringleaders in this 
 piratical proceeding. I have therefore, written to Governor Wanton, of Rhode Is 
 land, and begged his utmost exertions may be used for the apprehension and bring 
 ing to justice the people mentioned in the said deposition, as principals in this pro 
 ceeding ; but the disposition of the people of that government in general, is such, 
 that I cannot flatter myself with much success, unless some other method is taken 
 for apprehending them. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To the Right Honorable the Earl of Hillsborough. 
 
 It does not appear that Governor Wanton adopted the 
 course recommended by Admiral Montagu, to arrest the par 
 ties charged by the negro Aaron, with being concerned in the 
 burning of the Gaspee. Whether he knew they were con 
 cerned in the affair, which is probable, and desired to screen 
 them, or whether he disbelieved the statement of Aaron, and 
 determined to make it so appear, the reader must judge. But 
 it seems he lost no time in obtaining the following affidavits. 
 
 Affidavits going to disprove Aaron s Statement. 
 
 Samuel Thurston, of the island of Prudence, in the township of Portsmouth, in 
 the county of Newport, of lawful age, declareth and saith: 
 
 That Aaron, a mulatto lad, of about sixteen years of age, now on board His 
 Majesty s ship, the Swan, commanded by Capt. Ayscough, is an indented servant to 
 Samuel Tompkins, of Prudence, aforesaid, son-in-law to the said Samuel Thurston ; 
 which Samuel Tompkins hath lived in the same house with the declarant for many 
 years past, and have jointly managed a farm together ; that he is fully persuaded 
 the said Aaron hath not been off from the said island for more than twelve months 
 preceding the 2d day of July instant ; on the night of which, the said Aaron stole their 
 boat, and went on board His Majesty s ship, the Beaver ; that particularly on the 
 night after the 9th of June last, being the same night that His Majesty s schooner 
 the Gaspee, was burnt, he is well assured that the said Aaron remained in his house 
 the whole of the night, he having seen him on the evening and early in the mornin" 
 of the 10th, at his work. 
 
 That, at that time, there was but one boat at that end of said island, which was 
 then so much out of repair, that the said declarant thinks she could not swim, and 
 then lay bottom upwards in order to be refitted, being the same boat the said 
 Aaron stole after she was repaired. 
 
 That he, the declarant, thinks it absolutely impossible, that the said Aaron 
 should have been, that night, any where near the place where the said schooner 
 was burnt; and that the said Aaron remained at home from the said 9th of June 
 
44 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 nnti the 2d day of July ; and never, during that time, gave him the least in 
 formation, suggestion or hint of his having any knowledge of the business of the 
 said schooner. SAM L THURSTON, 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c., - 
 Newport, July 10, 1772. j" 
 
 Personally appeared Samuel Thurston, (one of the people called Quakers,) and 
 on his solemn affirmation, declared that the above written declaration is true, 
 before J. WANTON, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 Samuel Tompkins, of the island of Prudence, in the township of Portsmouth, in 
 the county of Newport, on oath declareth and saith : 
 
 That Aaron, a mulatto lad of about sixteen years of age, now on board His Maj 
 esty s ship, the Swan, commanded by Capt. Ayscough, is an indented servant to the 
 deponent ; that he is fully persuaded the said Aaron hath not been off from the said 
 island more than once or twice for twelve months preceding the 2d of July last, in 
 the night of which, the said Aaron stole a boat belonging to the deponent and his 
 father-in-law, Mr. Samuel Thurston, and went on board His Majesty s ship, the 
 Beaver. 
 
 That particularly, on the night after the 9th of June last, being the same night 
 that His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee was burnt, he is well assured that the said 
 Aaron remained in his house the whole of the night ; he having seen him about nine 
 o clock, that evening, with the rest of the servants, in the family, about which time 
 they retired to bed ; and, also, very early in the morning of the 10th. the said Aaron; 
 according to his usual custom, brought the cows into the yard, to be milked. 
 
 That, at the time, there was but one boat at that end of the island, which was 
 then so much out of repair, that the deponent is confident she could not swim, and 
 then lay bottom upwards, in order to be re-fitted, being the same boat the said 
 Aaron stole after she was repaired. 
 
 That he, the said deponent, thinks it absolutely impossible that the said Aaron 
 should have been that night any where near the place where the schooner Gaspee 
 was burnt ; and that he, the said Aaron, remained at home from the said 9th of June, 
 until the said 2d day of July ; and never, during that time, gave him the least in 
 formation, suggestion or hint of his having any the least knowledge of the destruc 
 tion of the said schooner. SAM L TOMPKINS. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, &c., 
 
 Newport, July 11, 1772. 
 Mr. Samuel Tompkins personally appeared, and made solemn oath to the truth 
 of the above depdsition by him subscribed, before J. WANTON, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 Somerset, a mulatto, and Jack, a negro, indented servants, living with Samuel 
 Thurston and Samuel Tompkins, on the island of Prudence, in the township of 
 Portsmouth, in the county of Newport, of lawful age, on oith severally depose and 
 say: 
 
 That to their certain knowledge, Aaron, a mulatto lad, who is also an indented 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 45 
 
 servant to the said Samuel Tompkins, and now, as they are informed, on board of a 
 man-of-war, has not been oft from said island for many month;) preceding the 2d day 
 cf July instant ; in the night of which, the said Aaron stole a boat belonging to the 
 said Samuol Thurston and Samuel Tompkins, and went on board a man-of-war. 
 
 That the said Aaron has slept with the deponents in the same bed for several 
 years ; and particularly on the night the schooner called the Gaspee, was burnt, the 
 said Aaron was at home, at the dwelling-house of the said Thurston and Tompkins, 
 and that he, the said Aaron, lay in the same room and be 1 with the deponents the 
 whole of that night ; having retired to bed together, between nine and ten o clock, 
 in the evening. 
 
 And the deponents severally say, that they have never had the least hint or in 
 formation, from the said Aaron, of his having any knowledge of the burning of the 
 said schooner Gaspee ; and that they are well assured that he knows nothing of 
 the transaction. And the deponents further say not. 
 
 The mark of j . SOMERSET. 
 The mark of X JACK. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Inland, &c., -\ 
 Newport, July 11, 1772. j 
 
 Tn their proper persons came and appeared the above named Somerset and 
 Jack ; and after being cautioned to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, made 
 solemn oath to the above deposition, to Avhich they have made their respective 
 marks. Before J. WANTON, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 About the same time, Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver, then 
 lying in Newport, caused the following deposition to be 
 taken : 
 
 Deposition of Patrick Earle. 
 
 The deposition of Patrick Earle, of lawful age, lately belonging to His Majesty s 
 armed schooner, Gaspee, commanded by Lieutenant Dudingston, but now to His 
 Majesty s ship, the Beaver, commanded by John Linzee, Esq. This deponent 
 saith : 
 
 That after a number of boats boarded the said schooner, as she lay aground, and 
 the peoples hands were tied, he, with several others, was put into the same boat 
 that the captain was carried ashore in ; and that he helped a negro man, called 
 Aaron Briggs, to row the bow oar, which negro is now on board His Majesty s ship 
 Beaver, who hath sworn that he did row ashore with the bow oar; and further saith 
 not. The mark of X PATRICK EARLE. 
 
 Sworn in Newport, 16th July, 1772. Before me 
 
 CHARLES BARDIN, 
 
 Justice of the Peace. 
 
46 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The statement of the mulatto boy Aaron, taken on board the 
 Beaver, seemed hardly sufficient to warrant the arrest of the 
 respectable parties, which he had endeavored to implicate in 
 the transaction, in question. 
 
 Governor Wanton, therefore, very properly desiring that he 
 should be examined by the civil authority, conformably to law, 
 addressed the following note to the captain of the Beaver. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Captain Linzee, of His 
 Majesty s ship Beaver. 
 
 Newport, July ICth, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Having received information from the Honorable Admiral Montagu, that 
 Aaron, a mulatto lad, on board His Majesty s ship, the Beaver, under your com 
 mand, has confessed that he was concerned in destroying His Majesty s schooner, 
 the Gaspee, as she lay aground on Namquit Point, in the county of Kent, within 
 this colony ; and as it is highly necessary that tliis lad should be examined by the 
 civil authority, concerning what he knows of that affair, I have directed the sheriff 
 to wait upon you, and request that you would deliver Aaron into his custody, in 
 order to be brought on shore, that such proceedings may be had and done in this 
 matter, as are agreeably to law. 
 
 The King s attorney general will attend the examination ; and I should be glad 
 if you, or any of your officers, would likewise attend. 
 
 If you are of opinion that it is most for His Majesty s service to return Aaron on 
 board your ship after he has been examined, instead of committing him to jail, 
 you may be assured it shall be done. 
 
 Mr. Brenton also waits on you, whose opinion on matters of law, may be of 
 service to you in this important affair. I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 To John Linzee, Esq., commanding His Majesty s ship, the Beaver. 
 
 Warrant to the Sheriff of the County of Newport, for the Arrest 
 of the Negro Aaron. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island. 
 
 ^^ GEORGE THE THIRD, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, 
 j L. S. | France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To the sheriff of the 
 county of Newport, or his lawful deputy, greceting : 
 
 Whereas, I have received information, that Aaron, a mulatto lad, otherwise 
 called Aaron Bowler, alias Briggs, now on board His Majesty s ship, the Beaver, 
 under the command of Captain John Linzee, in the harbor of Newport, aforesaid, 
 with divers other malefactors, to me as yet unknown, did, in the night of the 9th of 
 June last, unlawfully and riotously assemble and gather together to disturb the 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OP THE GASPEE. 47 
 
 peace of our paid lord the King ; and being so assembled and gathered together, 
 with force and arms, an attack did make upon His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, 
 under the command of Lieutenant William Dudiugston, as she lay aground on a 
 point of land, called Namquit, within the township of Warwick, in the county of 
 Kent, in the colony aforesaid ; and him, the said William Dudingston, then and 
 there, being in the peace of our said lord the King, did dangerously wound, and the 
 said schooner then and there did wickedly, wilfully and feloniously burn and destroy, 
 against the peace of our said lord the King, his crown and dignity. 
 
 Therefore, in the name of our sovereign lord the King, I command and charge 
 you, that immediately upon the receipt hereof, you repair on board His Majesty s ship 
 Beaver, aforesaid, and make diligent search for the said Aaron ; and if he be by you 
 found, to brinu him before me, or some other lawful authority within this colony, to 
 be examined concerning the premises, that such other proceedings may be had and 
 done, as to law and justice doth appertain. 
 
 Hereof fail you not, as you will answer the contrary at your peril ; and make true 
 return of this warrant with your doings thereon. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal, this 16th day of July, in the twelfth year of 
 His Majesty s reign. Anno Domini 1772. 
 
 METCALFE BOWLER, 
 
 Just, of Assize. 
 
 Newport, July 17, 1772. 
 
 By virtue of the within warrant, I waited upon John Linzee, Esq., within men 
 tioned, who refused to deliver up the within named Aaron, in presence of James 
 Brenton, Esq. ROBERT LILLIBRIDGE, JR., 
 
 D. Sheriff. 
 
 This request of Governor Wanton, was treated by Capt. 
 Linzee with great contempt, and utterly disregarded by him, 
 as will appear by the Governor s letter to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 It appears, from the following letter from Lieutenant Dud 
 ingston, to Admiral Montagu, that his fears for his personal 
 safety, were not wholly removed. 
 
 Lieutenant Dudingston to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Brenton s Point, near 
 Newport, July 1772. 
 Sir : This day I received yours of the 8th inst., and am hardly able to give an 
 swer, from the painful situation I am in ; nor is it possible, at present, for me to be of 
 the least use in respect to the negro. 
 
 I have no doubt of his being in the boat with me, and it is what I expected, that 
 the Governor would say he was an impostor ; and I cannot help telling you, that, 
 without I was able to retire to a ship, I should not exist one night on shore, if I was 
 capable to make oath to any one of the people mentioned. 
 
48 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASPEE. 
 
 I beg this may be private, till I can be moved ; as the eopy of the former letter, 
 being made public to the people by the Governor, puts me in great danger. 
 
 I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 W. DUDIXGSTON. 
 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Governor Wanton next communicated to Admiral Montagu, 
 the proceedings he had taken in relation to Aaron ; expresses 
 his firm conviction that he was not present at the burning of 
 the Gaspee ; and that, from his notoriously bad character, his 
 word should not be believed. He also makes known to the 
 Admiral his application to Capt. Linzee, for Aaron, and the 
 contempt with which he treated his request, which request, it 
 seems, was in accordance with the advice of one of the judges 
 of the supreme court. - 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, July 22, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Your favor of the 8th inst, I have received, together with the information 
 given by one Aaron, a mulatto servant, relative to the destruction of the Gaspee ; 
 on receiving of which, I pursued every measure in my power to investigate and find 
 out the truth of the various assertions comprised in his declaration. 
 
 For which end, I caused to be examined on oath, some of the family with whom 
 this declarant lived as a servant ; persons of credit and established character, who 
 were separately examined, and whose testimony perfectly agreed in every circum 
 stance, on such examination ; by which, and from the general bad character of the 
 declarant. I was fully convinced that no regard could be had to this information ; that 
 the declarant could not be present at the time when this offence was committed ; as 
 it is fully proved that he was at home, on an island, near seven miles from the place 
 where the disaster happened. 
 
 However, being very solicitous that every inquiry should be made, that might re 
 flect light on this unhappy affair, I had a conference with one of the judges of the 
 superior court, before whom this matter must finally come to be adjudged, who gave 
 it as his opinion, that it was absolutely necessary that this declarant should be de 
 livered up to the civil authority, to be properly examined. He therefore issued his 
 warrant to take Aaron into his custody. 
 
 At the same time, I wrote Capt. Linzee a letter, requesting him to deliver him to 
 the sheriff, in order to his being examined ; both which, were treated by Capt. 
 Linzee with great contempt, and by him utterly disregarded. 
 
 What could be his motives or reasons for such his conduct, I am not able to ac 
 count for. It certainly is a great contempt of the civil authority of this colony, who. 
 have the only power and jurisdiction to try all and every offence committed within 
 the same, to refuse delivering up an offender, who, by his own confession, hath ac- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 49 
 
 knowledged his guilt, and what is sufficient for his conviction, supposing what he 
 hath declared, to be true ; and, if otherwise, he ought to be proceeded against 
 agreeably to law, and punished according to his oiFence. 
 
 I have transmitted to you the several depositions, by which, I apprehend you will 
 agree with me in opinion, that no dependence can be had on the declaration given 
 by the informant, but must wholly be disregarded. Villainy of this kind, is not new. 
 We have a recent instance of this sort, at home. Britain and others, conspiring in 
 the most horrid manner, to charge the officers of state with a crime that the whole 
 world knew they could not possibly be guilty of. 
 
 The schooner, when she was destroyed, lay aground, in a narrow river, near 
 thirty miles from the main sea ; and as all ports and havens are infra corpus comi- 
 tatus, I am of opinion, that, in this case, the admiral hath no jurisdiction. His 
 Honor the Chief Justice, has favored me with his opinion on this matter, which here 
 with I enclose. 
 
 When Aaron is delivered into the hands of the civil authority, whatever is legal 
 and necessary, will undoubtedly be done. I have advised with the King s attorney, 
 whose opinion and advice coincides with what I have written on the subject of 
 Aaron s declaration. I am Your Honor s 
 
 Most obedient humble servant, 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Admiral Montagu in reply to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, 1st September, 1772. 
 
 Sir : I received your letter, dated 22d July, with three depositions enclosed. I 
 deferred answering it, till I had seen and examined Aaron, the black indented ser 
 vant, who says he was in one of the boats that boarded and burnt the Gaspee ; and 
 it is clear to me, from many corroborating circumstances, that he is no impostor. 
 
 Sorry I am, that no regard can be had to his information in your opinion. In my 
 opinion, the depositions Your Excellency sent me, prove nothing that confutes any 
 thing he has said. 
 
 However, it is not in my power to do more than I have, to bring the offenders to 
 justice ; the whole must rest with you, who are upon the spot. I find the master of 
 Aaron, the black, has arrested Capt. Linzee, for the detention of his servant ; therefore, 
 as Capt. Linzee has done nothing but by my orders, I have bailed him, and will keep 
 the. fellow. I did intend sending him to you, had not his master taken this step. 
 
 I shall not trouble Your Excellency any more on the subject of the Gaspee, but 
 leave the result of the whole conduct of His Majesty s good subjects at Rhode Island 
 to him and his ministers ; and am, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 Here ended the proceedings of the colony, and the corres 
 pondence with the English admiral, in relation to this subject, 
 previous to the action upon it by the British government; 
 
50 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 From various references, it appears that under date of the 
 4th of September, 1772, Lord Dartmouth addressed a letter to 
 Governor Wanton, transmitting the royal proclamation, com 
 mission, instructions, etc. ; which letter, unfortunately, is not 
 found in the files of the secretary s office ; nor does it appear 
 in the compilation of Judge Staples.* 
 
 In writing to the Earl of Dartmouth, on the 20th February, 
 1773, Judge Horsmanden, one of the royal commissioners, 
 says on his arrival in Rhode Island ^ on the 31st December, 
 1772, in pursuance of His Lordship s instructions, " he was 
 surprised to find that the main object of our errand, was be 
 come public, which, in prudence, was to be kept secret ; nev 
 ertheless, Your Lordship s letter to Governor Wanton, was 
 published in the Boston weekly paper, and spread industri 
 ously over all New England. However amazing to us, upon 
 inquiry it came out, that the Governor had communicated it to 
 his Assembly, who had got it printed. Upon expostulating with 
 the Governor upon it, he said, he was, by law, obliged to com 
 municate all dispatches from the ministry to his corporation, 
 and sworn so to do," etc.f 
 
 * Governor Wanton, in his letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated December 24, 1772, 
 mentions this letter. 
 
 t In a subsequent letter to Governor Wanton, which will be found in the order of its 
 date, the Earl of Dartmouth complains of the publication of his letter of the 4th of Septem 
 ber, in the common newspaper, parts of which, were " secret and confidential, and addressed 
 personally" to himself. His Lordship fears, too, that this act "cannot be considered as 
 entirely corresponding with the assurances given, of paying the strictest attention and 
 deference to such orders" as he may transmit to the Governor. 
 
 The following letters from Governor Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, to a gentleman in 
 London, are from " The Remembrancer," for the year 1776, Vol. II., p. 59 : 
 
 Governor Hutchinson to Secretary Pownall. 
 
 " Boston, 29th August, 1772. 
 
 Dear Sir : I troubled you with a long letter the 2lst July. Give me leave now only to 
 add one or two things, which I then intended, but to avoid being too tedious, omitted. 
 
 People in this province, both friends and enemies to government, are in great expecta 
 tions from the late affair at Rhode Island, of the burning the King s schooner ; and they con 
 sider the mauner in which the news of it will be received in England, and the measures to 
 be taken, as decisive. If it is passed over without a full inquiry and due resentment, our 
 liberty people will think they may with impunity commit any acts of violence, be they 
 ever so atrocious, and the friends to government will despond and give up all hopes of being 
 able to withstand the faction. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 51 
 
 In the " Massachusetts Spy, or Thomas s Weekly Journal," 
 published at Boston, on the 31st December, 1772, is the fol 
 lowing, which is doubtless the chief portion of the missing 
 letter referred to. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Lord Dartmouth to the Governor of 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 " The following may be depended upon, as a genuine extract of the letter from 
 Lord Dartmouth, to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated Whitehall, September 
 4, 1772: 
 
 The particulars of that atrocious proceeding (referring to the burning the 
 Gaspee schooner), have, by the King s command, been examined and considered 
 with the greatest attention ; and although there are some circumstances attending 
 it, in regard to the robbery and plunder of the vessel, which, separately considered, 
 might bring it within the description of an act of piracy, yet, in the obvious view of 
 the whole transaction, and taking all the circumstances together, the offence is, 
 in the opinion of the law servants of the crown, who have been consulted upon that 
 question, of a much deeper dye, and is considered in no other light, than as an act 
 of high treason, viz. : levying war against the King. 
 
 And, in order that you may have all proper advice and assistance, in a matter of 
 so great importance, His Majesty has thought fit, with the advice of his Privy 
 Council, to issue his royal commission, under the great seal of Great Britain, nomi 
 nating yourself and the chief justices of New York, New Jersey, and the Massachu 
 setts Bay, together with the judge of the vice admiralty court established at Boston, 
 to be His Majesty s commissioners for inquiring into, and making report to His 
 Majesty, of all the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering and burning 
 the Gaspee schooner. 
 
 The persons who were the immediate actors, are men of estate, and property, in the 
 colony. A prosecution is impossible. If ever the government of that colony is to be re. 
 formed, this seems to be the time ; and it would have a happy effect in the colonies which 
 adjoin to it. Several persons have been advised by letters from their friends, that as the 
 ministry are united, and opposition at an end, there will certainly be an inquiry into the 
 state of America, the next session of Parliament. The denial of the supremacy of Parlia 
 ment, and the contempt with which its authority has been treated by the Lilliputian As 
 semblies of America, can never be justified or excused by any one member of either 
 House of Parliament." 
 
 Governor Hutchinson to Samuel Hood, Esq. 
 
 "Boston, 2d September, 1772. 
 
 Dear Sir : Capt. Linzee can inform you of the state of Rhode Island colony better than I 
 can do; so daring an insult, as burning the King s schooner, by people who are as well 
 known as any who were concerned in this last rebellion, and yet cannot be prosecuted, will 
 certainly rouse the British lion, which has been asleep these four or five years. 
 
 Admiral Montagu says that Lord Sandwich will never leave pursuing the colony, until it 
 is disfranchised. If it is passed over, the other colonies will follow the example." 
 
52 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The King trusts that all persons in the colony, will pay a due respect to his royal 
 commission, and that the business of it will he carried on without molestation ; at the 
 same time, the nature of this offence, and the great number of persons who appear 
 to have been concerned in it, makes every precaution necessary. His Majesty, has, 
 therefore, for their further support in the execution of this duty, thought fit to direct 
 me to signify his pleasure to Lieutenant General Gage, that he do hold himself in 
 readiness to send troops into Rhode Island, whenever he shall be called upon by the 
 commissioners for that purpose, in order to aid and assist the civil magistrate in the 
 suppression of any riot or disturbance, and in the preservation of the public peace. 
 I have only to add, upon that head, that His Majesty depends on the vigilance of 
 the civil magistrates of the colony, to take the proper measures for the arresting and 
 committing to custody, in order to their being brought to justice, such persons, as 
 shall, upon proper information made before them, or before His Majestv s commis 
 sioners, appear to have been concerned in the plundering and destroying the Gaspee 
 schooner. 
 
 It is His Majesty s intention, in consequence of the advice of his Privy Council, 
 that the persons concerned in the burning the Gaspee schooner, and in the other 
 violences which attended that daring insult, should be brouc/lit to England, to le 
 tried ; and I am, therefore, to signify to you His Majesty s pleasure, that such of the 
 said offenders as may have been, or shall be, arrested and committed within the 
 colony of Rhode Island, be delivered to the care and custody of Rear Admiral Mon 
 tagu, or the commander in chief of His Majesty s ships in North America, for the 
 time being, or to such officers as he shall appoint to receive them ; taking care that 
 you do give notice to the persons accused, in order that they may procure such wit 
 nesses on their behalf, as they shall judge necessary ; which witnesses, together with 
 all such as may be proper, to support the charge against them, will lie received and 
 sent hither with the prisoners. " 
 
 At the August session of the General Assembly, the subject 
 of the destruction of the Gaspee, was introduced by the fol 
 lowing communication from the Governor : 
 
 Governor Wanton to the House of Deputies of Rhode Island. 
 
 To the House of Deputies : 
 
 Gentlemen : The measures which have been pursued for discovering the persons 
 who were concerned in destroying the King s armed schooner, the Gaspee, as she 
 lay aground on a point -of land, called Namquit, in this colony, will appear from the 
 several papers which I have delivered to Mr. Speaker, in order to be laid before 
 you, for your information. 
 
 I have, in consequence of that unhappy transaction, addressed the Right Honora 
 ble the Earl of Hillsborough ; a copy of which, and also what I wrote to the agent, 
 upon the same occasion, I have delivered to Mr. Speaker. 
 
 I thought it my duty, during the recess of the Assembly, to acquaint the secretary 
 of state with this affair, lest, by an entire silence, or from misinformation, any im 
 pressions might be made prejudicial to the colony. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 53 
 
 I hope my proceedings will meet your approbation ; and submit to your determi 
 nation what is further necessary to be done, recommending the same to your serious 
 and immediate consideration. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., 
 
 Council Chamber, | J. WANTON. 
 
 Newport, August 18th, 1772. ) 
 
 At the same session, Deputy Governor Sessions presented 
 an account for expenses incurred by him in collecting evidence 
 relating to the destruction of the Gaspee ; for subsisting her 
 crew, while at Pawtuxet, and in sending them on board His 
 Majesty s ship, the Beaver, which lay in the bay below. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Aborn, of Pawtuxet, also presented a bill for 
 securing the stores, anchors, guns and other effects belonging 
 to the burnt vessel ; all of which bills, were ordered to be 
 paid. 
 
 The following additional proceedings are from the records of 
 the session : 
 
 Proceedings of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, relative 
 
 to the Gaspee. 
 
 Whereas, His Honor the Governor, hath laid before this As 
 sembly, a full and particular narrative of the measures he hath 
 pursued, in consequence of the burning of His Majesty s 
 schooner, the Gaspee ; and of the steps he hath taken to dis 
 cover the perpetrators of that atrocious piece of villainy ; upon 
 due consideration whereof, 
 
 It is voted and resolved, that the whole of His Honor s pro 
 ceedings be approved ; and that His Honor be, and he is 
 hereby, requested to transmit a copy thereof, to the agent of 
 the colony, in Great Britain ;* and to pursue such further mea 
 sures respecting the said affair, during the recess of the 
 General Assembly, as shall appear necessary. 
 
 And whereas, His Honor issued a proclamation, promising a 
 reward of 100, sterling, to any person or persons who shall 
 discover the persons guilty of the said crime ; 
 
 * The letter to the agent, in London, is not preserved on the files in the secretary s office. 
 It did not probably vary from the letter to the Earl of Hillsborough. before given. 
 
54 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 It is therefore further voted and resolved, that this As 
 sembly will make provision for paying the above mentioned 
 reward, in case any person or persons shall be entitled thereto. 
 
 And it is further voted and resolved, that no copies of let 
 ters, or other proceedings, relating to the above mentioned 
 affair, be delivered out by the secretary, to any person or per 
 sons, whomsoever. 
 
 It is voted and resolved, that the letter from His Honor the 
 Governor, to the Right Honorable the Earl of Hillsborough, of 
 the 20th of May last, containing a narrative of the proceedings 
 respecting His Honor s calling Lieut. Dudingston before him, 
 &c., be, and the same is hereby, approved. 
 
 Whereas, Joseph Rhodes of Cranston, cooper, hath in his 
 hands the sum of $79, belonging to Lieut. Dudingston, which 
 he refuseth to deliver, 
 
 It is therefore voted arfd resolved, that His Honor the 
 Deputy Governor and the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., be, 
 and they are hereby, requested and empowered to make inquiry 
 into that affair, and to settle all differences between the parties ; 
 and that, if the said Rhodes will not comply therewith, they 
 advise the said Dudingston to take the proper method for ob 
 taining his right. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 55 
 
 Proclamation of King George III., relative to the Destruction of 
 
 the Gaspee. 
 
 GEORGE R. 
 
 BY THE KING. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION: 
 
 For the discovering ami apprehending the persons who plundered and burnt the 
 Gaspee schooner, and barbarously wounded and ill-treated Lieutenant William 
 Dudingston, commander of the said schooner. 
 
 Whereas, we have received information, that, upon the 10th day of June last, 
 between the hours of twelve and one, in the morning, in the Providence or Narra- 
 gansett River, in our colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, a great 
 number of persons, armed with guns and other offensive weapons, and led by two 
 persons, who were called the captain and head sheriff, in several armed boats, at 
 tacked and boarded our vessel called the Gaspee schooner, then lying at single an 
 chor in the said river, commanded by our Lieutenant William Dudingston, under 
 the orders of our Rear Admiral John Montagu ; and having dangerously wounded 
 and barbarously treated the said William Dudingston, took, plundered and burnt 
 the said schooner. 
 
 We, to the intent that said outrageous and heinous offenders may be discovered, 
 and brought to condign punishment, have thought fit, with the advice of our Privy 
 Council, to issue this our royal proclamation. 
 
 And we are hereby graciously pleased to promise, that if any person or persons 
 shall discover any person or persons concerned in the said daring and heinous of 
 fences above mentioned, so that he or they may be apprehended and brought to 
 justice, such discoverer shall have and receive, as a reward, for such discovery, upon 
 conviction of each of the said offenders, the sum of Jive hundred pounds. 
 
 And if any person or persons shall discover either of the said persons who acted 
 as, or called themselves, or were called by their said accomplices, the head sheriff, 
 or the captain, so that they, or either of them, may be apprehended and brought to 
 punishment, such discoverer shall have and receive, as a reward for such discovery, 
 upon conviction of either of the said persons, the further sum offve hundred pounds, 
 over and above the sum of Jive hundred poutids, herein before promised, for the dis 
 covery and apprehending any of the other common offenders above mentioned. 
 
 And if any person or persons concerned therein, except the two persons who 
 were called the head sheriff and captain, and the person or persons who wounded 
 
56 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 said Lieutenant William Dudingston, shall discover any one or more of the said ac 
 complices, so that he or they may be apprehended and brought to punishment, such 
 discoverer shall have and receive the said reward or rewards of five hundred pound* , 
 or one thousand pounds, as the case maybe; and also our gracious pardon for his 
 said offence; and the commissioners for executing the office of treasurer of our 
 exchequer, are hereby required to make payment accordingly, of the said rewards. 
 
 And we do hereby strictly charge and command all our governors, deputy gov 
 ernors, magistrates officers and all other our loving subjects, that they do use their 
 utmost diligence, in their several places and capacities, to find out, discover and 
 apprehend the said offenders, in order to their being brought to justice. 
 
 And we do hereby command that this our proclamation be printed and pub 
 lished, in the usual form, and affixed in the principal places of our town of New 
 port, and other towns in our said colony, that none may pretend ignorance. 
 
 Given at our Court, at St. James, the twenty-sixth day of August, 1772, in the 
 twelfth year of our reign. 
 
 God save the Kin"-. 
 
 Royal Commission to the Commissioners of Inquiry, relative to 
 the Destruction of the Gaspee. 
 
 GEORGE THE THIRD, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and 
 Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., to our trusty and well beloved Jo 
 seph Wanton, Esquire, Governor of our colony, called the English colony of 
 Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America ; our 
 trusty and well beloved Daniel Horsmanden, Esquire, our chief justice of our 
 province of New York ; our trusty and well beloved Frederick Smythe, Es 
 quire, our chief justice of our province of New Jersey ; our trusty and Avcll be 
 loved Peter Oliver, Esquire, our chief justice of our Province of the Massachu 
 setts Bay, in New England ; and GUI trusty and well beloved Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esquire, our judge of our vice admiralty court, established at Boston, 
 with jurisdiction in all causes arising within the limits of our colonies of New 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut, greeting : 
 
 AVhereas, our armed schooner, called the Gaspee schooner, commanded by Lieu 
 tenant William Dudingston, under the orders of Rear Admiral Montagu, was sta 
 tioned in Providence or Narragansett River, in, or near to our colony of Rhode Is 
 land and Providence Plantations, in New England, the said Lieutenant Dudingston, 
 having proper commission and authority, to seize to our use, such prohibited and un 
 accustomed goods, as he should find carried in and on board any sliip, bottom, 
 boat or other vessels, contrary to law, whereby the same is forfeited. 
 
 And, whereas, we have been informed that very many ill-disposed persons have 
 dared, from time to time, in defiance of our laws and authority, to insult and other 
 wise hinder and obstruct the said Lieutenant William Dudingston, in the perform- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 57 
 
 ance of his duty, and their boldness in that respect grew to so desperate an height, 
 that on or about the 10th day of June last, great multitudes of people were assem 
 bled in our town of Newport,* and places adjacent, in our said colony, by beat of 
 drum, armed with guns and other offensive weapons, and led on by two persons, 
 whom they called the head sheriff and the captain, and so proceeded in warlike 
 manner, with armed boats, to attack our said schooner ; and having dangerously 
 wounded the said lieutenant, overpowered the crew, took, plundered and burnt our 
 said vessel. 
 
 We, being desirous to be perfectly informed how so daring an attempt could be 
 concerted, prepared and carried into execution in the chief town of our said colony, 
 the residence of the Governor, and principal magistrates thereof, not only for the 
 purpose of bringing the said offenders and their maintainers, aiders and abettors, 
 to condign punishment, but also to the end, that fit and speedy order may be 
 taken for securing the future peace, obedience, and well government of our said 
 colony ; and placing much confidence in your wisdom, diligence, loyalty and integ 
 rity, do. by these presents, appoint you, the said Joseph Wanton, Daniel Hors- 
 manden, Frederick Smythe, Peter Oliver and Robert Auchmuty, our commissioners, 
 to inquire into and report to us a full and true account of all the circumstances rela^ 
 tive to the attacking, taking, plundering and burning our said schooner ; and to the 
 assembling, arming, training and leading the people concerned therein ; and to the 
 concerting and preparing the said attack, and of all other insults and obstructions 
 which have been given to the said Lieutenant Dudingston, or to our service in gen 
 eral in our said colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and of the 
 causes which have occasioned so daring a violation of our laws and authority ; and 
 also to inquire and report what measures have been taken or used by the magis 
 trates of our said colony, and other our good subjects therein, respecting the 
 same. 
 
 And fo? the better execution of our royal will and pleasure therein, we do hereby 
 give unto you, the said Joseph Wanton, Daniel Horsmanden, Frederick Smythe, Peter 
 Oliver, and Robert Auchmuty, or any three of you, full power and authority to re 
 ceive all such informations and advertisements as shall be brought unto you, by or 
 from any of our loving subjects or others, touching the premises ; and also, to inquire, 
 by the examination of witnesses on oath, which oath we do hereby give you or any 
 of you, full power, warrant and authority to administer, or by such other ways and 
 means as you, or any three of you, shall, in your discretion, think fit, into the 
 premises, or any of them. 
 
 And we do further give you, or any three of you, full power and authority to send 
 for such persons, papers, and records, as shall be useful to you, for the better carry 
 ing on the service hereby intended, willing and requiring you, the said Governor, 
 the Deputy Governor, and all other our magistrates, officers, and loving subjects 
 within the said colony, to be in all things helpful, aiding and assisting to you, and 
 every of you, in the execution of this, our royal commission. 
 
 And we do further strictly charge and command you, and every of you, that, in 
 the execution and performance of the powers and authorities to you hereby given, 
 
 * This is a mistake. It was not in Newport, but iu Providence, where the party was 
 organized. 
 
58 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 you, and every of you, do carefully observe and conform yourselves to such instruc 
 tions as shall be, given and sent unto you, in writing, under our sign manual, and to 
 report to us a full and true account of your proceedings herein. 
 
 In witness whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness 
 ourself, at Westminster, the second day of September, in the twelfth year of our 
 reign. 
 
 By the King himself. 
 
 YOKKE. 
 
 Royal Instructions to the Commission of Inquiry, relative to the 
 Destruction of the Gas pee. 
 
 G E O K G E R . 
 
 /^ / s -j Instructions to our trusty and well beloved Joseph Wanton, Daniel Ilors- 
 ( J ) manden, Frederick Smythe, Peter Oliver and Robert Auchnmty, 
 Esquires, our commissioners for inquiring into the circumstances relative 
 to the attacking, plundering and burning our armed schooner, called 
 the Gaspee schooner, within our colony of Rhode Island, in America, 
 on the 10th day of June last, and into the causes thereof, and of the 
 violences and insults offered upon that occasion, to our officers em 
 ployed in our service. 
 
 Given at our court at St. James, the 4th day of September, 1772, in the twelfth 
 year of our reign. 
 
 Article 1st. With these our instructions, you will receive our commission, under 
 our great seal of Great Britain, constituting and appointing you our commissioners, 
 for inquiring into and making report to us of all the circumstances relative to the at 
 tacking, plundering and burning the Gaspee schooner on the 10th of June last, in 
 the Narragansett River, within our colony of Rhode Island ; and to the assembling 
 arming, and leading on the persons who made the said at ack, and to the concerting 
 and preparing the same ; together with all such other powers and authorities as 
 are judged necessary for that purpose. You are therefore, to take upon you, the 
 execution of the trust reposed in you, and so soon as three or more of you shall 
 have been assembled at Newport, within our said colony of Rhode Island, you are 
 to cause our said commission to be read and published in such manner and form, 
 and with such solemnity as are due to the authority from which it proceeds, and the 
 important occasion for which it is issued, using your own discretions as to all such 
 other times and places of your meetings, according to what shall appear to you, or 
 the major part of you, to be most fit and proper. 
 
 Art. 2d. You are to use your utmost care and dilligence, pursuant to the au 
 thorities and directions contained in our said commission, in making a very full and 
 particular inquiry into all the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 59 
 
 ami destroying our armed schooner, the Gaspee, on the 10th of June last, in the 
 Narragansett River, within our said colony of Rhode Island, and to the a>sembling, 
 arming and leading on the persons who made the said attack, as also into the causes 
 and occasions thereof; and into all the steps that have been taken by the civil 
 magistrates in their respective stations, for the discovery and punishment of the per- 
 trators of those heinous offences. And to those ends, you- are to summon before 
 vou. all such persons as you shall think maybe able to give any information touching 
 the said objects of inquiry; and likewise, to order all informations, depositions and 
 examinations, which may have been taken and made in writing, touching those 
 matters, or authentic copies thereof, to be laid before you, and to make a report to 
 us, by one of our principal secretaries of state, of all your proceedings, and of what 
 shall appear to you, respecting the conduct of the magistrates and people of Rhode 
 Island, on that occasion. 
 
 Art. 3d. And whereas, the civil magistrates and officers within our said colony 
 of Rhode Island, are entrusted with the power and authority to arrest and commit 
 to eustodv such of the persons concerned in the plundering and destroying the 
 Gaspee schooner, and in the inhuman treatment of our officer who commanded her, 
 against whom any information shall be taken, in order to the said offenders being 
 sent to England to be tried for that offence ; it is therefore, our will and pleasure, 
 that you do, from time to time, communicate to the said civil officers and magis 
 trates, such information as you shall be able to collect, touching the persons con 
 cerned in that daring attack upon our authority and commission, to the end that 
 thev may be accordingly arrested and delivered to the custody of the commander in 
 chief of our ships and vessels in North America, pursuant to such directions as we 
 have thought fit to give for that purpose. 
 
 Art. 4th. And whereas, it is of importance with regard to the mode of proceed 
 ing against the said offenders, that they should be exactly informed of the place 
 where the offence was committed, it will, therefore, be your duty to take care in 
 all your proceedings upon this inquiry, as well as in your reports thereof to us, by 
 one of our principal secretaries of state, to ascertain with the greatest precision, 
 whether the offence was committed and done within the body of the colony ; and if 
 so, within what county or district thereof; and if not so, in what other place the 
 said offence was committed and done. 
 
 Art. 5th. And whereas, there may be reason to apprehend, from the outrages 
 which have been committed within our said colony of Rhode Island, by numbers of law 
 less persons, that insults may be offered to you, it is therefore our will and pleasure, 
 that if any disturbance shall arise, with a view to obstruct you in the execution of 
 your duty, and any violence should in consequence thereof, be offered to you, you 
 do. in such case, give immediate notice thereof to the commander in chief of our 
 forces in North America, and require of him to send such a military force into the 
 colony, as you shall judge necessary for your protection, and for the aiding the civil 
 magistrates in suppressing any tumults or riots, and preserving the public peace. 
 
 Lastly. It is our will and pleasure, that you do take an account, by way of 
 journal, of all your acts and proceedings in the execution of the powers and direc 
 tions given to you, and that the reports which you are to make to us, by one of our 
 
60 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASPEE. 
 
 principal secretaries of state, of those proceedings, he in writing, and signed hy any 
 three or more of you.* (}. R. 
 
 * Extract from the Providence Gazette, of Saturday, December 20, 1772 : 
 
 " To be, or not to be, that s the question ; whether our unalienable rights and privileges arc 
 any longer worth contending for, is now to be determined. Permit me, my countrymen, 
 to beseech you to attend to your alarming situation. 
 
 The stamp act you opposed with a spirit and resolution becoming those who were truly 
 solicitous to transmit to posterity those blessings which our forefathers purchased for us in 
 the wilds of America, at an immense expense of blood and treasure. 
 
 But behold, an evil infinitely worse, in its consequences, than all the revenue laws which 
 have been passed from the reign of Charles the First, to this time, now threatens this dis 
 tressed, piralically plundered country. 
 
 A court of inquisition, more horrid than that of Spain or Portugal, is established within 
 this colony, to inquire into the circumstances of destroying the Gaspee schooner; and the 
 persons who are the commissioners of this new-fangled court, are vested with most exor 
 bitant and unconstitutional power. They are directed to summon witnesses, apprehend 
 persons not only impeached, but even suspected ! and them, and every of them, to deliver 
 them to Admiral Montagu, who is^ordered to have a ship in readiness to carry them to 
 England, where they are to be tried. 
 
 Three of the commissioners are a quorum, who are directed to apply to General Gage, for 
 troops to protect them in their offices, and preserve the colony from riots and disturbances. 
 The royal commission for these gentlemen, together with their instructions, is transmitted 
 to Admiral Montagu, who, upon being notified that they are convened in conformity to 
 their appointment, is to attend them, and then deliver their commission and instructions, 
 and to be aiding with his sage counsel and advice, whenever necessary. 
 
 So much has transpired, respecting this alarming star-chamber inquisition. And who 
 among the natives of America, can hear it without emotion ? Is there an American, in 
 whose breast there glows the smallest spark of public virtue, but who must be fired with 
 indignation and resentment, against a measure so replete with the ruin of our free consti 
 tution ? To be tried by one s peers, is the greatest privilege a subject can wish for; and so 
 excellent is our constitution, that no subject shall be tried, but by his peers. 
 
 This establishment is the grand barrier of our lives, liberties and estates; and whoever 
 attempts to alter or invade this fundamental principle, by which the liberties of the people 
 have been secured from time immemorial, is a declared enemy to the welfare and happiness 
 of the King and state. The tools of despotism and arbitrary power, have long wished that 
 this important bulwark might be destroyed, and now have the impudence to triumph in our 
 faces, because such of their fellow subjects in America, as are suspected of being guilty of 
 a crime, are ordered to be transported to Great Britain for trial, in open violation of Matrna 
 Charta. 
 
 Thus are we robbed of our birth-rights, and treated with every mark of indignity, insult 
 and contempt ; and can we possibly be so supine, as not to feel ourselves firmly disposed 
 to treat the advocates for such horrid measures with a detestation and scorn, proportionate 
 to their perfidy and baseness ? 
 
 Luxury and avarice, a more fatal and cruel scourge than war, will ere long ravage Britain 
 and ultimately bring on the dissolution of that once happy kingdom. Ambition, and a thirst 
 for arbitrary sway, have already banished integrity, probity and every other virtue, from those 
 who are entrusted with the government of our mother country. Her colonies loudly com 
 plain of the violences and vexations they suffer by having their moneys taken from them, 
 without their consent, by measures more unjustifiable than highway robbery ; and ap 
 plied to the basest purposes, those of supporting tyrants and debauchees. No private house 
 is inaccessible to the avarice of custom-house officers ; no place so remote whither the injus 
 tice and extortion ot these miscreant tools in power, have not penetrated. 
 
 Upon the whole, it is more than probable, it is an almost absolute certainty, that, ac 
 cording to the present appearances, the state of an American subject, instead of enjoying 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 61 
 
 These papers were transmitted to Admiral Montagu, and 
 sent by him to Governor Wanton, by express. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, lltli December, 1772. 
 
 Sir : Last night an express arrived, with dispatches from the Right Honorable 
 My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by which came under cover to me, the 
 packet I send to you, herewith. 
 
 the privileges of an Englishman, will soon be infinitely worse than that of a subject of 
 France, Spain, Portugal, or any other the most despotic power on earth ; so that, my coun 
 trymen, it behoves you, it is your indispensable duty to stand forth in the glorious cause of 
 freedom, the dearest of all your earthly enjoyments ; and, with a truly Roman spirit of 
 liberty, either prevent the fastening of the infernal chains now forging for you, and your 
 posterity, or noblv perish in the attempt. 
 
 To live a life of rational beings, is to live tree ; to live a life of slaves, is to die by inches. 
 Ten thousaid deaths by the halter, or the axe, are infinitely preferable to a miserable life of 
 slavery in chains, under a pack of worse than Egyptian tyrants, whose avarice nothing less 
 than your whole substance and income, will satisfy ; and who, if they can t extort that, will 
 glory in making a sacrifice of you and your posterity, to gratify their master the devil, who 
 is a tyrant, and the father of tyrants and of liars. AMERICAXUS. 
 
 Extracts from the Providence Gazette, of Saturday, 
 December 26, 1772. 
 
 Newport, December 21, 1772. 
 
 Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Boston, to his friend in this town : 
 
 " I here enclose you an extract of a letter from a gentleman in England, to another in 
 Boston. In continuation of the truth of which, the admiral received a packet by an express 
 which arrived in this town on Thursday evening last, ordering the ships to your harbor ; 
 in consequence of which order, the ships are now getting ready as fast as possible ; they were 
 kept to work all day yesterday, and commanded to be ready to sail on Tuesday afternoon, 
 or Wednesday morning, at furthest. 
 
 The admiral is in very high spirits on the occasion, and cheerfully undertakes an expedi 
 tion which promises to gratify his rancor agaiust your colony. It is to be hoped, from his 
 avowed disposition towards our Rhode Island brethren, that he will meet with a proper re 
 ception among them. 
 
 I have just received information which you may depend upon : the high commissioned 
 court, specially appointed, with novel, unconstitutional and exorbitant powers, for the trial 
 of the persous concerned in burning the schoo er, are forthwith to repair to Rhode Island 
 for that purpose; and are to be accompanied with His High Mightiness the Admiral. 
 
 The regiment at Castle William, a regiment from New York, and a third regiment, are 
 immediately to march for Rhode Island; and unless you exhibit a quantum sufficit of passive 
 obedience and non-resistance, the same tragedy may be acted in Newport and Providence, 
 which makes the 5th of March so memorable at Boston." 
 
 Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character, in England, to his friend, in Boston : 
 " Our tyrants in the administration, are greatly exasperated with the late manoeuvre of 
 the brave Rhode Islanders; as a regard to the rights of the subject, and the principles of 
 justice, never marked the measures of the present wretched conductors of the wheels of gov 
 ernment, you will not be alarmed when I tell you that they have determined to vacate the 
 
62 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 As it may be of great consequence, I have thought proper to charge Mr. Mon 
 tagu, oue of my lieutenants, with it.* 
 
 In my despatches from their Lordships, I am directed to repair to Rhode Island, 
 to assist you, and the rest of the gentlemen in the commission, which I shall do as 
 
 charter of that colony. To effect this purpose, which in their own apprehension, will be 
 attended with some difficulty, Admiral Montagu is ordered, with the small craft which are 
 with him, to line the harbor of Rhode Island, with positive orders to apprehend the persons 
 concerned in the cnterprize above mentioned. 
 
 Awed by the formidable appearance of this hectoring commander and his gallant squa 
 dron, these bitter pills are to be crammed down their throats; but the friends of true British 
 freedom, are not without hopes that the stomachs of that heroic colony will reject the dose 
 prepared for them. 
 
 Be united, our dear suffering brethren ; be steady, and success awaits you; freedom, glo 
 rious freedom, will be the purchase. We believe that the ancient British spirit of independ 
 ence, which once blest this island, has improved by transplantation, and preserves its 
 vigor in the breasts of Americans ; cherish it, my dear friends ! and by relieving yourselves, 
 save the small remnant of the virtuous in Britain." 
 
 Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Boston, to his friend, in this town, dated Decem 
 ber 14, 1772: 
 
 " I would have you inform your townsmen, that the admiral has hoisted his flag on board 
 one of the frigates, and will sail for Newport, in a day or two ; and is determined to lay 
 your town and Providence, in ashes ; he swore by God (some time ago), that he would burn 
 the town of Providence to ashes. Mr. P , of this town, will attest to it ; hope you will 
 try him for treason. 
 
 It is surmised, that they are going to deprive you of your charter; hope you will give it 
 up peaceably, like true friends to government, and not contend with your superiors, but be 
 subject to the higher powers; for the powers that be, are ordained (I believe), of the 
 devil." 
 
 * The following is from the Providence Gazette, of December 10, 1772 : 
 
 "By the Cruizer sloop-of-war, Capt. Howe, arrived at New York, from England, His 
 Honor the Governor, has received dispatches from the Earl of Dartmouth, secretary of state 
 for the American department, relative to the Gaspee armed schooner, destroyed some time 
 since, and the very extraordinary measures adopted by government for inquiring into the 
 matter, and punishing the offenders. 
 
 For this purpose, we are told that commissioners are to sit at Newport, and examine such 
 persons as Admiral Montagu shall direct to be apprehended. These devoted persons, it is 
 further said, are to be transported to England, where they are to be tried for high treason. 
 The admiral, with a number of ships and tenders, is to be at Newport; and the com 
 missioners are directed to apply to General Gage for troops, if they shall think them 
 necessary. 
 
 In this situation of affairs, every friend to our violated constitution, cannot but be greatly 
 alarmed. The idea of seizing a number of persons, under the points of bayonets, and 
 transporting them three thousand miles for trial, where, whether guilty or innocent, they 
 must unavoidably fall victims alike to revenge or prejudice, is shocking to humanity, repug 
 nant to every dictate of reason, liberty and justice; and in which, Americans and freemen 
 ought never to acquiesce." 
 
 Extract from the proceedings of a town meeting held at Dorchester, in the Massachusetts 
 Bay, January 4, 1773 : 
 
 " Resolved, that at a time when open attacks upon our happy constitution are multiplied, 
 it is incumbent upon the people to be watchful ; and especially at this time, when we are 
 alarmed with a new and unheard of grievance, in a late act passed by "the British Parlia 
 ment, whereby the crown is empowered, so that persons supposed to be guilty of certain 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 63 
 
 soon as vou inform me that you are ready, with the commissioners, to proceed to 
 business, and deliver the commission, and the King s instructions to you. 
 
 In the meantime. Captain Keeler, in His Majesty s ship Mercury, has my orders 
 to assist vou. and receive any prisoners or persons you may send him. Permit me 
 to say, I should think it advisable to have the persons apprehended that I sent you 
 an account of some months ago, which the indentured mulatto informed of, and has 
 sworn against. The mulatto remains on board with the captain, and shall be ready 
 to attend the commission, whenever he is called for. 
 
 As I find Capt. Keeler is often made a prisoner, from frequent arrests he meets 
 with, as well as insults when he comes on shore, I am to desire, in case the commis 
 sion should at any time want him, you will direct his person to be secured from in 
 sults or arrests. 
 
 Whenever you will favor me with your commands, you will find me ready to co 
 operate with you in every thing for the King s service. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 P. S. I must beg leave to recommend to yon, as first in the commission, to ap 
 point a time for the first meeting, and to give notice to the other gentlemen named 
 in the commission and me ; and that yon will make the time as short as you can, 
 consistent with proper notice, for particular reasons. 
 
 This led to the following correspondence before the opening 
 of the session of the commissioners : 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Xewpoi t, December 14, 1772. 
 
 <y,; r : I am favored with yours, by Mr. Montagu, together with dispatches from 
 
 the Pviirht Honorable the Earl of Dartmouth, respecting the destruction of the 
 
 Gaspee. 
 
 I shall appoint a time for meeting the commissioners authorized to inquire into 
 
 crimes, my be hurried away from any county iu Xorth America, where such crime may be 
 supposed to have been committed, to be tried iu any county in England, \rhere His Majesty 
 or bis successors shall judge proper ; which appears to us to come little short of any court 
 of inquisition, and appears plainly to us destructive of the main pillar of the British 
 constitution." 
 
 Extract from the proceedings of a town meeting, held at Ipswich, in the Massachusetts 
 Bay, December 17, 1772 : 
 
 " Resolved, that we have been of late greatly alarmed at the appointment of commis 
 sioners, in consequence of a late act of Parliament, entitled < An act for the better perserv- 
 ing His Majesty s dockyards, magazines, ships, ammunition and stores, and to inquire after 
 the persons concerned "in burning His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, at Providence; 
 which, though a very unjustifiable act, yet we apprehend this method of proceeding, an in 
 fringement upon the liberty of the subject, and of the most dangerous consequence, as the 
 constitution has already provided a method for the trial of those, and all other offenders." 
 
64 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 the circumstances of that transaction, as soon as may be, and give you the earliest 
 intelligence thereof, in conformity to His Majesty s orders. His Majesty s procla 
 mation I shall cause to be printed without delay, and sent into the several towns 
 within the colony. I am, &c., &<., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To the Honorable J. Montagu. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island, to Peter Oliver, Esq., Chief 
 Justice oj Massachusetts. 
 
 Newport, December 14, 1772. 
 
 Sir : By express from Admiral Montagu, I have this moment received a letter 
 from the Earl of Dartmouth, advising of your being one of the commissioners for in 
 quiring into the circumstances of burning the schooner Gaspee. I have thought 
 proper to give you this information, and that I shall fix upon a time for meeting the 
 commissioners, and give you and the other gentlemen named in the commission, 
 notice thereof, without delay. I am, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To the Honorable Peter Oliver, Esq. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Robert Auchmuty, Esq.) Judge 
 of the Vice Admiralty Court, Boston. 
 
 lloxbury, December 11, 1772. 
 
 Sir : I embrace this opportunity of acquainting you, that I have received His 
 Majesty s orders to attend you and the other gentlemen, commissioners for examining 
 into the business and plundering the schooner Gaspee. In obedience to which, I 
 shall, on notice, with all convenient dispatch, attend you on that affair. I shall be 
 glad to know when you think the gentlemen can be got together ; and am, 
 
 Your Honor s most obedient servant, 
 
 ROBERT AUCHMUTY. 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Judge Auchmuty. 
 
 Newport, December 14, 1772. 
 
 Sir : I have received your favor by Mr. Montagu. I shall fix upon a time for 
 meeting the commissioners, appointed to inquire into the circumstances of destroying 
 the Gaspee schooner, and give you and the other gentlemen, mentioned in the com 
 mission, the earliest intelligence thereof. I am, c., &e., 
 
 J. WANTON; 
 To the Hon. Robert Auchmuty. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 65 
 
 Circular of the Governor of Rhode Island to Judges Oliver and 
 
 Auchmuty. 
 
 Newport, December 24, 1772. 
 
 Sir : When I received the Earl of Dartmouth s letter of the 4th of Sep 
 tember, and in consequence thereof, wrote you on the 14th inst., I was preparing to 
 set out for the Assembly, who were adjourned to meet that day at Providence, and 
 therefore I had not then time to attend so maturely to His Lordship s letter as its 
 importance required. 
 
 The letter I received from Admiral Montagu, by the same express which brought 
 me the dispatches from Lord Dartmouth, induced me to suppose I was authorized 
 to appoint a time for the first meeting of the commissioners ; but as Lord Dartmouth 
 has signified to me, that my associates in the commission, are directed to repair to 
 Newport, and by a vessel this day from New York, I am informed that the chief 
 justice of that province, and the chief justice of New Jersey have engaged their pas 
 sages, and will be here some time next week. 
 
 I thought it proper to give you tin s information, and that I am ready to meet you, 
 agreeably to the royal instructions, whenever it may suit your convenience to attend. 
 As 3oon as a quorum can be got together, I shall, without loss of time, notify Ad 
 miral Montagu, in obedience to the King s command. 
 
 I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 
 Circular to the Judges Oliver and Auchmuty. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to the Sheriffs of the several 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Newport, December 22, 1772. 
 
 Sir : In obedience to the King s command, signified to me, by the Right Honora 
 ble the Earl of Dartmouth, one of his principal secretaries of state, I have caused to 
 be printed His Majesty s proclamation for discovering and apprehending the per 
 sons who plundered and burnt the Gaspee schooner ; copies of which, I send you by 
 express, which you are forthwith to affix in the most pubh c places of the severa 
 towns within your colony. I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 Circular to the sheriffs of the several counties. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, December 24, 1772. 
 
 Sir : By a vessel this day from New York, I am informed that the Judges Hors- 
 manden and Smythe, have engaged their passages in the sloop Lydia, John Free- 
 body, master, and will probably be here in about a week. I give you this informa 
 tion, for your government. I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON, 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 9 
 
66 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, 28th December, 1772. 
 
 Sir : I am favored with your letter, informing me that the Judges Horsmanden and 
 Smythe are expected at Rhode Island in the course of the week. If you will be 
 pleased to inform me when you are ready to receiA e His Majesty s commission, I 
 will take care to have it delivered agreeably to my instructions. 
 
 I shall be glad to know whether you intend to proceed to business, or adjourn to 
 any particular time, that I may conduct myself relative to His Majesty s service 
 here, accordingly. I am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Honor Governor Wanton. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, January 1, 1773. 
 
 Sir : The Judges Horsmanden and Smythe arrived here last evening, from New 
 York, and are ready to proceed immediately upon business. A number sufficient 
 to constitute a quorum, are now assembled at Newport, waiting to receive from you 
 the royal commission and instructions, of which I have thought it proper to give you 
 this information, by express. 
 
 I shall be glad to wait upon you, at Newport ; and am, sir, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To Admiral Montagu. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Judge Auchmuty. 
 
 Newport, January 1, 1773. 
 
 Sir : The Judges Horsmanden and Smythe arrived last evening from New 
 York. This will be delivered you by express I send to the Admiral ; and hope I 
 shall have the pleasure of waiting on you this week, if your health will permit. 
 
 My letter to Judge Oliver, you have, without doubt, sent him. I am, therefore, 
 in expectation of seeing him, every hour. I have only to add the compliments of 
 the season ; and am, sir, &c., &e., J. WANTON. 
 
 To Judge Auchmuty. 
 
 The Governor of Rhode Island to Capt. Robert Keeler, of His 
 Majesty s Ship Mercury. 
 
 Newport, January 4, 1773. 
 
 Sir : The commissioners meet at twelve o clock this day, at the colony house ; at 
 which time, I expect the return of the express, when it is probable it will be deter 
 mined whether it is proper to defer opening the commission until the admiral ar 
 rives. Your attendance will be necessary. I am yours, &c., &c., 
 
 J. WANTON. 
 To Captain Robert Keeler. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 67 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Boston, 2d January, 1773, 
 
 at 3 o clock, afternoon. 
 
 Sir : I am this moment favored with your letter, by express, acquainting me 
 that the Judges Ilorsmanden and Smythe are arrived at Newport, and ready to pro 
 ceed immediately upon business, and are therefore ready to receive His Majesty s 
 royal commission, which, by my instructions, I am to cause to be delivered to 
 them. 
 
 I beg leave to inform you, that my captain left this place yesterday morning, 
 charged with the commission to be given to Captain Keeler, the senior officer of His 
 Majesty s ships at Rhode Island, who has my orders to wait on you, and know your 
 pleasure, when he shall wait upon the commissioners with it. 
 
 He is also directed to give the commissioners all the assistance in his power, and 
 to receive such persons, either prisoners or witnesses, as they shall send to him. 
 
 He has likewise my directions to inform the commissioners that he has some peo 
 ple on board that can give information relative to the burning the Gaspee, as well 
 as of the persons concerned in that affair ; and he is directed to send them to the 
 commissioners whenever they are pleased to demand them. 
 
 As the season of the year does not admit of my coming to Rhode Island with my 
 flag, and such ships as shall be necessary to assist the commissioners, agreeably to 
 my instructions ; yet, if the commissioners shall think it right, and for the good of 
 the service they are upon, that my presence is necessary, I shall be ready to set out 
 the moment I receive such notice from them. But I flatter myself they will be able 
 to do so, without me, as I have nothing to do but to receive such persons as may be 
 sent from them. I am, &c., &c., 
 
 JT. MONTAGU. 
 
 To Governor Wanton, 
 
68 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION, FOR 
 INQUIRING INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELA 
 TIVE TO THE TAKING AND BURNING OF HIS 
 MAJESTY S SCHOONER GASPEE. 
 
 The commissioners met at the state house, in Newport, on 
 the 5th day of January, 1773. 
 
 Present the Hon. Joseph Wanton, Daniel Horsmanden, 
 Esquire, Frederick Smythe, Esquire, Peter Oliver, Esquire, 
 and Robert Auchmuty, Esquire. 
 
 COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS : 
 
 Proceedings had and taken by virtue of a royal commission, 
 under the seal of Great Britain, directed to the Honorable 
 Joseph Wanton, Esq., Governor of the English colony of 
 Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New Eng 
 land, in America; Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., chief justice 
 of the Province of New York ; Frederick Smythe, Esq., 
 chief justice of the Province of New Jersey ; Peter Oliver, 
 Esq., chief justice of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 
 New England ; Robert Auchmuty, Esq., judge of the vice 
 admiralty court, established at Boston, with jurisdiction in 
 all causes arising within the limits of the colonies of New 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connec 
 ticut, commissioners appointed for inquiring into and re 
 porting to His Majesty a full and true account of all the 
 circumstances relative to the attacking, taking, plundering 
 and burning His Majesty s armed schooner, called the Gas- 
 pee, commanded by Lieutenant William Dudingston, within 
 the colony of Rhode Island, in America, on the 10th day of 
 June, A. D. 1772 ; and for other purposes therein men 
 tioned, at the colony house, at Newport, in Rhode Island, 
 Tuesday, the 5th day of January, A. D. 1773, the above 
 commissioners being present. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPER. 69 
 
 His Majesty s said royal commission, with instructions to 
 said commissioners, under His Majesty s signet and sign 
 manual, were delivered to the said commissioners, by Robert 
 Keeler, Esq., commander of His Majesty s ship Mercury, 
 which said commission was publicly read and proclaimed. 
 
 On the perusal of said instructions, the commissioners con 
 ceived that the presence of Rear Admiral Montagu, com 
 mander in chief of His Majesty s ships and vessels employed 
 in North America, was necessary, for the furtherance of the 
 present service. 
 
 The following letter was thereupon written, and delivered 
 by James Clarke, one of the secretaries to the commissioners, 
 to Captain Symonds, to be by him immediately conveyed to 
 Admiral Montagu : 
 
 The Commissioners of Inquiry, $-c., to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, January 5, 1773. 
 
 Sir : We, His Majesty s commissioners, for inquiring into the attacking, burning 
 and plundering His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, &c., being met at this place, in 
 order to prevent the delay of business, thought proper to receive the royal commis 
 sion and instructions, from Capt. Keeler, which, until yours of the 2d inst., we con 
 cluded would have been delivered by you. 
 
 This day the commission was opened and published, and the instructions carefully 
 perused ; in one, of which, we find the following words : " To the end that they may 
 be accordingly arrested, and delivered to the custody of the commander in chief ol 
 our ships and vessels in North America, pursuant to such directions as we have 
 thought fit to give for that purpose." 
 
 By virtue of these words, we conceive, that in case any person or persons should 
 be arrested for the above mentioned crime, you are the only person to whom such 
 prisoners can regularly be delivered for safe custody ; therefore, we think your at 
 tendance at Newport, is absolutely necessary. We are sorry to give you this 
 trouble ; but our duty, as we apprehend, obliges us to do it. 
 We are, sir, with great respect, 
 
 Your most humble and obedient servants, 
 
 JOSEPH WANTON, FREDERICK SMTTHE, 
 
 DANIEL HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBERT AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 TO Admiral Montagu. 
 
70 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The commissioners then proceeded to take the usual state 
 oaths, which were administered first by Daniel Horsmanden, 
 Esq., to Joseph Wanton, Esq., and afterwards by him, to the 
 other commissioners. 
 
 The commissioners then appointed James Erenton and 
 James Clarke, Esqs., joint secretaries, who were accordingly 
 sworn truly and faithfully to execute the duties of their 
 office. 
 
 The following is the form of the oath taken by the com 
 missioners : 
 
 The form of the Oath taken by the Commissioners. 
 
 We do solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify and de 
 clare, that we do believe, that in the sacrament of the Lord s supper, there is not any 
 transubstantiation of the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, 
 at or after the consecration thereof, by any person, whatsoever ; and that the invoca 
 tion or adoration of the Virgin Mar)-, or any other saint, and the sacrifice of the mass, 
 as they are now used in the Church of Rome, are superstitious and idolatrous. And 
 we do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify and declare, that we do 
 make this declaration and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the 
 words read unto us, as they are commonly understood by English Protestants, 
 without any evasion, equivocation or mental reservation, whatsoever ; and without 
 any dispensation already granted us for this purpose by the Pope, or any other au 
 thority or person, whatsoever ; or without any hope of any such dispensation from 
 any person or authority, whatsoever ; or without thinking that we are, or can be 
 acquitted before God or man, or absolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, 
 although the Pope, or any other person or persons, or power, whatsoever, shall 
 dispense with, or annul the same, or declare that it was null and void, from the 
 beginning. J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMAXDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCtDIUTY, 
 
 We do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify and declare, in our con 
 sciences, before God and the world, that our sovereign lord, George the Third, is 
 the lawful and rightful King of this realm, and all other pis Majesty s dominions 
 thereunto belonging. And we do solemnly and sincerely declare, that we do be 
 lieve, in our consciences, that not any of the descendants of the person who pre 
 tended to be Prince of Wales during the life of the late King James the Second, 
 and since his decease pretended to be, and took upon himself the style and title of 
 King of England, by the name of James the Third ; or of Scotland, by the name of 
 James the Eighth ; or the style and title of King of Great Britain, hath any right 
 or title, whatsoever, to the crown of this realm, or any other the dominions there 
 unto belonging. And we do renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedi- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 71 
 
 ence to any of them. And we do swear, that we will bear faithful and true allegi 
 ance to His Majesty King George the Third, and him will defend to the utmost of our 
 power, against all traitorous conspiracies and attempts, whatsoever, which shall be 
 made against his person, crown or dignity. And we will do our utmost endeavor to 
 disclose and make known to His Majesty, and his successors, all treason and trai 
 torous conspiracies which we shall know to be against him or any of them. And 
 we do faithfully promise to the utmost of our power, to support, maintain and de 
 fend the succession of the crown against the descendants of the said James, and 
 against all other persons, whatsoever ; which succession, by an act entitled " An act 
 for the further limitation of the crown, and better securing the rights and liberties 
 of the subject," is, and stands limited to the princess Sophia, electoress and duchess 
 dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being Protestants. And all these 
 things we do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according to these ex 
 press words by us spoken, and according to the plain and common sense and under 
 standing of the -same words, without any equivocation, mental evasion, or secret 
 reservation, whatsoever. And we do make this recognition, acknowledgment, ab 
 juration, i-enunciation and promise heartily, willingly and truly, upon the true faith 
 of a Christian. So help us God. 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 We do swear, that we do, from 
 our hearts, abhor, detest and ab 
 jure, as impious and heretical, that 
 damnable doctrine and position, 
 that princes excommunicated or 
 deprived by the Pope or any au 
 thority of the See of Rome, may 
 be deposed or murdered by their 
 subjects, or any other, whatsoever. 
 And we do declare, that no foreign 
 prince, person, prelate, state, or 
 potentate, hath, or ought to have, 
 any jurisdiction, power, superi 
 ority, pre-eminence or authority, 
 ecclesiastical or spiritual, within 
 this realm. So help us God. 
 
72 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The proceedings of the said commission were then adjourned 
 till to-morrow, at 11 o clock, then to meet at the colony house, 
 aforesaid. 
 
 Wednesday, January 6, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 The commissioners determined that it was necessary that an 
 advertisement be published in the next Newport Mercury, 
 giving notice that the said commissioners had assembled, and 
 were now daily sitting at the colony house, in Newport, for 
 the purpose of proceeding upon, and duly executing the said 
 commission ; and that they are ready to receive information 
 relative to the attacking, taking, plundering and burning the Gas- 
 pee schooner, on the 10th of June last past ; in consequence of 
 which resolutions, the following advertisement was ordered to 
 be published : 
 
 Advertisement in the Newport Mercury, of the meetings of the, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 " COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS : 
 
 The public are hereby informed, that the honorable the commissioners, appointed 
 under the seal of Great Britain, for inquiring into the circumstances of attacking, 
 plundering and burning His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, under the command of 
 Lieutenant William Dudingston, on the 10th of June last, are now convened, and 
 continue to sit every day, Sundays excepted, at the colony house, in Newport, in 
 conformity to His Majesty s instructions. 
 
 Wherefore, all persons who can give any information to the said commissioners, 
 relative to the assembling, arming and leading on the persons who made the said 
 attack, and the directing and preparing the same, are requested forthwith to give 
 information thereof, to said commissioners at the above mentioned place. 
 
 By order of the commissioners, JOSEPH BRENTON, 
 
 JAMES CLARKE, 
 
 Secretaries." 
 
 The proceedings on said commission, were then adjourned 
 till to-morrow, at 10 o clock ; then to meet at the colony 
 house, aforesaid. 
 
 Thursday, January 7, 1773. 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Frederick Smythe, Esq.* 
 Peter Oliver, Esq., Kobert Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 73 
 
 Governor Wanton laid before the commissioners four letters, 
 which had passed between him, Admiral Montagu and Lieu 
 tenant Dudingston ; also, one other letter, signed by Governor 
 Wanton, and transmitted by him, by order of the General As 
 sembly, of the colony, aforesaid, to Rear Admiral Montagu ; 
 which letters, are prior in date, to the attacking and burning 
 His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, which were read, and ordered 
 to be put on file. 
 
 Sundry papers, letters and depositions, to the number of 
 twenty, containing the proceedings of the Governor and 
 Deputy Governor of the colony, aforesaid, relative to the burn 
 ing the schooner, were delivered by Governor Wanton to the 
 commissioners, which were also read, and ordered on file. 
 
 Governor Wanton informed the commissioners, that Mr. 
 Sessions, Deputy Governor of the colony, was in Newport, 
 and ready to attend the commissioners, to give them an ac 
 count of the steps he had taken, in order to discover the per 
 sons who destroyed His Majesty s schooner Gaspee. 
 
 A message was sent to Mr. Sessions, requesting his attend 
 ance ; who accordingly came before the commissioners, and 
 was by them requested to give in writing, upon ,oath, a full 
 and particular account of the measures he had taken, in order 
 to the discovery of the persons who perpetrated the aforesaid 
 crime ; which he assured the commissioners he would do, 
 without loss of time. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins, Esq., Chief Justice of said colony, also 
 appeared before the commissioners, and assured them he was 
 ready and willing to aid and assist the commissioners in the ex 
 ercise of the power and authority with which they are in 
 vested, for discovering the persons who destroyed the Gaspee 
 schooner, &c. 
 
 The commissioners then requested Mr. Hopkins to give them, 
 in writing, a full and particular account of all the proceedings 
 had and done by him, for discovering and bringing to justice 
 the persons who committed the aforesaid offence ; and also 
 what knowledge or information he had obtained of the assem- 
 10 
 
74 TflE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 bling, arming and leading on the persons who perpetrated the 
 same ; which he also promised to do, without loss of time. 
 
 The proceedings on the commission were then adjourned till 
 to-morrow, at 10 o clock before noon ; then to meet at the 
 colony house, aforesaid. 
 
 Friday, January 8, IT 73. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Ilorsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Brenton, one of the secretaries under the present com 
 mission, was examined by the commissioners, touching the ob 
 struction to the execution of a warrant issued by Metcalfe 
 Bowler, Esq., on the 17th of July lust, in order to apprehend 
 the negro Aaron, then on board His Majesty s ship, the 
 Beaver ; which examination, was reduced to writing, sworn 
 to before the commissioners, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Deposition of James Brenton. 
 
 James Brenton, now residing in Newport, in the colony of Rhode Island, in North 
 America, Esq., being of full age, duly sworn upon the holy evangelists, deposes and 
 saith : 
 
 That, upon the 1 "th day of July last, he was requested by the Hon. Joseph Wan 
 ton, Esq., Governor of the colony of Rhode Island, aforesaid, to attend Robert Lilli- 
 bridge, one of the deputy sheriffs in the county of Newport, in said colony, who was 
 ordered with a warrant from Metcalfe Bowler, Esq., one of the justices of assize, in 
 said colony, to repair on board His Majesty s ship, the Beaver, and to make diligent 
 search for one Aaron, a mulatto lad, charged with being concerned (with others un 
 known), in attacking and burning His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, on the 10th 
 of June last ; and upon finding the said Aaron, to take him before the said Metcalfe 
 Bowler, or some other lawful authority, in order that the said Aaron might be ex 
 amined relative to the said transaction, and be proceeded against, according to 
 law. 
 
 That this deponent, about 1 o clock, in the afternoon, of the said 1 7th day of July, 
 went with the said deputy sheriff, from said Newport, in order to go on board His 
 Majesty s ship, the Beaver, then lying in the harbor of Newport; that, when the boat 
 in which this deponent and the said deputy sheriff were, came near the said ship, 
 they were forbidden by the sentinel, upon the ship s gangway, from going on board. 
 
 This deponent then acquainted a person, who appeared to be the commanding 
 officer, upon the deck of the said Ship, that he, this deponent, with your said deputy 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 75 
 
 sheriff, w re then come to demand that Aaron, a mulatto lad, who was charged with 
 being concerned in the attacking and burning the schooner Gaspee, and who, they 
 were informed, was then on board said ship, might be delivered to the deputy 
 sheriff, in pursuance of a warrant for that purpose. 
 
 That the said olh cer then on deck, answered this deponent, that Captain Linzee, 
 the commander of the said ship, was not on board ; and that he, the said officer, 
 could do nothing without orders. The said officer further acquainted them, that 
 Capt. Lin/ce was then on shore, at Brenton s Point. 
 
 That, this deponent then, together with the said deputy sheriff, went on shore, at 
 the farm of Jahleel Brenton ; where, at the said Jahleel Brenton s house, this de 
 ponent saw the said Capt. Linzee, and acquainted him that he came to attend the 
 deputy sheriff with a warrant, in order to demand of him, the said Capt. Linzee, 
 that he would deliver up to the civil magistrate a mulatto boy, called Aaron (who, 
 they were informed, was on board the Beaver man-of-war, under his command), in 
 order for his examination and commitment ; and at the same time, this deponent 
 showed to the said C apt. Linzee, the said warrant, and he was then and there re 
 quested to deliver up said mulatto, in consequence thereof. 
 
 To which, the said Capt. Linzee then answered, that it was true that he had the 
 said mulatto then on board His Majesty s said ship, the Beaver ; but that he would 
 not deliver him to any civil authority, whatever, in the said colony. 
 
 This deponent then told Capt. Linzee, that he, this deponent, came to wait upon 
 the said Capt. Linzee, at the particular request of Governor Wanton, the chief mag 
 istrate of said colon} , in order to explain to him, if necessary, the nature of the war 
 rant, and the impropriety of Capt. Linzee s conduct, in withholding a man charged 
 with a capital crime, from the civil power. 
 
 To which, Capt. Linzee replied, that he knew no civil authority, in said colony ; 
 that, in regard to the Governor, he was a damned rascal, and that Admiral Mon 
 tagu s power was the only power he knew in America, and without his orders he 
 should not deliver the said mulatto. 
 
 The deponent then asked him, the said Capt. Linzee, if he had any doubt about 
 the legality of the warrant, which this deponent held in his handy 
 
 To which, Capt. Linzee, looking carelessly upon it, said, it might be good for 
 what he knew ; but that he did not regard it any more than if it was a piece of 
 blank paper. 
 
 This deponent further saith, that the deputy sheriff (who was with this deponent, 
 at Jahleel Brenton s farm,) did not go into the house where Capt. Linzee was, but 
 waited without doors, as Capt. Linzee (being at that time suspicious of being ar 
 rested by civil process, on account of some seizures which had been made by him,) 
 would not consent that the deputy sheriff should see him. And further this depo 
 nent saith not. J. BRENTON. 
 
 Newport, January 8, 177;!. 
 
 Sworn to, before the commissioners. 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCIIMUTY, 
 
76 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The commissioners thought it advisable to defer the exami 
 nation of any of the witnesses respecting the burning of the 
 Gaspee, &c., until the arrival of Admiral Montagu, at New 
 port ; or they receive an answer from him, to their letter writ 
 ten the 5th inst., and transmitted by Capt. Symonds. 
 
 The proceedings on the commission then adjourned till to 
 morrow, at 10 o clock, in the forenoon, then to meet at the 
 colony house, aforesaid. 
 
 Saturday^ January 9, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Ilorsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq. and Robert 
 Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
 Darius Sessions, Esq., Deputy Governor of the colony of 
 Rhode Island, attended the commissioners, with a declaration 
 in writing, containing a full and particular account of the 
 measures he had taken, in order to make a discovery of the 
 persons concerned in the attacking and burning the Gaspeo 
 schooner ; which was read, sworn to, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Deposition of Deputy Governor Darius Sessions. 
 
 COLOXY OF KlIODE ISLAND, &C. : 
 
 Be it remembered, that at Newport, in said colon}-, on the 9th day of January, in 
 the year of our Lord 1773, before the commissioners appointed by a commission un 
 der the great seal of Great Britain, for inquiring into and reporting unto His Majesty, 
 all the circumstances of burning His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, &c., on the 10th 
 of June last, in his proper person, came and appeared the Hon. Darius Sessions, 
 Esq., of Providence, and Deputy Governor of the colony, aforesaid ; who being 
 duly sworn upon the holy evangelists of Almighty God, testifieth and saith : 
 
 That in the 9th of June last, at about 9 o clock, he heard a drum beat in the 
 street, opposite to his house. Soon after he went to his window and looked out r 
 and saw the drum surrounded by a number of boys, at some distance from the 
 house, going up street ; in a short time afterwards, he heard the drum returning ; 
 whereupon, he went back to his window, where he remained until it passed his 
 house ; and, as the moon shone very bright, he could plainly discover they were 
 only a company of boys, not exceeding ten or twelve in number ; two or three of 
 which, appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen years of age ; the others about ten 
 or twelve ; and concluding they were gathered together for no other design than to 
 divert themselves with the drum, he retired from his window, without saving anv- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 77 
 
 fhinir to the boys; soon after which, the noise of the drum ceased; the remaining part of 
 that night, he heard not the least noise or disturbance in the streets, or in any other 
 part of the town, nor received any the least hint, suggestion, intimation or information of 
 any riot, outrage or tumultuous assembling of the. people, nor intention thereof; 
 neither did he then know there was an armed vessel in the river, nearer than the 
 town of Newport, which is thirty miles from Providence ; had he known, or even 
 suspected any riot, his utmost endeavors would have been exerted in surpress- 
 ing it. 
 
 The next morning, one of his neighbors came and told him the Gaspee was burnt, 
 and the captain wounded; and that an express had arrived in town for a surgeon, 
 to dress the wounds of the officer, who lay then at Pawtuxet, about five miles from 
 Providence. 
 
 Immediately upon hearing this disagreeable news, he set out with a design to examine 
 into the affair ; and when he reached Pawtuxet, he saw the schooner on fire, lying 
 on a point of land, called and known by the name of Namquit Point, about two miles 
 from Pawtuxet. in the town of Warwick, in the county of Kent, and colony, aforesaid. 
 
 lie made inquiry if any of the offenders were- known, but could get no informa 
 tion ; he then went to a small house by the shore, where he heard Lieutenant Dud 
 ingston was lodged, and there found him in dangerous circumstances. 
 
 lie told Lieutenant Dudingston if he wanted money, surgeons, or better lodgings, 
 or any kind of assistance, he should have every relief in his power. 
 
 Mr. Dudingston replied, that he had saA ed his money, which was about one hun 
 dred dollars, and therefore wanted no favors for himself; but desired that some care 
 might be taken of his people, that they might be Collected together, and sent to the 
 admiral, at Boston, or on board the Beaver, at Newport, which the deponent prom 
 ised he would do. 
 
 lie then told Mr. Dudingston the design of his visit at that time, was not only to 
 afford him any assistance lie might need, but also to procure such a declaration from 
 his own mouth, respecting the attack that had been made on his person, and the 
 vessel lie commanded, that the offenders might be brought to justice. 
 
 Mr. Dudingston answered, that he would give him no account of the matter. 
 First, because of his indisposition of body ; and second, because it was his duty to 
 forbear any thing of that nature, until he had done it unto a court martial, unto 
 which, if lie lived, he would be called by his commanding officer. 
 
 The deponent then asked him, if he was willing he should examine his officers 
 and people ; which, after some refusal, he consented to ; .and they all agreeing 
 nearly to every thing material relative to the destruction of the schooner, he forth 
 with transmitted copies of their examinations to the Governor. 
 
 The deponent then gave orders that the seamen should be collected together, and 
 provided with victuals and lodgings, and that a boat should be got ready by the next 
 morning, to carry them on board the Beaver; all which, was executed with care 
 and expedition. 
 
 The deponent also gave orders that the stores and remains should be collected 
 and lodged in a warehouse, which was done, and soon after delivered to Capt 
 Linxee, of the Beaver. 
 
 lie also desired a gentleman, who lived near Mr. Dudingston, to supply said Dud 
 ingston with any thing he wanted ; and also that he Avould lodge and entertain any 
 surgeons or others, who might come to visit him ; and which the deponent verily be- 
 
78 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASPEE. 
 
 lieves he verily complied with. These expenses were recommended by the depo 
 nent, to the General Assembly, who ordered payment out of the public tivasury. 
 
 The deponent consulted with the Chief Justice, and most of the civil au 
 thority in that part of the colony where he resides, who highly disapproved of the 
 riot ; and universally declared they were ignorant of any of the proceedings, and 
 gave it as their opinion that measures ought to be pursued for discovering and 
 bringing to justice the perpetrators. 
 
 A proclamation was soon after issued by the Governor, which was posted up in 
 all the towns near where the offence was committed ; but as yet, the deponent has 
 not received any information of any of the persons concerned in that offence ; nei 
 ther has he ever heard that information has been made to any of the civil authority 
 within the colony. And further this deponent saitli not. 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 N. B. The words, " nor intention thereof," on the fifth line of the second page ; 
 " and colony, aforesaid," on the eighteenth line of the same page ; which, after 
 some refusal, he consented to, and they," in the nineteenth line of the third page : 
 relative to the destruction of the schooner," in the twentieth line of the same 
 page, were interlined before the above deposition was signed and sworn to. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, this 9th day of January, before us. 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCTIMUTY. 
 
 A letter was delivered to the commissioners, about two o 
 clock, P. M., then sitting at the colony house, by express, in 
 answer to their letter of the 5th instant, and forwarded by 
 Capt. Symonds, which was read, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, Sf-c. 
 
 Boston, 8th January, 1773, ] 
 1 o clock, P. M. { 
 
 Gentlemen : I was last night favored with your letter, by Capt. Symonds ; and 
 as you are so desirous of having me at Rhode Island, I shall, without you alter your 
 opinions, set out on Monday next. 
 
 At the same time, give me leave to observe to you, that my coming at the time, 
 is attended with a great delay to His Majesty s service here, and at Halifax, and can 
 answer no purpose, as I have fully and properly directed the commanding ofiicer at 
 that place in what manner he is to act, relative to his assisting the commissioners 
 and receiving the prisoners. 
 
 You say, by your instructions, you are directed to deliver to the custody of the com 
 mander in chief of His Majesty s ships and vessels in North America, all such prisoners 
 as may be apprehended ; and therefore, you are of opinion, that in that case, if any 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 79 
 
 person or persons should be arrested for the crime set forth in your commission, I am 
 the only pei-sou to whom such prisoners can regularly be delivered, for safe custody. 
 
 In answer to which, I beg leave to refer you to the sixth paragraph of My Lord 
 Dartmouth s letter, to Governor Wanton, where you will see, " The prisoners are to 
 be delivered to the care and custody of Hear Admiral Montagu, or the commander 
 in chief in North America, for the time being, or to such officer as he shall appoint 
 to receive them." 
 
 By my instructions from the lords of the admiralty, I am directed to repair to 
 Rhode Island, as soon as conveniently may be, with such of His Majesty s ships and 
 vessels under my command, as I shall judge proper, and give all the aid and assist 
 ance in my power, lor discovering and bringing to justice the offenders. 
 
 The winter season is so far advanced, as prevents my complying with that part 
 of my orders, as it is very improper to move so large a ship as the Captain, at this 
 time of the year; and without her, it is impossible for me to carry on the service. 
 
 I flatter myself, there has been no delay of business, owing to my not coming with 
 the commission ; for had I been there. I should have tendered it in the same man 
 ner I have done, as by my instructions, I am directed, when the commissioners are 
 ready to receive it, to cause it to be delivered to them. 
 
 I shall certainly set out on Monday next, if I can complete my business here, and 
 be ready to give you every assistance in my power. 
 I am, with respect, gentlemen. 
 
 Your most obedient, and most humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Majesty s commissioners, at Rhode Island. 
 
 The commissioners immediately agreed to an answer ; which 
 was written accordingly, and sent off about three o clock, by 
 the same express. 
 
 Monday, January 11, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., and Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from Metcalfe Bowler, 
 Esq., one of the justices of assize, in the colony of Rhode Is 
 land, tendering his services in aid of the commission, which 
 was read,, and ordered to be filed. 
 
80 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Justice Metcalfe Bolder to the Commissioners, $-c. 
 
 Newport, January 11. 177;*. 
 
 Gentlemen : In obedience to His Majesty s command, signified by Lord Dartmouth, 
 to His Honor the Governor, dated Whitehall, September 4th. 1 772. which was laid be 
 fore the General Assembly, wherein His Lordship expressed His Majesty s depend 
 ence upon the care and vigilance of the civil magistrates of the colony, to take the 
 proper measures for arresting and committing to custody, in order to their being 
 brought to justice, such persons as shall, upon proper information before them, or 
 before His Majesty s commissioners, appear to have been concerned in the plunder 
 ing and destroying His Majesty s schooner Gaspee, and dangerously wounding and 
 ill-treating His Majesty s oflicer who commanded her. &c. 
 
 As a civil magistrate, and one of His Majesty s justices of assize, in and throughout 
 the colony, impressed with a regard for the dignity of the crown, and the welfare of 
 the colony, I now tender niy assistance, whenever it shall be necessary ; and when 
 called upon by the commissioners, or otherwise, will exert every authority which the 
 colony has invested me with, towards the apprehending any persons against whom 
 information may be lodged, of being concerned in the destruction of His Majesty s 
 schooner, the Gaspee, or may appear to have been any ways aiding or assisting in 
 that most daring insult offered against His Majesty s crown and dignity, within the 
 colony, on the 10th of June last. 
 
 I am, with the greatest respect, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 METCALFE BOWLER, 
 
 To the Honorable His Majesty s Commissioners. 
 
 The commissioners issued a summons for bringing before 
 them Stephen Gulley, a witness, relative to the taking and 
 burning of the Gaspee schooner, in order to be examined be 
 fore them, at 11 o clock, to-morrow morning. 
 
 Tuesday, January 12. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Sinythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., and Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 Stephen Gulley, who was summoned to give evidence to the 
 commissioners, of what he knew concerning the attacking and 
 burning the Gaspee, &c., appeared before them, and was ex 
 amined upon oath ; which examination was reduced to writ 
 ing, signed by the deponent, and ordered to be filed. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEfi. 81 
 
 The Deposition of Stephen Gulley. 
 
 The examination on oath, of Stephen Gulley, before the honorable commissioners, 
 tliis 12th day of January, A. D. 1773. 
 
 Question What is your name and occupation ? 
 
 Answer Stephen Gulley, is my name, and a husbandman, my occupation. 
 
 Q. What age are you V 
 
 A. Aged forty-one years. 
 
 Q. Where is your place of abode ? 
 
 A. At Smithlield, in the county of Providence, in the colony of Rhode Island. 
 
 Q. Have you lately been on board any of His Majesty s ships ? What ship ? 
 How long have you been on board V 
 
 A. That he has been on board His Majesty s ship, the Lizard, ever since Tues 
 day last ; and that he went voluntarily on board for his own personal safety. 
 
 Q. What reason had you to suppose you was unsafe ? 
 
 A. On Monday night, the 5th inst., he went into the public house, at the ferry, 
 on Rhode Island side, where he sat down and called for some drink, which they 
 gave him ; he then called for supper, and had it ; afterwards, he rose from the table 
 and sat down near the fire-place, by the master of the house, when a man, unknown 
 to him, came and sat down by his side. 
 
 I asked where he was bound ; he said to Newport. The man told him he would 
 not get there ; he asked him for what reason he thought so ; he replied, there were 
 about twenty armed men in the road, one of them, with two brass pistols ; who, 
 he said, were come to take him alive or dead, to carry him back to Providence ; 
 that he, said man, went out into the other room. 
 
 The landlord then spoke to the deponent, and told liim he would give him a word 
 of advice ; he said there were about twenty armed men, that said they would have 
 him, the deponent ; and that he did not know but they would tear his house down, 
 if he stayed there. 
 
 He then called his children, and, he believes, his wife, into the room, and gave 
 them a strict charge to tell the men, if they inquired after this deponent, that he 
 was gone out with the landlord, to talk together ; and that this happened about 
 eight o clock, in the evening. 
 
 The landlord then told him he would show him a way where he might escape their 
 hands, that they might know nothing where he was gone. The landlord then went 
 with him about a quarter of a mile, he thinks from said house, in sight of a pond, 
 and they then parted, the landlord first directing him to the road to Newport. 
 
 Q. What do you know relative to the attacking and burning the Gaspee 
 schooner, on the said 1 Oth of June last ? 
 
 A. As to my own knowledge, I know nothing about it ; but that some time 
 about the last of December last, he was told by Capt. William Thayer, of Mendon, 
 in the Province of Massachusetts, that Saul Ramsdale, late of Mendon, who was a 
 shoemaker, at work at Providence, at the time the Gaspee was burnt, told him and 
 one of his sons, he knew who the persons were, who were concerned in that affair ; 
 and that he, the said Ramsdale, was in company with them, before they went off 
 from Providence, but did not go himself; upon which, this deponent went immedi 
 ately to Ramsdale, who was then at Mendon. 
 
 11 
 
82 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 He found a young fellow with him ; but upon this deponent telling Ramsdale that 
 he wanted a private conversation with him, the young man went away ; this depo 
 nent then asked him about the burning of said Gaspee schooner, and whether he 
 had any knowledge of that matter. 
 
 Ramsdale then asked him who told him that he, Ramsdale, knew any thing of 
 that matter. 
 
 He told him he did not choose to say who gave him that intelligence ; he, said 
 deponent, then told him, if he would give this deponent any intelligence about 
 the burning the Gaspee schooner, he would be a good friend to him. 
 
 Ramsdale then told him he did know something about the thing ; that he 
 knew the heads of the gang that went down the river with that intention ; that he 
 saw two men with guns under their arms ; and one of them swore with a very high 
 oath, that he would be revenged upon the affair he was going upon, before he re 
 turned ; and that he, the said Ramsdale, was picked for one of the gang to go with 
 them ; but being faint-hearted and discouraged, he did not go. 
 
 This deponent then asked him whether some of the Browns were not con 
 cerned. 
 
 Ramsdale answered yes ; but does not remember that he mentioned his Christian 
 name. 
 
 He, this deponent, then asked him how many in number there were ; if there 
 were two hundred. 
 
 He said more. 
 
 He then asked him, if there were four hundred. 
 
 He said not so many. 
 
 He then asked him, if there were three hundred. 
 
 He said yes. 
 
 He then asked him, if there were any more. 
 
 He said yes ; something upwards. 
 
 He then parted with said Ramsdale, and this deponent then went to Boston. 
 This deponent further saith, that he had been acquainted with said Ramsdale many 
 years ; that he told said Ramsdale that he would be sent for, and Ramsdale begged 
 he would not discover him. STEPHEN GULLET. 
 
 Newport, 12th January, 1773. 
 
 Sworn to, before us, 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMTJTY, 
 
 The commissioners were of opinion, that it was necessary to 
 issue a summons to Saul Ramsdale, William Thayer and Jo 
 seph Borden. 
 
 A summons was accordingly issued, and delivered to Samuel 
 Clarke^ who was sent offexpressj at 2 o clock. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 83 
 
 Wednesday, January 13, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe s Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., and Rober tAuch- 
 nmty, Esq. 
 
 Joseph Borden, of Portsmouth, inn-holder, pursuant to sum 
 mons, appeared before the commissioners, and was examined 
 upon oath ; which examination, was taken in writing, and or 
 dered to be filed. 
 
 The Deposition of Joseph Borden. 
 
 Colony of Rhode Island, \ 
 Newport, ss. January 13th, 1773. > 
 
 Joseph Borden. of Portsmouth, in the county of Newport, in the colony of Rhode 
 Island, &c., landholder, of lawful age, appeared before the honorable commissioners 
 for inquiring into the circumstances of burning the Gaspee, &c. ; and being sworn 
 upon the holy evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith : 
 
 That some time in the beginning of last week, a man came to his house, in Ports 
 mouth, who called himself Stephen Galley ; he appeared to be in liquor, and re- 
 quested that he might have supper and lodgings, which the deponent told him he 
 might have. 
 
 Before supper, he went from the deponent s house, in company with one Thomas 
 Aylesbury ; and as they had both been noisy and used very bad language, the de 
 ponent fastened the doors of his house, in order to keep them out. 
 
 After some time, this Stephen Gulley returned, and knocked at the door ; upon 
 which, he let him in, and told him his supper was ready in the back room ; and 
 while he was eating his supper, Aylesbury returned, and said to Gulley. " My friend, 
 I believe you are upon some bad design, as I understood, by your talk, you are going 
 to Newport to give information about the burning the Gaspee." 
 
 To which, Gulley replied, that " It was nobody s business but his own." 
 
 Then Aylesbury told him, he would not get to Newport, as there were a number 
 of Indians, with brass pistols, in the road, who would take care of him. 
 
 But this deponent in fact sayeth, that he did not know, neither has he any reason 
 to believe, there were any Indians in the road leading to Newport ; and the depo 
 nent supposed that Aylesbury told his story to Gulley, with no other design but to 
 frighten him. 
 
 After Aylesbury left the room, Gulley asked the deponent what he should do ! 
 and as he recollected Aylesbury was in liqucr, and did not know but there might 
 be some disturbance between him and Gulley, he, the deponent, told Gulley there 
 was a lower road that he might go in, by which he might avoid that which Ayles- 
 1 ury had told him the Indians were in ; and if he would pay his reckoning, he would 
 go and direct him to that road. 
 
 On which, he asked the deponent if he would not take a weapon with him. 
 
 Whereupon, he replied, that he should not take a weapon with him, as he did not 
 
84 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 believe any body would hurt him, the deponent, or the said Gulley ; and then im 
 mediately proceeded to show him the road, by going with him, as far as his barn, 
 which is about twenty rods from the deponent s house ; and showed him a pond, near 
 to which, was a road ; and directed him to take that road, and steer southward, till 
 he came into the main road, which he would soon do. The deponent then left 
 Gulley, and returned to his dwelling house, where he saw nobody but his own 
 family, either in the house or about it, and every thing remained quiet. 
 
 And this deponent further saith, that while he was in the kitchen, soon after 
 Gulley came to his house, and before Aylesbury had told Gulley he believed he was 
 upon some bad design, he heard a person reading the King s proclamation for dis 
 covering the persons who burnt the Gaspee schooner ; upon which, Gulley said it 
 was a fine reward, and he intended to have it ; and the deponent believes that 
 Aylesbury was then in the room ; and further, this deponent saith not. 
 
 JOSEPH BORDEN. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, the day and year before written, before us, 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Thursday, January 14, 1773. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq. and Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 Aaron, the mulatto, appeared before the commisssioners, 
 and was examined upon oath, relative to the burning the Gas- 
 pee, which was taken in writing, and filed. 
 
 Deposition of the Negro Aaron Briggs. 
 
 The examination of Aaron, a mulatto, upon oath, taken this 14th day of January, 
 A. D. 1773. 
 
 Aaron Briggs, aged eighteen years, or thereabout, declares, that at the age of five 
 years, he was bound by the town of Portsmouth, an apprentice to Capt. Samuel 
 Tompkins, of Prudence Island, until he should arrive at the age of twenty-four 
 years ; from which time, until he went on board the man-of-war, he was constantly 
 in the service of the said Capt. Tompkins, as a laborer, on his farm. 
 
 That his master kept a two-mast boat, in which to transport his farm produce to 
 market ; which was the only sail-boat within five miles of his master s farm, at the 
 time the Gaspee was burnt. 
 
 That, at that time, one Remington, who lived about one mile from where the de 
 ponent lived, had a row-boat, large enough for six hands to row ; also, one Ephraim 
 Peirce, at about a mile and a half distance, had a two-mast boat ; and that the sails 
 of his master s boat, had been taken off some time before the night on which the 
 Gaspee was burnt ; and she leaked in such a manner, that she could not sail. 
 
 That a little after sunset, on the night on which the Gaspee was burnt, he left the 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE QASPEE. 85 
 
 island of Prudence, but does not know the day of the week, or the day of the 
 month : that he went off the island in a little fishing-boat, of two oars, which boat 
 lay just before the house ; that before sunrise, and about an hour after day-break, 
 he returned to his master s house, from the shore where they landed the people be 
 longing to the Gasper- ; which shore, was about a mile above said Gaspee ; and the 
 Gaspee about six miles from his master s house ; and that it was about four or five 
 miles from his master s, to the place where they landed the Gaspee people ; that he 
 found the oars in the boat, that he went off said island in. 
 
 That the reason he went off the island, was to carry the boat round to the east 
 side of said island, to carry a man named Samuel Faulkner, a hired man, to Bristol 
 the next night ; and that this young man told the deponent, that he would ask his 
 master s leave, for that purpose. 
 
 That going round said island, at about half a mile from said shore of said island, 
 he met a boat and one Potter, whose Christian name he does not know, and whom 
 he, in company with Faulkner, abovenamed, had once seen on a wharf, at Bristol, 
 and there heard him called by the name of Potter. 
 
 And further says, that said Faulkner told him, that that was the person who 
 qwned the rope-walk at Bristol, which they had been in ; that when he met said 
 Potter, as above mentioned, he was in a boat which was rowed with eight oars ; that 
 the time he met the said Potter, was about half an hour after he, this deponent left 
 the island, and he, said Potter, was about five miles from Bristol ; that there were 
 eleven men in said boat ; said Potter was in the stern sheets ; that the weather was 
 cloudy ; that Avhen Potter hailed him, they were about fifteen rods distant. 
 
 The first words Potter spoke, was by asking who was in that boat. 
 
 The deponent answered, he was in there. 
 
 Potter told him to come that way, he wanted to speak to him. 
 
 Upon which, he went to him ; and Potter told him he wanted this deponent to 
 go up with him, about a mile, and that he would be back in an hour. 
 
 This deponent said he could not ; he was in a hurry to go home. 
 
 To which, Potter replied, he must go with him. 
 
 The deponent answered, he could not ; he must go home, or his master would 
 punish him ; and this deponent then began to row away. 
 
 Potter told him he wanted this deponent to go with him, to fetch something down, 
 which this deponent had forgotten ; and that he would pay him for so doing. 
 
 This deponent said he had rather go home, for if his master should miss him, he 
 would say he was out all night, and flog him. 
 
 Upon which, Potter said, there is no can t in the matter ; you must go along with 
 me ; we shall be back in an hour ; and further said, give me your painter, you need 
 not row, we will carry you up there. 
 
 Upon which, this deponent gave them the painter ; that he, this deponent, being 
 in his own boat, was rowed up by Potter s boat, till they came within half a mile of 
 the schooner. 
 
 Potter then said to this deponent, get into my boat ; that he got into the boat ; 
 Potter then told him, they were going to burn the man-of-war schooner, and that 
 he, this deponent, must go with him. 
 
 To which he replied, that it was hard for him to be brought there, where htj 
 might lose his life. 
 
 Potter then said, they were all upon their lives. 
 
 This deponent still repeated, it was hard for him to go- 
 
86 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 But Potter said he must go, now he was there ; that they would give him a wea 
 pon, and he must do as they did, knock them down, and not let them kill him, if lie 
 could help it, and gave him a handspike ; the rest were armed some with cutlasses, 
 some with muskets; this happened at about 10 o clock, at night. 
 
 Potter further told this deponent, that they expected sixteen or seventeen more 
 boats from Providence. 
 
 In about an hour afterwards, they met eight boats, about half a mile from the 
 schooner, which appeared to be pretty full of people. 
 
 Upon their meeting, Potter and two men, called Brown by the people, whom this 
 deponent did not know, talked about how they should board the schooner. One of 
 these persons, called Brown, got into Potter s boat, on which they were hailed from 
 the Gaspee, and told to stand of! ; upon which, Brown said row up. 
 
 Immediately after, he, this deponent, saw the captain of the schooner come upon 
 deck, in his breeches, and fired a pistol into one of the boats, and wounded one of 
 the men in the thigh ; that he saw a man who was in the boat with Potter, and who 
 -was called Brown, fire a musket, which wounded the captain; after which, there 
 was no more firing ; but they instantly boarded the schooner ; that the captain of 
 the schooner, when he was wounded, he thinks, stood by the foreshrouds, upon the 
 left hand side. 
 
 When they got on board, there were about four of the schooner s men on deck, 
 and the rest were coming up out. of the hold; and somebody said, " Knock em 
 down and kill them ; no matter what you do with them." 
 
 That this deponent did not know the Browns, nor hear them called by their 
 Christian names ; and further declares, that it was John Brown, who shot the cap 
 tain ; and that he hath never seen either of the Browns since. 
 
 That after they got possession of the vessel, they took the hands belonging to the 
 schooner, and threw them down the hold ; and this happened about 3 o clock, in the 
 morning. 
 
 Then the people searched the vessel, took the captain s papers, which he desired 
 they would give him ; but they refused, tore them, and threw them overboard. Then 
 they took the Gaspee s people, tied their hands, and put them into the boat, and 
 carried them ashore, this deponent going with them. 
 
 By the time they got half way ashore, the schooner was on fire ; that before they 
 went ashore, a doctor, whom the}- called Weeks, from one of the boats, dressed the 
 captain s wounds ; that when they had landed the people, they untied their hands, 
 and let them go, and the captain of the schooner they carried up to a house. 
 
 After they had landed the men, they put off to return, and Potter told them he 
 would give him two dollars for what he had done, which he accordingly did ; upon 
 which, this deponent set off in his own boat, and rowed home : that it was about 
 four o clock, when they had landed the schooner s people ; that it was a moonlight 
 night, but sometimes cloudy ; that soon after the people had boarded the schooner, 
 they hoisted the top-sails, her head laying up towards Providence ; and he saw nothing 
 further done to her, or her sails ; that the schoooner, when they boarded her, was 
 aground ; that the person who acted as surgeon, he thinks he has seen at his mas 
 ter s house ; but is not sure it was the same person. 
 
 This deponent further says, that the person to whom he first gave an account of 
 the above affair of burning the Gaspee, was Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver. 
 
 Some time after the burning of the schooner, he went on board the Beaver, in his 
 master s said boat ; that immediately upon his going on board, they put him in irons, 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 87 
 
 f 
 
 because they imagined he intended to run away from his master ; it was about 10 
 o clock, at night, when the deponent was put in irons, and was released about 10 
 o clock, the next day, and then they were going to flog him. 
 
 After he was tied up to the mast, one of the Gaspee s men, called Paddy Alis, 
 jumped up, and told the captain, that he thought he, this deponent, was one that 
 was aboard the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 About this time, the deponent had said nothing about the burning of the schooner, 
 nor had made no discovery relating to what he knew. 
 
 The captain asked the man if he was sure of it. 
 
 He said yes. 
 
 The captain asked what clothes he had on. 
 
 The man said two frocks. 
 
 Then the captain told the man to examine what clothes he had, which they found 
 were two frocks. 
 
 There was no mention made of any other clothes. The next day, Paddy Alis, 
 and the deponent, were called up before, the captain, who asked Paddy if he was 
 sure that this deponent was one concerned in the attack on the schooner. 
 
 He said yes. 
 
 He further asked him, if he could swear to it. 
 
 He answered yes. 
 
 That the captain then administered an oath to the said Paddy, upon the Bible, 
 who swore that this deponent was there. 
 
 The captain then said to this deponent, " My lad, you see this man has declared 
 you was there ; and if you don t tell who was there with you, I will hang you at the 
 yard arm, immediately ; and if you do, you shall not be hurt." 
 
 Upon which, this deponent told the captain all the heads that were there ; the 
 captain saying he did not want to know any thing about the poor people, but only 
 the heads. 
 
 This deponent further says, that he never spoke to any of the Beaver s crew till 
 he got on board ; that his master s boat, in which this deponent went on board the ship, 
 his master went on board and received again ; that this deponent went on board said 
 man-of-war with an intention not to return again to his master ; that he, this depo 
 nent, never was christened, and that he should have told Capt. Linzee all he knew 
 relating to the, Gaspee, immediately upon his going on board, if they had not put 
 him in irons. 
 
 The deponent further says, that the morning after the burning of the schooner, 
 when he returned to his master s, he went to bed with two black servants, with whom 
 he usually slept ; he lay there a little while, and upon his master s knocking, he got 
 up, and went to fetch the cows. 
 
 That when he first returned to his master s house, he got in at a lower window-, 
 on the south-west part of the house, which opens into the middle room ; that during 
 the whole transaction on said night the schooner was burnt, no man called this de 
 ponent by his name, or knew him. his 
 
 AARON X BRIGGS. 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to, this 14th day of January, A. D. 1773, at the council chamber, in New 
 port, before us 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
88 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The commissioners issued a summons for Patrick Earle, tb 
 appear before them, on Friday, the 15th inst., to give evi 
 dence of what he knows respecting the burning of the Gas- 
 pee, &c. 
 
 The commisssioners received a letter from Admiral Mon 
 tagu, acquainting them of his arrival at Newport. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, &c. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, ) 
 14th January, 1773. > 
 
 Gentlemen : At your request (although at a very unseasonable time of the year, 
 and not in the manner I am directed by my instructions from my lords commission 
 ers of the admiralty), I am come to this place, and have hoisted my flag on board 
 the Lizard. 
 
 I shall be glad, therefore, that you will inform me what service I can render to 
 you, in the execution of your commission. 
 
 I flattered myself I had given Captain Keeler (the senior officer of His Majesty s 
 ships here,) such orders as would not have required my attendance, until I was able 
 to have come in a proper manner, with the ships under my command, and at a 
 proper season of the year. I doubt not but that he would have faithfully put his 
 orders in force, and have given you the same assistance I can possibly do, now I am 
 come. 
 
 I have ordered Aaron, the negro, to be brought to the wharf, agreeably to your 
 summons, who will be delivered to your officer ; and I am to desire, when you have 
 done with him, the civil officers may be directed to see him safe to the boat again. 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 To His Majesty s commissioners, at Newport. 
 
 The commissioners received from Admiral Montagu, the 
 deposition of Patrick Earle, taken the 16th of July last, before 
 a justice of the peace, in the town of Newport. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 
 o clock. 
 
 Friday, January 15. 
 
 The weather being extremely cold and violently stormy* the 
 commissioners did not meet. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 89 
 
 Saturday, January 16. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Frederick Smythe, Esq., 
 Peter Oliver, Esq. and Robert Auchmuty, Esq. 
 
 Patrick Earle, a mariner, on board His Majesty s ship, the 
 Lizard, pursuant to summons, appeared before the commis 
 sioners, and was examined upon oath ; which examination 
 was taken in writing, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Deposition of Patrick Earlc. 
 
 The examination of Patrick Earle, taken on oath, this 16th of January, 1773 : 
 
 Patrick Earle, of full age, a mariner, on board His Majesty s ship the Lizard, 
 commanded by Capt. Inglis, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith : 
 
 That he was a sailor on board the Gaspee schooner; on the 10th of June last, 
 when she was run aground on a spit of land, that between 1 and 2 clock, the captain 
 called all hands on deck ; and this deponent coming up with the rest of the sea 
 men, when he saw a number of armed men, with two or three muskets and clubs; 
 that he saw those persons break open the arm-chest, and furnish themselves with 
 cutlasses. 
 
 Soon after this, this deponent was knocked down with a club, and pitched into 
 the hold ; and in about a quarter of an hour, was called upon deck, where his arms 
 were tied behind him, and shoved into a boat, which, with about six others, was 
 laying alongside the schooner ; that as soon as the deck was cleared of all the officers 
 and sailors belonging to the Gaspee, and put into the boats, they were rowed to a 
 small village, towards Providence, about three miles distant from the schooner, 
 where they w r ere landed. 
 
 This deponent further saith, that Lieutenant Dudingstou was placed in the stern 
 of the same boat, in which he, the deponent, came on shore ; and that he, in their 
 passage to the shore, contrived to unloose his arms, and took an oar from a negro 
 man, at the bow of the boat, whom he verily believes to be the negro Aaron, now 
 on board the Lizard, and helped him to row the boat ; and that, to the best of his 
 belief, it was about 3 or 4 o clock in the morning, when he, with the captain and the 
 others, were landed. 
 
 This deponent also saith, that he well remembers, that while the persons were at 
 tacking the sailors on board the schooner, he heard the name of Potter mentioned. 
 
 That one of the people said, " Potter, it is the best way to set the men on shore ; 
 for that it was not their fault, but the officers." 
 
 To which, a person, then standing on the quarter-deck, to whom the above ex 
 pression was directed, who was a tall, slim man, with a long, sharp nose, in light 
 colored long clothes, his hair tied behind, who looked more like a shoreman, than a 
 seaman, answered, " Let it be so." 
 
 He also saith, that after he was landed, he saw the boats return towards the 
 
 12 
 
90 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 schooner ; and in about half an hour after, he saw the schooner on fire, and the 
 guns blowing off; that it was cloudy and calm weather. 
 
 And this deponent further saith, that on the morning after the negro Aaron came 
 on board the Beaver, at 8 o clock, he saw him in irons, in the galley, and immedi 
 ately recollected him as the same person whom he assisted to row the boat as above 
 mentioned ; but did not speak to him, but directly told one John Johnson, the boat 
 swain of the schooner, that he well knew the negro was one of the persons who 
 rowed the boat on shore with him. 
 
 That on the next day, Capt. Linzee, commander of the Beaver, gave directions 
 / to his boatswain to get some spun-yarn, to tie up the negro, and give him two or 
 three dozen, to find out what he came ou board for, or if he knew any thing con 
 cerning the burning the schooner ; that he was stripped in order to be punished ; 
 upon which, the boatswain of the Gaspee then called out, " One of the men knew 
 him to be one of the persons who rowed the captain on shore, and was concerned in 
 burning the schooner." 
 
 Upon which, the captain asked which of the men knew him ; that he called out 
 to this deponent, and asked him if he knew any thing of the negro, and cautioned 
 him to be careful in his answers. 
 
 That the negro was then ordered in irons again, and the deponent called into the 
 cabin and ordered by the captain to describe the negro s dress when on board the 
 boat, which he did, to wit : 
 
 A spotted or checked handkerchief round his head, a frock, a pair of long trow- 
 sers, no shoes, and his hair tied behind not longer than an inch, or an inch and a 
 half. 
 
 Soon after, the captain sent for a justice from the town ; which justice swore him, 
 and he confirmed the above account he had given under oath, relative to the negro. 
 
 The deponent first saw the schooner on fire about breakfast time, which was about 
 G o clock, when he was ashore, when he heard the guns of the schooner blow off, but 
 did not see her from the time he first left her, till he saw her on fire. 
 
 He sat alongside of the negro in the boat, from the time the boat put off 
 from the schooner, until she struck the shore where he landed ; and that 
 while rowing ashore he was cold, and asked the negro to let him row to warm 
 himself, which he did ; and as they sat together, asked him, the negro, for a chew 
 of tobacco, which he gave him. 
 
 And this deponent further saith, that he never saw the said negro, before he saw 
 him in the boat. his 
 
 PATRICK X EARLE. 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, on the IGth day of January, A. D. 1773, before 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 91 
 
 A letter was delivered to the commissioners, by the ad 
 miral s clerk, at about half past 11 o clock, from Admiral 
 Montagu, which was ordered to be filed. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, &c. 
 
 His Majesty s ship Lizard. Newport, harbor, ) 
 16 tli January, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : As I am informed there is a ship bound to England, I shall em 
 brace the opportunity of writing to my lords commissioners of the admiralty, ac 
 quainting them of my proceedings ; as also of the improbability of my remaining 
 here, to assist the commissioners, until I can come in a proper manner, and at a 
 proper season of the year. 
 
 I shall be glad if you will inform me, whether you think the presence of Captain 
 Dudingston is necessary, that I may apply to their lordships for his being sent out 
 as soon as convenient. 
 
 As the business of the naval department is totally at a stand, and cannot be car 
 ried on, without I have my ships here. I propose returning to Boston on Wednesday 
 next, and shall, at a convenient time of the year repair to this place again, agreea 
 bly to my instructions from their lordships. 
 
 In the meantime, I shall take care to leave such orders with the senior officer of 
 His Majesty s ships, as will answer every purpose of my staying. 
 
 I shall, before I go. lay before you, the names of some persons Avho can give you 
 information, relative to the assembling of the people concerned in burning the 
 King s schooner. 
 
 I must beg your answer, as I cannot close my letter to the admiralty until I re- 
 cei\e it. I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Majesty s commissioners, assembled at Newport. 
 
 John Andrew. Esq., judge of the court of vice admiralty, within the colony of 
 Rhode Island ; Mr. Arthur Fenner, clerk in the supreme court, in the county of 
 Providence ; Messrs. John Cole, George Brown and Daniel Hitchcock, attor 
 neys at law, in the town of Providence ; James Sabin, vintner, in the town of 
 Pro\ idence. 
 
 It is the desire of Admiral Montagu, that the above named persons may be sum 
 moned, and examined before the commissioners, relative to the assembling of peo 
 ple in the town of Providence, in the evening of the 9th of June last, as a measure 
 necessary, towards the discovery of the persons concerned in the burning of His 
 Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee. J. MONTAGU. 
 
92 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The commissioners immediately agreed to an answer, as 
 well to this letter, as to the letter received from the admiral, 
 on the 14th inst., in the following words : 
 
 The Commissioners, $-c., to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Council Chamber, Newport, - 
 January Hi, 1773. \ 
 
 Sir : Yours, of the 14th instant, we should have answered yesterday, but the 
 weather was so extremely bad, as to prevent the commissioners from meeting. 
 
 You remark to us your coming here at a very unseasonable time, and not in the 
 manner as you are directed by your instructions ; to which, you are sensible we 
 are not utter strangers, nor was it our intention in writing to you, to infringe in the 
 least, upon the same. 
 
 As we have already informed you how our instructions are worded, we omit a re 
 petition of the same ; but beg leave to refer you to the last paragraph in the com 
 mission, by which you Avill perceive that we are expressly charged to conduct our 
 selves by such instructions as we should receive under the signet and sign manual, 
 and agreeably to which, we have acted. 
 
 We have, no doubt but that Capt. Keeler would have punctually obeyed your or 
 ders. The difficulty did not arise on that head, but from a conviction of the irregu 
 larity of departing from our instructions. 
 
 We shall be much obliged to you, when convenient, if you would attend us as a 
 board, having some questions to ask you, relative to the information Lieutenant 
 Dudingston gave you, concerning the burning and destroying the Gaspee. 
 We are, sir, with great respect, 
 
 Your most humble and obedient servants, 
 J. WANTON, FIIED. SMYTIIE, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montagu, commander in chief 
 of His Majesty s ships, &c., in North America. 
 
 The Commissioners, $-c., to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Council Chamber, Newport, - 
 January 16, 1773. { 
 
 Sir : After repeatedly informing you of our instructions ; and also in our last, of 
 a certain paragraph in our commission, copies of both which you have, and our. 
 sense of the same, we submit the construction of your orders from the lords commis 
 sioners of the admiralty, entirely to you. 
 
 In our last, and before AVC received yours of this day, we had desired your at 
 tendance, in order to give us an account of what Lieutenant Dudingston had related 
 to you, concerning the burning and destroying the Gaspee. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 93 
 
 We shall be always ready to receive any information from you, relative to the 
 business we are met on ; and are, sir. 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montagu, commander in chief 
 of His Majesty s ships in North America. 
 
 Which letters were delivered to J. Brenton, Esq., one of the 
 secretaries, who attended the admiral with them, and delivered 
 them to the admiral s secretary, the admiral being abroad ; 
 with the following message from the commissioners, that they 
 were now sitting, and would be glad to see the admiral at the 
 board at any time this day before 2 o clock, in the afternoon ; 
 or on Monday or Tuesday next, if convenient to him. 
 
 At 2 o clock, a message was received by the commissioners, 
 from Admiral Montagu, acquainting them he would wait on 
 them on Monday morning next. 
 
 [While the commissioners were in session, other officers of 
 the colony were, by force of circumstances, impelled to take 
 certain evidence, and hold certain correspondence, which, as 
 the papers containing them, were before the commissioners, 
 are here inserted.] 
 
 Deposition of Rufus Greene, Jr. 
 
 I, Rufus Greene, Jr., of East Greenwich, in the colony of Rhode Island, mariner, 
 depose and say : 
 
 That some time in February last, I was on board of, and commanded the sloop 
 Fortune, lying at anchor in the Narragansett Bay, off North Kingstown ; having a 
 quantity of rum on board, belonging to Nathaniel Greene & Co., when one Dundas, 
 an ofiieer of the schooner Gaspee, under the command of Lieutenant Dudingston, 
 came on board, and asked this deponent if he would take any freight on board. 
 
 To which, this deponent answered no. 
 
 He then ordered this deponent to unlay the hatches ; and this deponent telling 
 the said Dundas that said hatches were unlaid, he then ordered him into the cabin. 
 
 And being demanded by what authority he thus did, replied : 
 
 11 If you do not go into the cabin, I ll let you know," drawing his sword. He then 
 caught this deponent by the collar, and pushed him into the cabin. 
 
 This deponent then came out of said cabin, and went forward, to prevent the an 
 chor s beins weighed. 
 
94 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPER. 
 
 He then clenched upon this deponent again, thrust him into the cabin, jammed 
 the companion leaf upon his head, knocked him down upon a chest in said cabin, 
 and confined him there for a considerable time. 
 
 After this, the deponent entreating the said Dundas to let him free, he did so 
 and made a seizure of said vessel and cargo (as he said), and put the letter ; -K" 
 upon her hatches ; then towed said sloop to said schooner (it being calm), with 
 three boats. 
 
 This deponent being commanded aboard the schooner, aforesaid, obeyed ; went 
 before said Lieutenant Dudingston, and after some conversation, was ordered from 
 his presence, and confined in the gangway. 
 
 This deponent asked said Dudingston, if he had a commission to seize, &c. 
 
 To Avhich, said Dudingston answered, that he had a good commission from His 
 Majesty ; but showed none. 
 
 The next day, this deponent was put on board another vessel ; and further saith 
 not. RUFUS GREENE, JR. 
 
 Kent, ss. East Greenwich. January 14, 1773. 
 
 Personally appeared the above deponent. Rufus Greene, Jr. ; and being cautioned 
 to speak the truth, made solemn oath upon the evangelists of Almighty God, that 
 the before going narrative is true in all its parts. 
 
 Coram, HOPKINS COOKE, 
 
 Justice Peace. 
 
 I do hereby certify, that the above deponent is of a respectable family, sober life, 
 and ought to be credited. II. COOKE, 
 
 Justice Peace. 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions to Governor Wanton, relative to 
 Capt. William Thayer, and Saul Ramsdale. 
 
 Providence, January 15, 1773. 
 
 Sr : This forenoon came to my house, Capt. William Thayer, of Mendon, and 
 informed me that he had been cited by the honorable commissioners at Newport, 
 to appear before them this day, and declare what he knew relative to the destruc 
 tion of the Gaspee. 
 
 He tells me he is near seventy years of age, grievously afflicted with the rheuma 
 tism, attended with many symptoms of : a paralysis ; and that riding yesterday in the 
 cold, stormy weather, has revived and so much increased his disorder, that he wa s 
 unable to proceed to Newport, but must endeavor to return home as soon as possi 
 ble ; besides, he declared he knew nothing of the affair for which he was sum 
 moned and solicited me. very much to take his examination, and transmit it to the 
 commissioners. 
 
 I at last yielded to his request, and have enclosed to Your Honors his deposition 
 which, if you think proper, may be laid before the commissioners. 
 
 I have known Mr. Thayer for many years past, and have ahvays understood that 
 he was a man of good character. He says, if the gentlemen who cited him, had 
 any idea of the villainy of the fellows who informed them, neither he, nor any one 
 else, he believes, had been troubled by them. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 95 
 
 And this evening, another person (one Ramsdale) came to me, who said he also 
 was summoned to Newport, upon some occasion, and that he knew nothing respect 
 ing the matter for which he was cited ; and urged me very much to take his depo 
 sition to that purpose, that he might be dismissed ; but as he appeared to be a 
 young, healthy man, and lest the commissioners might conceive I was too officious, 
 in previously examining their witnesses, I advised him to deliver what he had to 
 say, to the commissioners. 
 
 I am, sir, with the greatest respect, \ 
 
 Your Honor s most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 P. S. Since I wrote the above, I received a deposition from Greenwich, which 
 I have also enclosed to Your Honors. 
 
 Deposition of Capt. William Thayer, of Mendon. 
 
 COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND. &c. : 
 
 The examination of Capt. William Thayer, of Mendon, in the county of Worces 
 ter, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, innholder, taken in Providence, in the 
 colony aforesaid, this 15th day of January, in the thirteenth year of His Majesty s 
 reign. Anno Domini 177:3, by Darius Sessions, Deputy Governor of said colony. 
 
 Question Do you know any circumstances relative to the attacking, taking, 
 plundering and burning His Majesty s schooner, called the Gaspee, and to the as 
 sembling, arming, training, and leading on the people concerned therein; and to 
 the concerting and preparing said attack ? 
 
 Answer Xo. 
 
 Q. Where was you, when said schooner was destroyed, which was on the 10th 
 day of June last ? 
 
 A. At home, in Mendon. 
 
 Q. How far is that from Providence ? 
 
 A. About twenty-two miles. 
 
 Q- How long a time after the schooner was destroyed, before you was in 
 Providence ? 
 
 A. I was not there until the latter end of June, or the beginning of July. 
 
 Q- Did you hear any person say, when you was in Providence, or at any other 
 time or place, that they knew any of those persons that were concerned in that 
 affair ? 
 
 A. Xo. 
 
 Q- Did you ever hear the names of any persons suspected to be concerned in 
 that matter ? 
 
 A. I heard the names of one Potter and Brown or Browns, but did not know 
 them, nor where they lived. I don t recollect any other. 
 
 Q- Do you remember who mentioned those names ? 
 
 A. Xo ; it being only some rumor which I heard among the people in my house, 
 it being a public one. WILLIAM THAYER. 
 
96 
 
 THE DESTRUCTION OP THE GASPEE. 
 
 On the day and year abovesaid, William Thayer, the subscriber to the above ex 
 amination, made solemn oath to the truth of the several answers annexed to the 
 foregoing interrogations, before DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
 Deposition of Daniel Vaughan. 
 
 I, Daniel Vaughan, of Newport, in the colony of Rhode Island, being of lawful 
 age, do depose and say : 
 
 That some time in the summer last past, being in a sloop, taking out some old 
 iron from the wreck of the Gaspee, and afterwards going down to Newport, in said 
 sloop, in company Avith Capt. Linzee, in His Majesty s ship, the Beaver, one morn 
 ing, not far from the island of Prudence, I saw a small boat alongside the Beaver, 
 and immediately told the people on board the sloop, that somebody had gone on 
 board the Beaver that night. 
 
 A few days afterwards, as the Beaver lay at Newport, near the fort, I was or 
 dered to haul the sloop I was in, alongside the schooner, which then lay alongside 
 the Beaver, in order to take out some sugar ; and going on board the Beaver, I saw 
 a mulatto fellow under the forecastle, in irons. 
 
 I said unto him, " So you are one of the rogues that have been burning the 
 Gaspee." 
 
 He replied, " He never saw her, nor knew any thing about her." 
 
 I then asked him what he came there for. 
 
 He answered, " His master had used him badly, and lie was determined to leave 
 him." 
 
 Two or three days afterwards, being on board said schooner, I heard Capt. 
 Linzee order said mulatto to be carried out of the Beaver, on board said schooner, 
 and then to be tied up to the mast and whipped ; and after he was laid hold on, 
 and they were about to tie him up to the mast, he began to declare he knew some 
 of the people that burnt the Gaspee ; and that Simeon Potter, John Brown and 
 others (whose names I have forgotten), were concerned therein. 
 
 Upon this confession, he was released from a whipping, sent on board the Beaver, 
 where I afterwards saw him in irons, on the quarter deck. 
 
 DANIEL VAUGHAN. 
 
 Providence sc. Providence, January 16, 1773. 
 
 Daniel Vaughan appeared in person, and made solemn oath to the truth of the 
 foregoing declaration, unto which he has subscribed, before 
 
 DARIUS SESSINONS, 
 
 Deputy Governor. 
 
 The commissioners then adjourned the business of the com 
 mission to Monday morning, at 10 o clock. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 97 
 
 Monday, January 18. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., and Robert Auch- 
 rnuty, Esq. 
 
 The Hon. Admiral Montagu waited upon the commissioners, 
 agreeably to his message of Saturday last. 
 
 The admiral laid before the commissioners, letters which he 
 had received from Lieutenant Dudingston, during his resi 
 dence at Pawtuxet and Newport, after the destroying of the 
 schooner Gaspee. 
 
 The admiral also delivered to the commissioners, a list of 
 persons who reside in Providence, as material witnesses, rela 
 tive to the assembling of the people, prior to the attacking the 
 Gaspee ; in consequence of which, they ordered a summons to 
 be issued for John Andrews, Esq., John Cole, Esq., Daniel 
 Hitchcock, Esq. and George Brown, attorneys at law, and 
 Arthur Fenner and James Sabin, to attend on Wednesday 
 next, at 11 o clock, which was issued accordingly. 
 
 The summonses were delivered to Samuel Clarke, who was 
 sent as express, by the commissioners, at twenty minutes after 
 3 o clock. 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions to Governor Wanton, relative to 
 Barzillai Richmond) Joseph Brown, John Brown and Daniel 
 Vaughan. 
 
 Providence, January 18, 1773. 
 
 Sir : In consequence of an application made unto me, in writing, signed by Bar 
 zillai Richmond, Joseph Brown and John Brown, I summoned Daniel Vaughan, 
 and took his deposition relative to what he knew respecting the treatment of the 
 mulatto Aaron, on board the Beaver, and I herewith enclose it to Your Honor. 
 
 T had not done it, but our river is fast shut up, and it is very uncertain when Mr. 
 Vaughan will reach Newport. 
 
 I choose Mr. Vaughan should give his deposition before the commissioners, if he 
 arrives in season for that purpose ; but if he doth not, and you think proper to make 
 use of what I now send, you have liberty to improve it in any way you think it may 
 promote truth and justice. 
 
 I am, sir, your humble servant, DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 13 
 
98 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Deputy Governor Sessions to Governor Wanton, relative to the 
 Deposition of the Negro Aaron Briyys, c. 
 
 Providence, January 18th, 1773. 
 
 Sir : Having been informed by a person, who came from Newport last Satur 
 day, that the mulatto had been examined, and that a report prevailed, that his 
 evidence carried many marks of truth with it ; and as it is impossible (as I think,) 
 that there can be a word of truth in it, and as I look upon it as my duty to protect 
 the innocent, as well as punish the guilty, I thought it my duty to let Your Honor 
 know of some circumstances that may throw some light on this affair. 
 
 I took notice in the mulatto s declaration of his having a red and white handker 
 chief about his head at the time he was on board the Gaspee, and when he rowed 
 the boat ashore. 
 
 I suppose he was told to relate this circumstance, that some of the Gaspee s peo 
 ple might, with the greater appearance of truth, swear to his being on boar.1 the 
 schooner that night. 
 
 The day after the Gaspee was destroyed, I examined several of her people, viz. : 
 Bartholomew Cheever, John Johnson, William J. Caple, Joseph Bowman, Patrick 
 Whaler, Patrick Earle and Patrick Reynolds ; who, although the questions and 
 answers were not set down in writing, yet I can depose that they were put ver 
 bally. The answers given by some of them (the rest agreeing thereto), are as fol 
 lows, viz. : 
 
 Question Was the moon down ? 
 
 Answer Yes. 
 
 Q. Was it dark ? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Was there any light on board of the schooner, when she was boarded by the 
 boats ? 
 
 A. Yes ; but it was immediately put out before we got on deck. 
 
 Q. Was there no other light afterwards struck up ? 
 
 A. Not that they saw ; though they believe there was one lighted up in the 
 cabin, to dress the lieutenant s wounds. 
 
 Q. Were the people who came on board unmasked, or in disguise ? 
 
 A. Some of them were either blacked or negroes ; but it was so dark, we could 
 not tell which. 
 
 The above questions put to any of the Gaspee s people, who pretend to establish 
 the negro s evidence, by swearing to the identity of him, I think, must convince any 
 one, that their testimony is absolutely false. 
 
 The midshipman at Boston, swore that it was a very dark night ; and how is it 
 possible that the features and dress of a negro could be sworn to, a month 
 afterwards ? 
 
 I am requested by some persons in this town, to inform Your Honor, that one 
 David James, a young man, who served his time in this town, and is properly an in 
 habitant thereof, was last week impressed out of a sloop belonging here, Joseph Til- 
 linghast, master, and carried on board the schooner Halifax. 
 
 The young man was born in , in Virginia, where he had left him, by his 
 
 father, some estate in land ; which, by several letters of a late date from his brother* 
 and his guardian, appears to be sold, and that the money thereof, will be sent to him 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEfi. 
 
 very soon, by a schooner, that is now gone there. I have seen the letters myself, 
 this day, and make no doubt but they are genuine. 
 
 If Your Honor will interpose so far as to use your endeavors to get him dis 
 charged, you will do a singular favor to the young man, and to his acquaintances 
 here! If he remains in confinement, there will be nobody to take care of his money 
 or goods that may be sent him from his patrimony, which will be his total ruin. 
 I am, sir. your most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 DARIUS SESSIONS. 
 
 To Governor Wanton. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-morrow, at 10 o clock. 
 
 Tuesday, January 19. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Sinythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., and Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 Peter May attended the commissioners, pursuant to sum 
 mons, and was examined upon oath ; which examination was 
 reduced to writing, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 Deposition of Peter May. 
 
 The examination of Peter May, taken upon oath, tlus 19th day of January, 
 A. D. 1773: 
 
 Peter May, of lawful age, beine duly sworn, depos^th and saith : 
 
 That he was late ajnariuer on board His Majesty s schooner Gaspee ; and that 
 some time last summer, as they were going in said schooner, towards Providence, 
 about 2 or 3 o clock, in the afternoon, they struck aground, upon a point of land, 
 about a musket shot from the land ; that she lay so dry, that they walked around 
 her, and scraped her bottom, the water being about one foot on one side, and about 
 two feet on the other. 
 
 That they got an anchor out, and endeavored to get her off; but after striving 
 till sunset, they desisted from any fbrther attempts ; all but the watch, which con 
 sisted of three, were ordered by Lieutenant Dudingston, to go to sleep. 
 
 That between 12 and 1 o clock, the schooner was attacked by a number of boats 
 with people on board, armed some with clubs, some with other weapons. 
 
 That this deponent was below at the time the people boarded the schooner ; and 
 when he came upon deck, he saw Lieutenant Dudingston discharge a pistol ; but 
 whether it wounded anybody, he cannot tell ; immediately after, he saw a man in 
 the bow of one of the boats fire a musket, and wound the lieutenant ; upon which, 
 the lieutenant cried out, " Lord, have mercy upon me ; I am done for !" 
 
 That immediately after this, the deponent was knocked down the hatchway, and 
 
100 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEEJ. 
 
 recovering himself, went into the steerage, in order to get some clothes, and from 
 thence stepped into the cabin, and there heard the lieutenant desire the people not 
 to haul and pull him about, as they did, but to assist him ; on which, they said they 
 had no doctors, but would send him, as soon as they could, to a place where they 
 could get one. 
 
 He soon after, when the lieutenant was on deck, heard several people ask him 
 whether he would make amends for the rum which he had seized out of the sloop ; 
 and if he would, they would return him the schooner ; one of which people, was 
 named Greene, whom he saw in the cabin of the Gaspee, the day after they had 
 seized a sloop, of which he appeared to be the owner, and out of which, he took 
 some rakes. 
 
 This deponent saith, that the said Greene is a tall, slender man ; wearing his own 
 hair, of a brown color. 
 
 This deponent further saith, that after they had taken possession of the Gaspee, 
 the hands belonging to the Gaspee, were put into a boat, and rowed ashore at a 
 place about a mile distant, between 3 and 4 o clock, in the morning, and that he saw 
 the schooner on fire when they were about half way to the shore, and the fire began 
 upon the quarter deck. And further this deponent saith not. his 
 
 PETER X MAY. 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, on the 19th day of January, A. D. 1773, at the council 
 chamber, Newport, before 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Robert Masters, who was also summoned, appeared, and 
 upon examination on oath, there appearing nothing material 
 in his testimony, he was discharged, without making any depo 
 sition. 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from Admiral Montagu, 
 which was read, and ordered to be filed. 
 
 An answer was immediately ordered ; which was accord 
 ingly written in the following words, and delivered to the ad 
 miral, by . 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, #c. 
 
 Newport, 19th January, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : As an opportunity offers, for sending to England, I am willing to 
 embrace it, to inform my lords commisioners of the admiralty of my arrival and pro 
 ceedings at this place. 
 
 As you were pleased to signify to me your intention of writing upon the subject 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 101 
 
 of adjourning your court, I shall be glad to receive it as soon as possible, that I may 
 close my public letters, as I propose leaving this place to-morrow morning. 
 I am, with respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, and most humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 To His Majesty s commissioners, &c., at Newport. 
 
 The Commissioners, -c., to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Council Chamber, Newport, ] 
 January 19th, 1773. 
 
 Sir : In our last conversation with you, you were pleased to inform us that by re 
 port, Capt. Dudingston had made such declarations at Boston, relative to his recollec 
 tion of the persons concerned in the destruction of the Gaspee, that his testimony would 
 be very material in our present inquiry ; and from the language of Mr. Dudingston s 
 letter to you, which you laid before us, we must be of the same opinion, as it is our 
 determined resolution to do all in our power faithfully to execute the commission 
 IIi< Majesty has thought fit to honor us with. We must request of you to take such 
 measures as you think proper, to get Capt. Dudingstou to America, in order that he 
 may be examined. 
 
 lu the same conversation, you also informed us, that at this inclement season ot 
 the year, it was impossible for you properly to execute your orders relative to the 
 affair we are now met on, and that the other duties of your department must suffer 
 if you did not very soon return to Boston ; and and therefore it was your determi 
 nation to go thither to-morrow, or next day, if possible. 
 
 Your absence from us, you are sensible, as we construe our instructions, and as 
 we yesterday informed you, must make an adjournment of this board necessary. 
 Indeed, without this difficulty, it is highly probable we should soon find ourselves 
 under a necessity of adopting the same measure, for the want of Capt. Dudingston, 
 and from the extreme rigor of the season, which renders it almost impossible to get 
 witnesses who are at any distance from us. 
 
 We are, with the greatest respect, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners! 
 
 To the Honorable Admiral Montagu, commander in chief 
 of His Majesty s ships, &c., in North America. 
 
 P. S. Though the time to which the commissioners will adjourn, is not absolutely 
 fixed, yet it seems to be their opinion, that it must be on or about the 26th of May 
 next ; which, they hope, will be agreeable to you. 
 
102 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GA&PEE. 
 
 The commissioners also received another letter from the ad 
 miral, enclosing the deposition of Aaron Briggs, taken the 
 
 day of , which was ordered to be filed. 
 
 [According to the preceding journal of the commissioners, 
 two or three letters, which passed between them and the ad 
 miral, are wanting, to complete the file of their correspondence. 
 During their session, they examined several witnesses, and 
 held correspondence with several others.] 
 
 Arthur Fenner to Governor Wanton, relative to the Gaspee. 
 
 Providence, January 19, 1773. 
 
 Honorable Sir : I received a citation, signed by you, and a number of other gen 
 tlemen, commanding ray attendance at the colony house, in Newport, on the 20th 
 day of January instant, to give in evidence to what I know relative to the attacking^ 
 taking and plundering His Majesty s schooner, called the Gaspee, &c. 
 
 In consequence of which, I now inform you, that I am a man of seventy-four 
 years of age, and very infirm ; and at the time said schooner was taken and plun 
 dered, I was in my bed, and I knew nothing of it until the next day ; and as for 
 ray not attending, as commanded, I must plead my age and infirmity in excuse. 
 From your most obedient friend and humble servant, 
 
 ARTHUR FENNER. 
 To the Honorable Joseph Wanton, Esq. 
 
 James Sabin to the Commissioners, fyc. 
 
 Providence, January 19th, 1773. 
 
 To the honorable the commissioners appointed to inquire into the circumstances 
 relative to the destroying the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 Gentlemen : I now address you, on account of a summons I received from you, 
 requiring -my attendance at the council chamber, in Newport, on Wednesday, 20th 
 instant. 
 
 Now, gentlemen, I beg leave to acquaint you, what renders me incapable of at 
 tending. In the first place, I am an insolvent debtor ; and therefore, my person 
 would be subject to an arrest by some one or other of my creditors ; and my health 
 has been on decline these two months past, and it would be dangerous should I 
 leave my house. 
 
 And further, were I to attend, I could give no information relative to the assem 
 bling, arming, training and leading on the people concerned in destroying the 
 schooner Gaspee. 
 
 On the 9th day of June last, at night, I was employed at my house, attending 
 company ; who were John Andrew, Esq., judge of the court of vice admiralty, John 
 Cole, Esq., Mr. Hitchcock and George Brown, who supped at my house and stayed 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OASPEE. 103 
 
 there until two of the clock, in the morning following ; and I have not any know 
 ledge relative to the matter on which T am summoned ; which I am ready to make 
 oath to, before any justice of the peace. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, most respectfully, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 JAMES SABIN. 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-morrow, at 10 o clock. 
 
 Wednesday, January 20. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 
 Frederick Smythe, Esq., Peter Oliver, Esq., Robert Auch- 
 muty, Esq. 
 
 The commissioners directed copies of the several letters 
 which have passed between them and Admiral Montagu, 
 to be made out, in order to be transmitted to the Earl of 
 Dartmouth. 
 
 George Brown, to the Commissioners, fyc. 
 
 East Greenwich, January 20th, 1773. 
 
 May it please Your Honors : Late last night, I received a summons from Provi 
 dence, to appear at the council chamber, in Newport, before Your Honors, there to 
 give evidence of what I know concerning the burning of the schooner Gaspee ; and 
 I should have waited on Your Honors, accordingly ; but, as the court of common 
 pleas was then sitting in the county of Kent, and being concerned in several cases 
 then pending in said court, I could not possibly attend according to summons ; 
 therefore, I hope you will excuse my not attending. 
 
 It has long been a custom for the attorneys, upon the concluding evening of 
 filing pleas to the court, to meet together, to spend the evening. 
 
 That night, the said schooner was burnt, happened to be the concluding evening 
 of filing pleas ; accordingly, the gentlemen of the bar, together with myself, met 
 at the house of James Sabin, in Providence, that being a public house of enter 
 tainment. 
 
 Some time after, I being there, heard a drum beat ; I asked the reason of said 
 drum beating ; I was answered by some one of the company, that there Avas a num 
 ber of boys met together, they supposed, to divert themselves. 
 
 I knowing it to be no uncommon thing, thought no more about it ; and do sol 
 emnly declare, that I have no knowledge, directly or indirectly, of any plot being 
 
104 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 laid, or person concerned in perpetrating so A ile a crime, and shall be ready at all 
 times, when in my power, to appear and answer any question relating to said 
 affair, if required. I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your Honors most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 G. BROWN. 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 John Andrews, to the Commissioners, fyc. 
 
 Providence, January 20, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : I this day received a summons at 12 o clock, requesting my attend 
 ance at 11 o clock, this day, at the court house, in Newport, in order to give evi 
 dence before Your Honors to that knowledge I have, relating to the burning and 
 destroying His Majesty s schooner, called the Gaspec ; and to the assembling, arm 
 ing, training and leading the people concerned therein. 
 
 I should have cheerfully obeyed said summons, had my health permitted ; but I 
 have been confined for a week past, with a swelling in my hand, which hath ren 
 dered me unable to stir out of doors. 
 
 But as soon as I am able, T shall wait upon Your Honors, and inform you of all 
 I know, relating to that matter, which Your Honors will judge just nothing at all 
 to the purpose. 
 
 I am, with great regard, 
 
 Your Honors most obedient and most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN ANDREWS. 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 P. S. I have judged proper to inform Your Honors of all particulars of know 
 ledge I have, relating to the burning His Majesty s schooner, called the Gaspee, in 
 the Narragansett River. 
 
 I was in Providence town the evening before the mischief was done, and in com 
 pany with a number of gentlemen ; I heard a disturbance in the street, and in 
 quired into the cause, and was answered that it had been a training day, and they 
 were breaking up their frolic ; and I heard nothing further that evening, relative 
 thereto, but went to bed ; and nigh morning, was surprised with the news of the 
 said schooner s being burned and destroyed. 
 
 I then waited upon the Deputy Governor immediately ; and he, with me, repaired 
 to the spot, where we found Mr. Dudingston badly wounded, and the said schooner 
 appeared at a distance to be on fire, and burned down to the water. 
 
 And the Deputy Governor inquired of Mr. Dudingston if he had any knowledge 
 of any of the trespassers. 
 
 And he made answer, that he should give no account about the matter, before he 
 was brought before the court martial, where he expected his trial ; but was willing 
 that his people should declare all they knew of the matter ; and were sworn before 
 the Deputy Governor, accordingly. 
 
 I Mr. Dudingston afterwards, and desired him, if he had any 
 
 knowledge of any of the persons who did the mischief, he would inform me thereof, 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 105 
 
 that they may be brought to condign punishment ; but always declined saying any 
 thing at all. 
 
 And this is the substance of the knowledge I have of the matter ; which I am 
 ready to swear to. JOID? ANDREWS* 
 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 Daniel Hitchcock to the Commissioners, $*c. 
 
 East Greenwich, January 20, 1773. 
 
 May it please Your Honors : Late last night, I had a citation from Providence, 
 to appear before you, this day, at 11 o clock, in the forenoon, to give evidence with 
 regard to the burning the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 And as I detest all such open violations of the law, should have been willing to 
 have waited upon Your Honors, to let you know every thing within the compass of 
 my knowledge relative to that matter, had not my engagements at Kent court, in 
 this place, absolutely forbid my attendance ; and therefore, hope Your Honors will 
 pardon me, on that account ; but every thing I know, touching that matter, I am 
 ready to relate. 
 
 It has been, may it please Your Honors, a long custom in this colony, for the attor 
 neys at the concluding of filing of pleas for court, to meet some where together) 
 and spend the evening ; that night the schooner was burnt, happened to be the con 
 cluding evening. 
 
 We met at Mr, Sabins s, by ourselves ; and about 8 o clock, I went to the dcor, 
 or, finally, kitchen, and saw a number of people in the street, but paid no attention 
 to them, as that place was a place of public resort. 
 
 Some time after 9 o clock, I heard a drum beat, and was asked by somebody in 
 the room, what was the occasion of the beating of that drum ; and it was answered 
 by somebody, that it was beat by some boys, which quieted all further inquiry by 
 me ; neither did I imagine that anything of that nature was about being perpe 
 trated, till after it was in fact done. 
 
 This, may it please Your Honors, is every thing that I know, or has come to my 
 knowledge, relative to that transaction, and which I am willing, on solemn oath, to 
 state before any of the civil authority in Providence ; to which place, I shall in a 
 day or two, return. 
 
 I am Your Honors s most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 D. HITCHCOCK. 
 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 John Cole to the Commissioner s> &?c. 
 
 East Greenwich, January 20th, 1773. 
 
 May it please Your Honors : Late last evening, I received by the way of Provi 
 dence, a citation to appear before Your Honors, at 1 1 o clock, this forenoon, to give 
 evidence of what I know relative to the burning and destroying the schooner 
 Gaspee. 
 
 A the court of common pleas is now sitting here, and a number of clients depend 
 ing upon my assistance in their several cases, I hope Your Honors will dispense with 
 
 14 
 
106 THE DESTRUCTION Ot 1 THE GASPEE. 
 
 ray attendance at the council chamber at the time appointed. I am disposed to give 
 Your Honors all the information that has come to my knowledge concerning the 
 affair, which is extremely small. 
 
 The evening preceding the burning of the Gaspee, I spent at Mr. James Sabins s 
 tavern, in company with several gentlemen ; about 7 or 8 o clock, hearing a noise in 
 the street, I pulled back the shutters of one of the windows next the street, and saw 
 several people collected together, but did not know any of them ; upon which, I 
 made inquiry of the gentlemen in the room if they knew the occasion. 
 
 And was answered by some of the company, but by whom I cannot particularly 
 recollect, that he hoped they were not designed for mischief. 
 
 To which, I replied, I believed not ; if they were, they would not be so public. 
 
 Some time afterward, a drum was beating along the street ; upon which, I again 
 opened the shutter, and saw three or four boys with a drum, and no other persons. 
 
 And this, may it please Your Honors, is all I know, relative to this affair ; and 
 which I am ready to make oath to, before any of the civil authority in Providence, 
 to which place I shall return to-morrow or next day. 
 I am, with all deference, 
 
 Your Honors s most obedient arid most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN COLE. 
 
 To the Honorable Commissioners. 
 
 The commissioners adjourned till to-morrow, at 10 o clock. 
 
 Thursday, January 21. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq , Frederick Sinythe, Esq , 
 Peter Oliver, Esq. and Robert Auchnmty, Esq. 
 
 Samuel Clarke, who was charged with the delivery of the 
 several summonses issued by the commissioners, on the 18th 
 inst., made return upon oath of his service thereof, which 
 was ordered to be filed. 
 
 Samuel Clarke exhibited his account to the commissioners, 
 for performing two journeys for them ; one to Mendon, and 
 the other to Providence ; which amounted to - , and was 
 paid by the commissioners. 
 
 The commissioners agreed to address the Earl of Dart 
 mouth ; whereupon, a letter was drafted in the following 
 words : 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 107 
 
 The Commissioners, $-c., to the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, 
 January 21, 1 773. 
 
 My Lord : In obedience to His Majesty s commands, signified to us, by Your 
 Lordship s letter of the 14th of September last, we, with the utmost dispatch in our 
 power, repaired to Newport, where, on the 5th day of January iiist., His Majesty s 
 commission, under the great seal of Great Britain, was delivered to us in the council 
 chamber, at Newport, by Capt. Keeler, commander of His Majesty s ship, the Mercury, 
 and the commanding ofiicer in the naval department at this place ; upon which, we 
 immediately ordered the same to be publicly read and proclaimed ; which was ac 
 cordingly done, before a great concourse of people, who, on the occasion, behaved 
 with great decency. 
 
 This being done, we proceeded, with all the dispatch in our power, to business ; and 
 found in the last clause in our commission, that in the execution and performance 
 of the power and authority thereby given us, we are strictly charged and com 
 manded carefully to observe and conform ourselves to such instructions as we should 
 receive in writing, under the King s sign manual. 
 
 Whereupon, we applied ourselves to the careful examination of those instructions ; 
 in one of which, are the words, " To the end that they may accordingly be arrested 
 and delivered to the custody of the commander in chief of our ships and vessels in 
 North America, pursuant to such directions as we have thought fit to give for that 
 purpose." 
 
 Being convinced that the above charge given us by His Majesty, in our commis 
 sion, referring to the instructions under the sign manual, could not be dispensed 
 with, we wrote to Rear Admiral Montagu, that we were fully of opinion that his 
 attendance at Newport was necessary, in order if there should appear evidence 
 against any person sufficient to arrest him upon, he must be delivered to the ad 
 miral, according to our instructions, from which we could not depart, notwithstand 
 ing Your Lordship s letter of the 4th of September last, to Governor Wanton, 
 wherein you inform him that " such offenders as may have been, or shall be arrested 
 and committed within the colony of Rhode Island, be delivered to the care and cus 
 tody of Rear Admiral Montagu, or the commander in chief of His Majesty s ships in 
 North America, for the time being, or to such ofiicer as he shall appoint to receive 
 them." 
 
 We here beg leave to assure Your Lordship, that we had not the least inclination 
 to deviate from Your Lordship s letter, had we not been fully convinced that the 
 express words of our commission, obliged us to do it. 
 
 Several letters passed between us and the admiral, on this subject ; wherein we 
 explained to him the necessity, according to our commission and instructions, of his 
 being here in person. 
 
 Though we did not agree on this head, he thinking that, according to his instruc 
 tions and Your Lordship s last mentioned letter, his presence was not at all neces 
 sary ; yet he was polite enough to come to Newport on the 14th day of the month ; 
 and meeting us at the council chamber on the 18th inst, he informed us that he 
 believed from the information he had received from others, Capt. Dudingston would 
 be able to make such declaration relative to the business we are on, as wouVl prove 
 very material ; and at this inclement season of the year, it was impossible for hira 
 
108 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 
 
 properly to execute his orders from the lords commissioners of the admiralty, rela 
 tive to the business we are now upon ; also, that the other duties of his department, 
 at this time, absolutely required his attendance at Boston, and therefore, in a very 
 days he must return. 
 
 Taking all these matters into consideration, and the extreme rigor of the season, 
 which renders it almost impossible to procure witnessess who are at any distance 
 from us, without waiting a very unreasonable time for them, we thought an ad 
 journment to May next, necessary for His Majesty s service ; and accordingly no 
 tified Admiral Montagu that we should adjourn to on or about the 2Cth of that 
 month, when he will undoubtedly be here. 
 
 Copies of the letters passing between the admiral and us, on these subjects, are 
 herewith transmitted to Your Lordship. 
 
 We have proceeded to examine such witnesses as we could obtain ; and also care 
 fully to look into all papers which Governor Wanton has laid before us, relative to 
 the conduct of the magistrates of this government, in the business we are upon ; but 
 find it totally impossible at present to make a report, not having all the evidence 
 we have reason to expect. We therefore hope, tor these reasons, that our omitting 
 it, will not be disagreeable. 
 
 In short, we have hitherto, My Lord, exerted ourselves to our utmost abilities in 
 the execution of our trust, His Majesty has been pleased to honor us with ; and 
 Your Lordship may rely on our future endeavors to discharge ourselves with that 
 fidelity which the nature of so important a commission demands. 
 We are, with the utmost respect, My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordship s most obedient and most humble servants, 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER. 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 To the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
 Joseph Wanton, Esq., Governor of the colony, made oath of 
 what he knew respecting the Gaspee, &c. 
 
 Deposition of Joseph Wanton, Esq., Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Joseph Wanton, Esq., Governor of the English colony of Rhode Island, on oath 
 declares and says : 
 
 That at an interview he had with Lieutenant Dudingston, late of the schooner 
 Gaspee, he asked him whether he had any authority from the commissioners at Bos 
 ton, or from Admiral Montagu. 
 
 To which, he replied, he had not ; but received his authority from the lords 
 of the admiralty ; and that he was come into the colony of Rhode Island by virtue 
 of that power, and no other, whatever. 
 
 The deponent then asked how long it was probable he should continue in the 
 colony. 
 
 To which, he answered, at present he was in the colony ; but how long he should 
 continue, was uncertain. 
 
 And this deponent saith, that he does not remember that he hath since that time, 
 seen the said Lieutenant Dudingston. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 109 
 
 On, or about the 20th of March last, a complaint was transmitted to the depo 
 nent, by the Deputy Governor of the colony, signed by sundry persons, residing in 
 and near the town of Providence, that an armed schooner was cruising in the Nar- 
 ragansett Bay, interrupting their legal commerce, by searching and unnecessarily 
 detaining the freight boats. &c. ; and therefore, requested the deponent to make 
 such inquiry as was necessary, for obtaining information, whether the persons be 
 longing to said schooner, were duly authorized to exercise that power, within the 
 body of the colony. 
 
 Upon receiving the complaint, the deponent conceived it was his duty, in order to 
 satisfy the complainants, and at the same time to give the persons complained of, an 
 opportunity of exculpating themselves from the several charges and accusations 
 which were exhibited against them, to pursue such measures as were prudent and 
 legal ; and thereupon, wrote a letter to the commanding officer of said schooner, ad 
 vising him of the information the deponent had received, respecting his conduct, 
 and proceedings, since his arrival within this colony, and requesting that he would 
 produce his commission and authority. 
 
 This letter was answered by Lieutenant Dudingston ; which, not being satisfac 
 tory, the deponent wrote him another letter, on the 23d of March. 
 
 In consequence whereof, Lieutenant Dudingston sent to the deponent, by one of 
 his officers, whose name was Dundas, an order from the lords of the admiralty, for 
 his commanding the schooner Gaspee ; also, their letter to the commissioners at Bos 
 ton, requiring them to give a deputation from the commissioners at Boston, directed 
 to the said Dundas ; all which, the deponent, after he had read and examined, re 
 turned to the said Dundas, who had the charge of them, without the least delay or 
 interruption, whatever. 
 
 The deponent took this opportunity to remonstrate to the officer against the 
 impropriety of Mr. Dudlngston s proceedings, in sending a quantity of rum, he 
 had seized in the county ef Kent, within this colony, for illegal importation, to 
 Boston, for trial ; it being, in the deponent s opinion, repugnant to an act of Par 
 liament, made and passed in the eigth year of His Majesty s reign, as there was a 
 court of vice admiralty established within this colony ; and that if he persevered in 
 such measures, he must expect that a process would be issued against him. 
 
 A short time after this, another complaint was brought against Mr. Dudingston, 
 by one Faulkner, of Portsmouth, in this colony, and proprietor of a certain island, 
 called Gould Island, within the said colony, who alleged that the people belonging 
 to said schooner Gaspee, had been upon said island, and committed a trespass and 
 waste thereon, by cutting down thirty or more trees, and carrying the same from off 
 said island. 
 
 The deponent recommended to the complainant to make application to said Dud 
 ingston, and demand such satisfaction as was adequate to the damage he had sus 
 tained, and if possible, to avoid a law suit, which, he said, he had been urged to 
 commence. 
 
 After which, he was informed by said Faulkner, that Lieutenant Dudingston had 
 paid him about fifteen dollars on account of the above named trespass and waste ; 
 with which he appeared satisfied. 
 
 On the llth of June, the deponent received from Darius Sessions, Esq., of Provi 
 dence, and Deputy Governor of the colony, an account of the destruction of His 
 Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee ; upon which, he immediately called together such 
 of His Majesty s Council and members of the General Assembly as could be seasona- 
 
110 THE DESTRUCTION OP THE GASPEE. 
 
 bly notified, and communicated to them the disagreeable intelligence, who umni- 
 niously recommended a proclamation, with a proper reward, for discovering the of 
 fenders ; which was thereupon issued, and sent into the several towns, within the 
 colony. 
 
 Admiral Montagu, on the 8th of July, transmitted to the deponent the declaration 
 of a mulatto lad, called Aaron, impeaching several persons therein named, with 
 being concerned in burning the aforesaid schooner. 
 
 As this declaration was not made before any of the civil authority, either in this 
 or any other colony, the deponent was of opinion, that it was highly necessary that 
 Aaron should be taken into custody ; and therefore directed one of the judges of 
 the Superior Court, to issue his warrant for Aaron, that he might be legally ex 
 amined ; and as he was then in the care of Capt. Linzee, wrote him a letter, dated 
 the 16th of July (which letter accompanied the wan-ant), requesting that he would 
 deliver the said Aaron to the sheriff, that he might be examined respecting what he 
 knew of attacking and burning the Gaspee. 
 
 But Capt. Linzee refused to deliver up the witness, and treated the letter and 
 warrant with the highest contempt, as the deponent was informed by James Bren- 
 ton, Esq., who waited upon Capt. Linzee, with the letter, at the deponent s request. 
 If Aaron had any knowledge of burning the said schooner, it was out of the power 
 of the deponent to obtain it, through the unjustifiable conduct of the said Capt. 
 Linzee. 
 
 The deponent communicated to Admiral Montagu, in a letter, dated the 23d of 
 July, the steps he had taken for obtaining Aaron s declaration, in full expectation 
 that he would have given positive orders for the delivery of Aaron into the custody 
 of the civil authority ; especially, as the deponent had assured Capt. Linzee that 
 after his examination, he should be returned on board the King s ship. 
 
 The deponent cited Mr. Samuel Thurston and Mr. Samuel Tompkins, of the 
 island of Prudence, the gentlemen with whom Aaron had lived as an indented ser 
 vant, to give evidence of what they knew of the destruction of the Gaspee, &c. ; and 
 also two servants, who lived in the same house with Aaron, at the time the said 
 schooner was burnt, who agreed in their several testimonies, that Aaron was a run 
 away, and could not, for the reasons given in their depositions, have any knowledge 
 of that transaction ; copies of which testimonies, the deponent transmitted to Ad 
 miral Montagu. 
 
 This deponent further declares, that the several letters and papers he has deliv 
 ered to the commissioners, contain a full and particular account of ah 1 the knowledge 
 he hath of the destruction of the said schooner Gaspee, and the measures which 
 have been pursued for discovering the offenders. J. WANTON. 
 
 To His Majesty s commissioners, at Rhode Island. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, on the 25th day of January, 1773, before us, 
 
 FRED. SMYTHE, 
 PETER OLIVER, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY. 
 
 An adjournment being determined upon, Mr. Auchmuty and 
 Mr. Oliver signified their intention of returning home, and took 
 leave of the other commissioners, accordingly. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. ill 
 
 Friday, January 22. 
 
 The commissioners met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Present Joseph Wanton, Esq., Daniel Horsmanden, Esq. 
 and Frederick Smythe, Esq. 
 
 Samuel Clarke, who was charged with the service of sum 
 mons on the 12th inst., for two persons at Mendon, made re 
 turn upon oath of his service thereof, which was ordered to be 
 filed. 
 
 The commissioners received a letter from Arthur Fenner, at 
 Providence, excusing his attendance in obedience to a sum 
 mons of the 18th.* 
 
 Also, a letter from James Sabin, excusing his attendance 
 in obedience to a summons of the same date ; which were or 
 dered to be filed. 
 
 The commissioners adjourn all further proceedings, until the 
 2Gth day of May next, then to meet at Newport. 
 
 The commissioners accordingly adjourned to meet on the 
 2Cth day of May, 1773, at Newport. The journal of their pro 
 ceedings, if any was kept, is not among the papers. 
 
 * See page 102. The letters of Arthur Fenner, James Sabin and others, addressed to the 
 commissioners, excusing their non-attendance, not referred to in the journal of the pro 
 ceedings of the commission, are inserted in their chronological order elsewhere in this 
 pamphlet. 
 
112 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE* 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 
 INQUIRY, &c., CONTINUED. 
 
 To remove the difficulties between Admiral Montagu and 
 the commissioners, relative to his personal attendance at New 
 port, the board of admiralty in England, dispatched him spe 
 cial orders, as follows : 
 
 The Lords of the Admiralty to Admiral Montagu, relative to 
 his personal attendance upon the Commissioners, fyc., at 
 Newport. 
 
 By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great 
 Britain and Ireland, &c. 
 
 Whereas, you represented to us, by your letter of the 19th of January last, from 
 Rhode Island, as the season of the year was so far advanced as to render it hazard 
 ous for you to proceed thither with the ships under your command, agreeably to our 
 instructions of the 7th of September last, you had given Capt. Keeler, of the Mer 
 cury, the senior officer of the King s ships at that island, to whom, you had before 
 dispatched His Majesty s commission for inquiring into the circumstances relative to 
 the burning of the Gaspee schooner, orders to aid and assist the commissioners 
 therein named, in the same manner as you should have done, had you been there ; 
 but, as the said commission expressly directs the prisoners to be delivered to you; 
 the commissioners did not choose to proceed to business until your arrival. 
 
 That, in consequence of receiving such information, you had proceeded thither 
 by land, and had hoisted your flag on board the Lizzard ; and that the commis 
 sioners had examined some few persons. 
 
 And whereas, you further represented to us, by your said letter, that if you are 
 obliged to attend the commissioners at Rhode Island, the naval business at Halifax 
 and Boston will be greatly retarded, as it will be impossible for you to attend td 
 those and your other duties ; and have therefore desired, the senior officer of His 
 Majesty s ships at Rhode Island, who will, in your opinion, in every respect, answer the 
 purposes there, as well as yourself, that you may receive our directions to remain at 
 Boston, with your flag, unless there appears to be an absolute necessity for your 
 being at Rhode Island. 
 
 And whereas, the Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty s principal secretaries 
 of state, to whom we sent an extract of so much of your letter, as related to this 
 business, for His Majesty s information, hath, by his letter of the 20th instant, ac 
 quainted us that His Majesty is pleased to approve that the execution of His Maj- 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 113 
 
 esty s orders respecting the service at Rhode Island, should be entrusted to the 
 senior captain of such of his ships of war as may, from time to time be stationed at 
 that colony. 
 
 You are therefore, hereby required and directed to entrust the execution of His 
 Majesty s said orders to such senior captain, accordingly. 
 
 Given under our hands, the 26th day of March, 1773. SANDWICH, 
 
 J. BULLER, 
 LISBURNE. 
 
 By command of their lordships : 
 CHAS. STEPHENS. 
 
 To John Montagu, Esq., Rear Admiral of the Blue, and 
 commander in chief of His Majesty s ships and vessels 
 in North America, at Boston. 
 
 Previous to the reception of these orders, the following let 
 ters passed between the commissioners and the officers of the 
 navy, stationed in New England : 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, -c. 
 
 Boston, 24th May, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : As I understood you are soon to meet to proceed on business, I am 
 to inform you, I have ordered to Capt. Keeler, of His Majesty s ship Mercury, Wil 
 liam Dickinson, late midshipman of the Gaspee, and Bartholomew Cheever, one of 
 her seamen, two evidences sent out of England, by the right honorable the lords 
 commissioners of the admiralty. 
 
 As they were on board, when Captain Dudingston was wounded, these people (if 
 the men called the head sheriff and captain can be found), can swear to their per 
 sons. You will be the best judges what use to make of them, when they appear 
 before you. 
 
 I expect the Captain man-of-war will return from Halifax in ten days, when I 
 shall lose no time in repairing to Rhode Island ; but if, in the meantime, you should 
 think my presence absolutely necessary, I will set out by land, although it will be 
 attended with great inconvenience to me. 
 
 Capt. Keeler has my orders to give you every assistance in his power ; and I 
 doubt not but that he will faithfully execute them. 
 . I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 
 To His Majesty s Commissioners, at Newport. 
 
 15 
 
114 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE, 
 
 Capt. Robert Keeler to the Commissioners, $-c. 
 
 His Majesty s ship Mercury, Rhode Island Harbor, > 
 May 2 7, 1773. > 
 
 Sir : Admiral Montagu finding the King s commissioners meeting at Newport, 
 he has sent me an officer and one seaman, lately belonging to the Gaspee, and just 
 arrived from England, to give information of the persons that were concerned in 
 the burning of said schooner. 
 
 Likewise a letter, directed to His Majesty s commissioners at Rhode Island, with 
 directions to me, to deliver to you, when sitting. 
 
 But, as I am detained on board, on account of a writ being issued out against me, 
 I am to desire you will give me notice in writing, when you meet, that the letter 
 may be sent by a proper officer ; and of the time you choose to have the evidences 
 on shore, to be examined. I am, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 R. KEELER. 
 
 To Hon. Joseph Wanton, Esq., president of His Majesty s 
 commission, at Newport. 
 
 The Commissioners, &c., to Capt. Keeler. 
 
 Newport, May 27, 1773. 
 
 Sir : Though there are three commissioners met at Newport, yet, as the other 
 two gentlemen are daily expected, it is thought most conducive to His Majesty s ser 
 vice, not to proceed on business till they join us ; at which time we shall acquaint 
 you, when the witnesses you mention to us, may be examined, and Admiral Mon 
 tagu s letter delivered, and in the interim, are, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, 
 PETER OLIVER, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 To Capt. Robert Keeler. 
 
 The Commissioners, fyc., to Copt. Keeler. 
 
 Newport, May 31, 1773. 
 
 Sir : The gentlemen commissioners are now arrived from the southward ; there 
 fore we are ready to receive Admiral Montagu s letter, mentioned in yours of the 
 27th inst. ; and to-morrow morning shall also be ready to take the depositions of 
 those witnesses you inform us are arrived from England. 
 
 The commissioners will attend such examination to-morrow morning, at 10 
 o clock ; and are, Your most obedient and humble servants, 
 
 J. WANTON, 
 TETER OLIVER, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 To Capt. Robert Keeler. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 115 
 
 The Commissioners, $*c., to Admiral Montagu. 
 
 Newport, June 2. 1773. 
 
 Sir: Three of the commissioners met at this place on the 2Gth ult. : but as the 
 gentlemen from the southward were not arrived, and daily expected, it was thought 
 by those present, most conducive to His Majesty s service, to delay entering on busi 
 ness till they were joined by their brethren. Your not receiving an answer sooner, 
 to your favor of the 24th of last month, was owing to that reason. 
 
 The gentlemen being now on the spot, beg leave to observe to you, that the wit 
 nesses you mention, have been examined ; and that it will be very agreeable to them 
 to have the pleasure of your company at Newport, whenever it will comport with 
 His Majesty s service in general ; but at present, see no immediate occasion for your 
 coming without your ships ; and are, with the greatest respect, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 To John Montagu, Esq. 
 
 Admiral Montagu to the Commissioners, 8fc. 
 
 Boston, 14th June, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : In answer to your letter of the 2d, which I received the 12th, I beg 
 leave to inform you, that as the service will not admit of my being at Rhode Island 
 this summer, I have sent orders to Capt. Keeler, of His Majesty s ship Mercury, to 
 render you every service in his power, in the execution of your commission, agree 
 ably to His Majesty s directions, signified to me, by my lords commissioners of the 
 admiralty, by their order of the 26th of March, 1773, a duplicate of which, I here 
 with enclose to you ; and am, with respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 J. MONTAGU. 
 To His Majesty s Commissioners, at Rhode Island. 
 
 The following evidence was submitted to the commissioners, 
 ut this session : 
 
 Deposition of William Dickinson. 
 
 The examination of William Dickinson, late midshipman of His Majesty s 
 schooner, taken on oath, at Newport, in the colony of Rhode Island, this 1st day of 
 June, A. D. 1773, who saith : 
 
 That on the loth day of June, in the year 1772, between the hours of 12 and 1, 
 in the morning, the said schooner, then working in her dock, on Namquit Point, 
 about two miles below Pawtuxet, and not able to get off; the watch being on 
 
>< 
 
 116 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 deck, as he supposed, gave the alarm that a number of boats were coming down the 
 river. 
 
 Upon, which, Lieutenant Dudingston went on deck, and hailed the boats, and or 
 dered them to keep off, or he would fire into them ; but, as they refused to keep oiF, 
 we fired at them, and they returned the fire, whereby Lieutenant Dudingston was 
 wounded in the left arm, and in the groin. 
 
 They then boarded us, and used us very ill, by beating and knocking down the 
 people ; and afterwards by tying them, and throwing them into their boats, the cap 
 tain of the gang swearing he would give no quarters. 
 
 The captain of the gang ordered Lieutenant Dudingston on his knees, and to beg 
 his life. 
 
 He said he could not, he was wounded. 
 
 Whereupon, the said captain answered, " D n your blood, you are shot by your 
 own people." 
 
 Then they took him into the. cabin, where two men dressed his wounds ; who, by 
 their behavior, appeared to have some skill in surgery. 
 
 And this examinate further saith : that while Lieutenant Dudingston s wounds 
 were dressing, those two persons who assumed to be the head sheriff and the captain, 
 demanded the papers belonging to the vessel, which he delivered by Lieutenant 
 Dudingston s order to them; consisting of the lieutenant s commission from the lords 
 of the admiralty ; Admiral Montagu s instructions, letters, and other papers ; and 
 upon his particularizing those papers as he delivered them, they damned him, and 
 told him they did not come there to receive any instructions from him, but would 
 examine the papers at their leisure, which they put into their pockets, and then 
 carried Lieutenant Dudingston on shore, about two miles from the schooner. 
 
 The examinate after this continued on board said schooner about three quarters of 
 an hour ; and was told by the captain of the gang, that unless he quitted the 
 schooner, he would throw him overboard ; during this time, they continued plun 
 dering the schooner. 
 
 The examinate was landed in one of their boats on the shore opposite" to the 
 schooner, where he remained some time ; and that within an hour after he was landed, 
 he saw the said schooner on fire ; and it being then daylight, he saw three of their 
 boats put off from the schooner, full of men ; one of Avhich, landed the people at 
 Pawtuxet, and the other two, rowed towards Providence. 
 
 This examinate further saith : that the schooner when she was burnt, lay about 
 eight or ten miles, to- the best of his judgment, from the north end of the island of 
 Prudence ; and that several negroes were on board the said schooner ; and also 
 rowed the boats which boarded the schooner ; but he does not know their names ; 
 and he cannot recollect that he saw any of those negroes enter the cabin. 
 
 And he also saith, that he does not know the names of any of the persons who 
 boarded and destroyed said schooner, or wounded Lieutenant Dudingston ; but that 
 the captain, who was called the captain of the gang, was a well set man, of a swar 
 thy complexion, full face, hoarse voice, and wore a white cap, was well dressed, and 
 appeared rather above the common rank of mankind ; and that the greater part of 
 those he saw on board the schooner, and in the cabin, were persons well dressed ; 
 many of themjwith ruffled shirts, and appeared as store-keepers, merchants or mas 
 ters of vessels. 
 
 The person who was called the head sheriff, was a tall, genteel man, dressed in 
 blue clothes, his hair tied behind, and had on a ruffled shirt. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 117 
 
 One of the person? who acted as surgeon in dressing Lieutenant Dudingston s 
 wounds, appeared to be about eighteen years of age, very much marked with 
 the small pox ; light brown hair, tied behind : about five feet, five or six inches 
 high. 
 
 Tin- other, was a very genteel man ; appeared to be about twenty-two years of 
 age ; his hair tied behind, a thin person, and about five feet, eight or nine inches 
 high. 
 
 This examinate further saith : that after he returned from Boston to Providence, 
 a few days after the schooner was desti-oyed, the first described surgeon met him in 
 one of the streets in Providence, and asked him whether he knew how Lieutenant 
 Dudingston did : but the examinate did not know his name ; and further saith not. 
 
 W. DICKINSON. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, on the day and year abovesaid, before 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of Bartholomew Cheever. 
 
 The examination of Bartholomew Cheever, mariner, and late a seamen on board 
 His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, taken on oath, at Newport, in the colony of 
 Rhode Island, on the 1st day of June, 1773, who saith: 
 
 That on the 9th day of June last, the schooner Gaspee run aground, on her pas 
 sage to Providence, on a point of land about two or three miles below a small town, 
 and about five miles from the town of Providence. 
 
 That about three-quarters after 12 o clock, the next morning, being the 10th of 
 June, he was standing upon the quarter deck of said schooner, as a sentry ; every 
 other person belonging to said schooner, being below, he saw a number of boats 
 coming towards said schooner, which he hailed, but no answer was returned ; he 
 then immediately gave notice to Lieutenant Dudingston and the midshipman, who 
 instantly came upon deck. 
 
 The boats were again hailed, and the answer returned by some of the people in 
 said boats was, u D n your blood, we have you now !" 
 
 The captain ordered them to keep off; and told them if they did not. he would 
 fire into them. 
 
 They answered, they did not care ; they would be aboard directly. 
 
 The captain then ordered all hands on deck ; but the people who were in the 
 boats, boarded the schooner ; and as they were entering said schooner, they shot the 
 captain ; and afterwards tied the people belonging to said schooner, and carried 
 them on shore, nearly opposite to the schooner ; they then broke open the arm- 
 chest, and took possession of the small arms. 
 
 And after they had landed all the Gaspee s people, he saw the said schooner on 
 fire ; but he knoweth not the names of any of the persons who were concerned in 
 destroying said schooner ; and that those who acted as principals, were called the 
 head sheriff and the captain : and one of them was called constable. 
 
 And this examinate further saith : that while he was attending upon Lieutenant 
 
118 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Dmlingston at a town called Pawtuxet, he saw two of the persons who were concerned 
 in destroying said schooner ; but did not know their names. his 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW X CHEEVER. 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to, at Newport, on the day and year, abovesaid, before 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTIIE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of John Cole. 
 
 The examination of John Cole, of Providence, in the colony of Rhode Island, 
 Esq., taken on oath in Newport, in said colony, this 3d day of June, A. D. 1773, 
 who saith : 
 
 That the evening preceding the burning the Gaspee, I spent at Mr. James Sa- 
 bins s tavern, in Providence, aforesaid, in company with several gentlemen. 
 
 About 7 or 8 o clock, hearing a noise in the street of said town, I pulled back the 
 shutter of one of the windows next the street, and saw several men, about twelve, 
 as I apprehend, but did know one of them, collected together. Upon which, I made 
 inquiry of the gentlemen in the room, if they knew the occasion ; and was answered 
 by one of the company, but whom, I cannot particularly recollect, that he hoped 
 they were not upon any design of mischief. 
 
 To which, I replied, " I believed not ; if they were on such a design, they would 
 not be so public." 
 
 Some short time after, I heard a drum beat in the street ; upon which, I again 
 opened the shutter, saw three or four boys passing along with the drum, and no 
 other persons. 
 
 Between 11 and 12 o clock, in the same evening, I left the said tavern ; at which 
 time, I found the street clear and still ; I then observed, that I believed if any mis 
 chief was intended, they had thought better of it, and gone home. 
 
 Early in that evening, and before I first opened the shutter, I heard, but whether 
 after I joined the company or in the street going to said tavern, I cannot recollect, 
 that the Gaspee was then run on shore ; neither do I remember the person giving 
 me that information ; I never heard any intimation of an intention to burn the Gas- 
 pee ; nor do I know any person or persons concerned in that transaction, or ever 
 heard who they were. 
 
 The place where the said Gaspee was burnt, was in the township of Warwick, in 
 the county of Kent, in the colony of Rhode Island. 
 
 From the cove near Mr. Samuel Tompkins s house, to the place where the Gaspee 
 schooner was burnt, is, according to the best judgment I can form, near, if not quite, 
 four leagues ; and further, this deponent saith not. JOHN COLE. 
 
 Taken, and sworn- to, at Newport, on the day and year before written, before 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 119 
 
 Deposition of John Andrews. 
 
 The examination of John Andrews, Esq., of Cranston, in the colony of Rhode Is 
 land, taken on oath, at Newport, in said colony, on the 5th day of June, 1773, who 
 declares and says : 
 
 That he was in the town of Providence the night that the schooner Gaspee was 
 destroyed, at a tavern, where he spent the evening with a number of gentlemen ; 
 and after supper, he heard a drum beat in the street, and inquired into the cause 
 thereof; and received for answer, that it had been training day, and the people 
 were breaking up their frolic ; about 12 o clock, he repaired to his lodgings, it being 
 very dark, and went to bed. 
 
 The next morning, the sun about half an hour high, was surprised with hearing 
 some persons say to each other, that the said schooner was burnt ; upon which, he 
 opened the window, and saw on the other side of the street, two black fellows and 
 one white man, talking together. 
 
 I inquired what was the matter ; and received for an answer from the white man, 
 that some people in the night had burned the man-of-war schooner. 
 
 Upon which, he immediately dressed himself, and waited upon the Deputy Gov 
 ernor ; and he informed him he had heard the news, and sent for his horse, in order 
 to repair to the spot, and inquire of Capt. Dudingston and his people, and find, if 
 possible, the persons that had done the mischief. 
 
 We procured a horse, as soon as possible, and went to Pawtuxet, where we found 
 Mr. Dudingston badly wounded ; and we saw the said schooner on shore, about a 
 mile and a half distant, which appeared by the smoke, to be on fire, and burnt down 
 almost to the water s edge. 
 
 The Deputy Governor, in his hearing, inquired of Mr. Dudingston, if he had any 
 knowledge of the persons that committed this trespat .^ 
 
 He made answer, that he should render no account about the matter, until he 
 appeared before a court martial, where he expected to be tried, if he survived his 
 wounds, and such account might be made use of, to his advantage ; but was willing 
 that his people should be sworn ; and had them called in, and cautioned them to 
 swear to the truth. 
 
 He then, as His Majesty s commissary for the colony, conferred wtth Mr. Dud 
 ingston, concerning saving such guns and stores as could be saved, and agreed to 
 save all that was possible to be saved, and procured a man to undertake the 
 business. 
 
 And lie likewise requested that his people might be taken care of, and sent on 
 board His Majesty s sloop, called the Beaver, then at Newport, and procured a small 
 vessel, to carry them on purpose. 
 
 He visited Mr. Dudingston, several times, and requested of him, if he had any 
 knowledge of such persons as had done the mischief, that he would inform him there 
 of, that the persons might be brought to condign punishment ; but he always de 
 clined saying anything in the affair. 
 
 And further, that early in the morning, after the said schooner was destroyed, he 
 met with Daniel Jenckes, Esq., chief justice of the court of common pleas, in the 
 county of Providence, who said that he had informed the Deputy Governor of what 
 had happened the preceding night, respecting the Gaspee ; and then urged that the 
 
120 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEEl. 
 
 Deputy Governor and this examinate, would repair immediately to Pawtuxet, and 
 examine such of the Gaspee s men as could be found, while it was fresh in their 
 memories, that the villains might be discovered, and not the whole colony blamed. 
 
 JOHN ANDREWS. 
 
 The foregoing examination was taken and sworn to, at Newport, on the day and 
 year afore written, before 
 
 J. WANTON, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of Justice Helme. 
 
 The examination of James Helme, Esq., of South Kingstown, in the county df 
 Kings county, and colony of Rhode Island, &c., taken on oath, at Newport, in said 
 colony, this 5th day of June, A. D. 1773, who saith : 
 
 That in October following the burning the schooner Gaspee, the superior court 
 of judicature, &c., for said colony, sat at East Greemvich, in the county of Kent, at 
 which court I presided, being the eldest justice of the same, present. 
 
 Before the sitting of said court, I had heard of the said schooner s being burnt, and 
 of Lieutenant Dudingston s being wounded. I did not give any charge to the grand 
 jury at that court; nor is it usual in this colony to give either general or special 
 charges to grand juries. 
 
 But before the meeting of said court, I informed my brethren, that if I presided 
 at said court, I fully intended to give the affair of burning the said schooner and 
 wounding the lieutenant, in charge to the jury ; but having been nearly two months 
 on the circuit, it entirely went out of my mind, when the grand jury was empan- 
 nelled ; and there being no business laid before said jury, they were soon dismissed. 
 Immediately after, I recollected the omission of what I intended ; and then men 
 tioned to some of the other judges of the court, that I had entirely forgotten to give 
 the business of destroying the Gaspee and wounding Lieutenant Dudingston, in 
 charge to the grand jury, which I had designated ; and further, this deponent saith 
 not. JAMES HELME. 
 
 Taken, and sworn to, at Newport, on the day and year first within written, before 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of George Brown. 
 
 The examination of George Brown, of Providence, in the colony of Rhode Island, 
 Esq., taken on oath, at Newport, in said colony, this 5th day of June, A. D. 1773, 
 who saith : 
 
 That the evening preceding the burning of the schooner Gaspee, he, with several 
 other gentlemen, met at the house of Mr. James Sabin, in Providence, aforesaid, it 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 121 
 
 being a public house, to spend the evening together. About 10 o clock, a? I sup 
 pose. I heard a drum beat in the street ; I asked the reason of said drum beating ; 
 on which, some one of the company, but whom, I do not recollect, answered, that 
 there were some boys beating the drum, which was common for two or three years 
 past, in summer evenings, in said town ; it is also usual for the young people to as 
 semble, to learn to beat a drum, and other military exercises. 
 
 Before sunset, that evening, I had heard that the said schooner was aground ; but 
 had not then the least suspicion that any mischief was intended to be done to said 
 schooner, or any body on board of her ; not having heard any intimation to that 
 purpose. 
 
 And I further declare, that I have not any knowledge, directly or indirectly, of 
 any plans being laid, to burn or otherwise destroy said schooner, or of any person 
 concerned in so vile a crime, or wounding Lieutenant Dudingston. 
 
 Some time after I heard the drum, I had occasion to go to the door, when I 
 plainly saw about ten or a dozen boys, with a drum ; and am confident there was 
 not at that time one man among them ; nor had I, during that evening, any concep 
 tion of any mischief intended. 
 
 The place where said schooner was burnt, is in the township of Warwick, in the 
 county of Kent, in the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. From 
 the dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Tompkins to the place where said schooner was 
 burnt, is. according to my judgment, about nine miles ; and further, this deponent 
 saith not. G. BROWN. 
 
 Taken, and sworn to, at Newport, on the day and year above written, before 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of Samuel Faulkner, relative to the Negro Aaron 
 
 Brujrjs. 
 
 The examination of Samuel Faulkner, of Bristol, in the colony of Rhode Island, 
 and laborer, taken upon oath, at Newport, the llth day of June, 1773, who saith: 
 
 That he lived with Mr. Samuel Tompkins, of the island of Prudence, in said 
 colony, from the 1st of April, 1772, to the last of July, following, and knoweth a 
 negro fellow named Aaron, who lived with said Tompkins part of said time ; and, as 
 he understood, was an indented servant to said Tompkins. 
 
 That several persons came over from Bristol, to said island, and said that the 
 Gaspee schooner was burnt two or three days before, which Avas the first time he 
 heard of it. 
 
 That he never requested the said Aaron to go with him from Prudence to Bristol, 
 in any part of the aforementioned time of his living with the said Samuel Tompkins, 
 having then no occasion to go to Bristol. 
 
 That when the people of Bristol gave an account of the burning of said schooner, 
 Aaron was present ; and did not either at that time, or at any other time after 
 wards, discover that he had any knowledge of the destroying of said schooner. 
 
 That when the people from Bristol gave said account, they mentioned the par- 
 
 16 
 
X 
 
 122 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 ticular night on which said schooner was burnt ; and to the best of his recollection, 
 Aaron milked the cows after sunset that night, and was at home early the next 
 morning ; and therefore concluded that Aaron was at his master s house the whole 
 of that night. 
 
 That he does not remember his telling the. said Aaron he would ask his master to 
 let him go with him to Bristol, in any part of the above mentioned time of his living 
 with said Tompkins ; but well remembers that the summer before, when he also 
 lived with the said Tompkins, that he asked him once or twice to let Aaron go with 
 him to Bristol. 
 
 That he never was in company with Aaron, when Mr. Potter, of Bristol, was 
 present ; but has been in Mr. Potter s rope-walk in Bristol, in company with Aaron ; 
 neither was he ever on a wharf in Bristol, with Aaron, nor at any time pointed out 
 Mr. Potter to said Aaron ; and he does not recollect that when he was in Mr, 
 Potter s rope-walk, as aforesaid, that he told said Aaron whose it was; and that 
 when they went to Bristol together the summer before the Gaspee was burnt, they 
 landed on the shore. 
 
 That when Aaron ran away from his said master, he stole his small boat, which 
 lay on the shore, and went away in her ; and that when the people from Bristol 
 brought the said news of the Gaspee s being burnt, she was then lying on the shore, 
 with her seams much opened ; that some time after this, and before. Aaron stole her, 
 she was repaired. 
 
 That he does not remember that the people from Bristol mentioned any persons s 
 names of being concerned in destroying said schooner ; and he does not know any 
 of the persons who burnt said schooner. 
 
 And this examinate further saith : that the said Aaron was looked upon by the 
 people where he worked, as a person much addicted to lying. 
 
 SAMUEL FAULKNER. 
 
 Taken, and sworn to, at Newport, on the day and year, above mentioned, 
 before J. WANTON, 
 
 FRED. SMYTHE, 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Deposition of Darius Sessions, Deputy Governor. 
 
 Darius Sessions, Esq., of Providence, on oath declares and says : 
 
 That, in the month of March, A. D. 1772, or thereabouts, sundry of the principal 
 inhabitants of the town of Providence, made application to the deponent, in writing, 
 representing that there was, and had been for some time past, a schooner crusing in 
 the Narragansett River, that disturbed all the vessels and boats that were passing 
 therein, by chasing, firing at and searching them ; and often treating the people 
 aboard of them, with the most abusive language ; and that the commander showed 
 no commission, to support such proceedings. 
 
 They therefore, requested me to inform the Governor thereof, that if he knew not 
 who he was, or if he had not been acquainted with his commission and authority, he 
 would be pleased to make inquiry therein. 
 
 Soon after I received said writing, hearing that the Chief Justice was in the 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEfi. 123 
 
 court house, near by, I wrote a line on the back of said paper, and sent it to him, 
 desiring his opinion in the affair ; it was soon returned, with something written under 
 mine, to this purpose, viz. : that it was his opinion, that for any person, whatever, to 
 come into the colony, and in the body thereof, to exercise any authority by force of 
 arms, or otherwise, without showing his commission to the Governor ; and (if a cus 
 tom house officer.) without being sworn into his office, was guilty of a trespass, if not 
 piracy ; all which proceedings, to the best of my remembrance, I afterwards sent to 
 the Governor. 
 
 And to the best of his remembrance, the aforesaid complaint was signed by the 
 following persons : JOHN BROWN, AMBROSE PAGE, 
 
 NATHAN ANGELL, DARIUS SESSIONS, 
 
 JOSEPH NIGHTINGALE, JAMES LOVETT, 
 JOB SMITH, NICHOLAS BROWN. 
 
 THOMAS GREENE. 
 Newport, June 12th, 1772. 
 
 Sworn to, before J. WANTON, Governor. 
 
 On the 7th of June,, the commissioners requested the per 
 sonal attendance of the justices of the Superior Court, of the 
 colony. 
 
 The design of the commissioners, will appear in the follow 
 ing papers : 
 
 The Justices of the Superior Court of the Colony of Rhode 
 Island, to the Commissioners, fyc. 
 
 The honorable the commissioners, appointed by royal commission, for examining 
 into the attacking and destroying His Majesty s armed schooner, the Gaspee, 
 commanded by Lieutenant Dudingston, and wounding the said lieutenant, having 
 laid before us, justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, court of assize, &c., 
 within and throughout the colony of Rhode Island, two examinations of Aaron 
 Briggs, two examinations of Patrick Earle, the examination of Peter May, 
 the examination of William Dickinson, the deposition of Samuel Tompkins, 
 Samuel Thurston ; and of Somerset and Jack, indented servants, for our advise 
 ment thereon : 
 
 It appeareth to us, from our consideration had thereupon, that no particular per 
 son or persons are made mention of, as being concerned in that atrocious crime, 
 except in the examination of Aaron Briggs, a negro ; and of Peter May, one of the 
 Gaspee s people. 
 
 The confession of the said Aaron, upon his first examination, was made in conse 
 quence of illegal threats from Capt. Linzee, of hanging him (the said Aaron) at the 
 yard arm, if he would not discover who the persons were, that destroyed the Gas- 
 pee ; and besides, most of the circumstances and facts related in both of his exam- \ / 
 inations, are contradictions repugnant to each other ; and many of them, impossible 
 in their nature. 
 
124 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 It is evident from the depositions of Tompkins, Thurston and Aaron s two fellow 
 servants, that he was at home the whole of that night on which the Gaspee was at 
 tacked ; especially, as there was no boat on that part of the island, in which he 
 could possibly pass the bay, in the manner by him described. 
 
 In short, another circumstance which renders the said Aaron s testimony ex 
 tremely suspicious, is Capt. Linzee s absolutely refusing to deliver him up to be ex 
 amined by one of the justices of the Superior Court, when legally demanded. 
 
 Peter May, in his deposition, mentions one person only by the name of Greene 
 whom, he says, he saw before, on board the Gaspee ; but the family of Greene being 
 very numerous in this colony, and the said Peter not giving the Christian name, or 
 describing him in such a manner as he could be found out, it is impossible for us to 
 know, at present, the person referred to. 
 
 Upon the whole, we are all of opinion, that the several matters and things con 
 tained in said depositions, do not induce a probable suspicion, that the persons men 
 tioned therein, or either or any of them, are guilty of the crime, aforesaid. 
 
 It is, however, the fixed determination of the Superior Court to exert every 
 legal affort in detecting and bringing to condign punishment, the persons concerned 
 in destroying the schooner Gaspee. 
 
 And if the honorable commissioners are of a different sentiment, we should be 
 glad to receive their opinion, for our better information. S. HOPKINS, 
 
 Chief Justice. 
 J. HELME, 
 
 M. BOWLER, 
 
 I Justices. 
 J. C. BENNETT,) 
 
 To the Honorable His Majesty s Commissioners. 
 Rhode Island, June 11, 1773. 
 
 The Commissioners, &c., to the Justices of the Superior Court 
 
 of Rhode Island. 
 
 Newport, June 12, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : We, the commissioners, appointed by His Majesty for inquiring into 
 the attacking, plundering and burning His Majesty s schooner, called the Gaspee, 
 and wounding the lieutenant, late commandant of said schooner, received your re 
 port on the examinations by us laid before you. 
 
 In the conclusion of the same report, you are pleased to say, if we differ from you 
 in sentiment, you should be glad to receive our opinion, for your better information. 
 As by our instructions, we are required to lay before the civil magistrates all such 
 informations as we shall receive ; and as it is your proper office to judge and act 
 thereupon, in such manner as you conceive most likely to answer the ends of public 
 justice, therefore, we decline giving any sentiment or opinion in the mattter ; and 
 are, with much respect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, humble servants, 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, PETER OLIVER, 
 
 ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., and the three assistant justices. 
 
TFIE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 125 
 
 The following request of Chief Justice Smythe, was thought 
 worthy of preservation : 
 
 Chief Justice Smythe to the Commissioners, $c. 
 
 Newport, June 23cl, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : I desire the enclosed, may be inserted in the journal of our proceed 
 ings. I am sorrv it is not in my power to meet you, this morning. As this mirute 
 contains only the plain facts, I hope there will be no objection to the request of 
 
 Gentlemen, yours, most heartily, 
 
 FRED. SMYTHE. 
 To the commissioners, Gov. Wanton, Mr. Horsmanden and Mr. Auchmuty. 
 
 " June 21. Chief Justice Smythe requested the board that some particulars of an 
 attack of an armed schooner, called the St. John, by the gunner of Fort George, in 
 this colony, in consequence of an order signed by two magistrates, dated July, 
 17G4,had been imparted to him on Saturday last; and conceiving that great irregu 
 larity, violence and disorder, accompanied that transaction, and might be considered 
 as a leading cause to the destruction of the Gaspee, requested the board to take the 
 affair into consideration, and receive such information as might be procured on the 
 subject. 
 
 Whereupon, Gov. Wanton acquainted the board that his son was Deputy Gov 
 ernor of the colony at the time of the above transaction, and could fully explain the 
 affair ; that the said gunner of the fort was in town, and might be called upon ; then 
 the board agreed to take the matter into consideration to-morrow morning. 
 
 June 22. The board being reminded by Mr. Smythe of his motion yesterday, 
 produced the original order, signed by the magistrates ; and inquiring if the Gov 
 ernor s son, or the gunner, had been applied to, for information on the subject. 
 
 Mr. Auchmuty proposed that the sense of the board should first be taken whether 
 the affair should be at all inquired into, or not. 
 
 Whereupon, Gov. Wanton and Chief Justice Horsmanden were of opinion, that 
 no notice whatever of the attack of the schooner St. John, ought to be taken by this 
 board. 
 
 Mr. Smythe, on the contrary, was of opinion, that a strict inquiry ought to be 
 made on the subject, and inserted in the report. Mr. Auchmuty doubted." 
 
 The commissioners probably closed their labors on the 23J of 
 June ; on which the following letter, enclosing the report of 
 their proceedings, was sent home : 
 
 The Commissioners $*c., to Lord Dartmouth. 
 
 Newport, June 22, 1773. 
 
 My Lord : So much time being necessarily spent in the business of His Maj 
 esty s royal commission, renders our return to our several colonies highly expedient. 
 
126 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 and having executed the same to the utmost of our abilities, we beg leave to enclose 
 to Your Lordship, a report thereon. 
 
 Your Lordship is very sensible that for the execution of the trust His Majesty hath 
 been graciously pleased to honor us with, it was strictly necessary to have the assist 
 ance of secretaries, messengers to summon witnessess, or go express on the business, 
 some constant attendants and stationery. No particular mode having yet been 
 pointed out to us, for defraying these expenses by government, we have discharged 
 the same, except the secretaries, Mr. Brenton and Clarke ; but at this, our second 
 meeting, we found one of those gentlemen sufficient for the same. 
 
 Mr. Oliver would have joined us in the report to His Majesty, if the duty of his 
 office had not indispensably required him to take his leave of us a few days since. 
 
 My Lord, as we have used the utmost assiduity, and made the strongest possible 
 efforts to the thorough accomplishment of the end and design of the commission ; 
 though not attended with that success most ardently wished for by all, yet we hum 
 bly hope His Majesty will be graciously pleased to accept of our services and en 
 deavors therein, which will reflect the greatest honor on 
 
 Your Lordship s most respectful, and most obedient humble servants, 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYUTIIE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, ROBT. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 Commissioners; 
 
 To the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
 The Report of the Commissioners, $*c., to the King. 
 
 " To the King s Most Excellent Majesty : 
 
 May it please Your Majesty : In obedience to your royal commission and in 
 structions, and from a due sense of the duty therein enjoined on us, we have used 
 our utmost care and diligence for the purpose of inquiring into, and reporting to 
 Your Majesty, all the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering and burn 
 ing the schooner Gaspee, wounding Lieutenant Dudingston, and all other matters 
 in the same commission and instructions contained. 
 
 We now beg leave, most humbly, to report to Your Majesty, that on the earliest 
 intelligence of Your Majesty s commands, we, with the utmost dispatch in our 
 power, repaired to Newport, where, on the 5th of January last, Your Majesty s 
 royal commission was published in the presence of a large number of people ; who, 
 on the occasion, behaved with great propriety. 
 
 We next proceeded to give public notice of the subject matter of the commission, 
 and our being assembled for the execution thereof; requesting all persons who 
 could give us any information relative to such matters, forthwith so to do. 
 
 We beg leave to observe to Your Majesty, that the place where the Gaspee was 
 destroyed, is, at least, twenty-three miles from Newport, and the accident of her 
 running aground but a few hours before the attack, takes away all possibility of the 
 inhabitants of the town being instrumental in, or privy to, the destruction of her ; 
 nor have we any evidence, even of the slightest kind, to induce suspicion to the 
 contrary. 
 
 We further beg leave humbly to represent to Your Majesty, that in the part of 
 our duty contained under the inquiry into the assembling, arming and leading on 
 the people to attack the Gaspee ; also, the concerting and preparing the same, we 
 have been particularly attentive. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 127 
 
 But after our utmost efforts, we are not able to discover any evidence of either ; 
 and therefore, are humbly of opinion, botli from the unforeseen event of the Gaspee s 
 running on shore, the suddenness of the undertaking and its accomplishment, and 
 total want of evidence of even an intention to destroy her, though many witnesses 
 of credit, as well inhabitants of Providence as other places, were strictly examined 
 on this head, that the whole was conducted suddenly and secretly. 
 
 On the 10th of June last, about 1 in the morning, a number of armed people, 
 many of whom, by their dress, appeared much above the rank of common people, 
 and were accompanied by several negroes and others, boarded the schooner Gaspee, 
 then on shore, on a point of land, called Namquit, which is within the township of 
 Warwick, and county of Kent, in this colony, and about six miles from the town of 
 Providence ; and after wounding the lieutenant, and using the crew with great bar 
 barity, first plundered and then burnt the schooner, taking the lieutenant and his 
 people on shore, to a place called Pawtuxet, about two miles distant. 
 
 With respect to the conduct of the magistrates, on the morning of the llth of 
 June. The Deputy Governor, being informed -of the destruction of the Gaspee, the 
 lieutenant being wounded on shore, at Pawtuxet, first inquired if any of the offend 
 ers were known ; and receiving no information of such, immediately i epaired to the 
 place, and finding the lieutenant in a dangerous condition, offered him every proper 
 assistance ; to which the lieutenant replied, he wanted no favors for himself, but de 
 sired his people might be taken care of, and sent on board the Beaver ; which was 
 accordingly done. 
 
 The Deputy Governor then told the lieutenant the design of his visit, was not 
 only to afford him any assistance, but to procure such a declaration from his own 
 rnouth, respecting, the transaction, that the offenders might be brought to justice. 
 
 To which, the lieutenant answered, he would not give him any account of the 
 matter. First, because of his indisposition ; and, secondly, it was his duty to forbear 
 any thing of that nature, until he had done, it unto a court martial. 
 
 The Deputy Governor then asked the lieutenant if he was willing that his officers 
 and men should be examined ; to which, after some refusal, he consented. They 
 were accordingly examined on oath, but were not able to give information against 
 any person in particular. 
 
 Mr. Andrews, judge of the court of vice admiralty, in this colony, attended the 
 Deputy Governor, and behaved very properly on the occasion. 
 
 The same day, the Deputy Governor, by letter, informed the Governor of what 
 had happened, and of every step he had taken as a magistrate, and sent him all the 
 depositions. In another letter, of the 12th of June, he further informed the Gov 
 ernor, it was the unanimous opinion of a great number of the most respectable in 
 habitants of Providence, that a proclamation, with a proper reward, should, by the 
 Governor be issued, for the apprehending and bringing to justice the persons con 
 cerned ; which was accordingly done. 
 
 In July, following, a warrant was granted, for apprehending one Aaron Briggs, a 
 negro, then on board Your Majesty s ship, the Beaver, commanded by Capt. Linzee, 
 for being concerned in burning the Gaspee, and wounding the lieutenant. The same 
 was delivered to a sheriff; who, after making his business known, was refused ad 
 mittance into said ship ; but the captain was not then on board. Very soon after 
 such refusal, the captain was informed of said warrant, and requested to deliver up 
 the negro, whom he acknowledged was on board ; but treated the civil authority in 
 a most contemptuous and unjustifiable manner. 
 
128 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Here the civil magistrates ceased tlioir endeavors to discover the offenders ; for, 
 though there was a superior court, held in, and for the county of Kent, in October 
 following the burning the Gaspee, at which the -second justice presided, the chief 
 justice being absent, not any charge was given to the grand jury, to inquire into 
 that atrocious breach of law, nor any information thereof, by the then acting attor 
 ney general ; nor was any thing done thereon, that we can discover. 
 
 Having now laid before Your Majesty, the substance of the proofs relative to the 
 destruction of the Gaspee, the barbarity and insolence exercised upon the com 
 mander and seamen belonging to her, with other necessary matters, we proceed, in 
 obedience to Your Majesty s directions, to assign some probable causes, which we 
 conceive, might lead to so bold a violation of Your Majesty s laws and authority. 
 
 The great impatience of some people, in this colony, under any restraint of trade, 
 however illicit ; the check which Your Majesty s navy officers have put to such 
 trade, by the necessary aid and assistance which they have afforded the revenue of 
 ficers ; the plundering and burning a sloop, called the Liberty, in this harbor, in 
 July. 1769, then employed in Your Majesty s revenue service, and commanded by 
 William Reid, liberating a vessel and cargo, then under seizure by said commander, 
 and in a violent and outrageous manner assaulting and detaining him in this town, 
 in duress, till the accomplishment of the above facts ; the same night, dragging two 
 boats, belonging to said sloop, through the streets, and burning them ; and the per 
 petrators of the above outrage, escaped with impunity ; not one person being so 
 much as apprehended on this occasion. 
 
 It must be further, with humble submission to Your Majesty, remarked, that it 
 does not appear to us, that any complaint or information was given to any peace 
 officer or other magistrate, against any person, whatever, as concerned in the above 
 transaction, excepting four depositions, taken before a single magistrate ; and which 
 do not appear to have been laid before the Governor and Council, or to have had 
 any effect. 
 
 Certain persons, principal inhabitants of the town of Providence, in March, pre 
 ceding the burning of the Gaspee, complained to the Deputy Governor, also an in 
 habitant of that place, against the conduct of Lieutenant Dudingston, for disturbing 
 and obstructing their vessels and boats, firing at and searching them, without show 
 ing any commission for so doing ; and requested the Deputy Governor to inform 
 the Governor thereof, that he might inquire into the said lieutenant s authority ; 
 on which, the Deputy Governor laid the same before the Chief Justice, also an in 
 habitant of the town of Providence, for his opinion, how to conduct in the affair ; to 
 which, he soon returned an answer, to the following purpose : it was his opinion, 
 " that for any person, whatever, to come into this colony, and in the body thereof, to 
 exercise any authority by force of arms, or otherwise, without showing his commis 
 sion to the Governor, and if a custom house officer, without being sworn into his of 
 fice, was guilty of a trespass, if not piracy." 
 
 But what effect such opinion might have on the minds of the perpetrators of the 
 crime, we must most humbly submit. If Lieutenant Dudingston, on his first arrival 
 in the harbor of Newport, had waited on the Governor, acquainting him with his 
 power and authority, and thereby early made his duty a matter of notoriety, he 
 would, at least, have acted a prudent part ; but whether his duty obliged him so to 
 do, we do not presume to determine. 
 
 There is also too much reason to believe, that in some instances Lieutenant Dud 
 ingston, from an intemperate, if not a reprehensible zeal to aid the revenue service, 
 exceeded the bounds of his duty. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 129 
 
 After exerting ourselves to the utmost of our abilities, to collect evidence against 
 the persons concerned in burning the Gaspee, and wounding the lieutenant, and 
 judging that we had got all there was any probability of obtaining, we laid such be 
 fore the Deputy Governor, the Chief Justice of the colony, and three of his asso 
 ciates ; among which testimonies, was Aaron s, the negro ; wherein, some persons 
 are expressly named and charged as guilty ; and Mr. Dickinson s, late midshipman 
 of the Gaspee, and on board at the time she was destroyed, very particularly de 
 scribed others. 
 
 The justices were then informed, that the same witness was now present, and 
 might be by them re-examined. 
 
 Soon afterwards, at the request of the judges, we also delivered them other depo 
 sitions, which had been laid before us by the Governor, and which tended to dis 
 credit the testimony of said Aaron. The day following, we received their report in 
 the words following : 
 
 " The honorable the commissioners, appointed by royal commission, for examining into 
 the attacking and destroying His Majesty s armed schooner, the Gaspue, commanded by 
 Lieutenant Dudingston, and wounding the said lieutenant, having laid before us, justices 
 of the Superior Court of Judicature, court of assize, &c., within and throughout the colony 
 of Rhode Island, two examinations of Aaron Briggs, two examinations of Patrick Earle, the 
 examination of Peter May, the examination of William Dickinson, the depositions of Samuel 
 Tompkins, Samuel Thurston, and of Somerset and Jack, indented servants, for our advise 
 ment thereon : 
 
 It appcareth unto us, from due consideration had thereupon, that no particular person or 
 persons are made mention of as being concerned in that atrocious crime, except in the ex 
 amination of Aaron Briggs, a negro, and of Peter May, one of the Gaspee s people. 
 
 The confession of the said Aaron, upon h s lirst examination, was made in consequence 
 of illegal threats from Capt. Liuzce, of hanging him (the said Aaron) at the yard arm, if he 
 would not discover who the persons were, that destroyed the Gaspee ; and besides, most of 
 the circumstances and facts related in both of his examinations, are contradictions repug 
 nant to each other, and many of them impossible in their nature. 
 
 It is evident from the depositions of Tompkins, Thurston, and Aaron s two fellow ser 
 vants, that he was at home the whole of that night on which the Gaspee was attacked ; es 
 pecially, as there was no boat on that part of the island, in which he could pass the bay in 
 the manner by him described. 
 
 In short, another circumstance which renders the said Aaron s testimony extremelv sus 
 picious, is Capt. Linzee s absolutely refusing to deliver him up to be examined by one of 
 the justices of the said Superior Court, when legally demanded. 
 
 Peter May, in his deposition, mentions one person only, by the name of Greene, whom, he 
 says, he saw before on board the Gaspee ; but the family of Greene being very numerous in 
 this colony, and the said Peter not giving the Christian name, or describing him in such a 
 manner as he could be found out, it is impossible for us to know at present, the person 
 referred to. 
 
 Upon the whole, we are all of opinion, that the several matters and things contained in 
 said depositions, do not induce u probable suspicion, that the persons mentioned therein 
 or either or any of them, are guilty of the crime, aforesaid. 
 
 It is, however, the fixed determination of the Superior Court, to exert every legal effort in 
 detecting and bringing to condign punishment, the persons concerned in destroying the 
 schooner Gaspee. 
 
 And if the honorable commissioners are of a different sentiment, we should be glad to re 
 ceive their opinion, for our better information." 
 
 To the latter part of which, we answered : 
 
 "That, by our instructions, we were commanded to lay before the civil magistrates all 
 such information as we should receive ; and as it was their proper office to act thereupon, in 
 such manner as they conceive most likely to answer the ends of public justice, we declined 
 giving any sentiment or opinion in the matter." 
 
 17 
 
130 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 Touching the depositions of Aaron, the negro, we humbly conceive it our duty to 
 declare to Your Majesty, that the conduct of Capt. Linzee tended too strongly to 
 extort from a weak or wicked mind, declarations not strictly true ; that some parts 
 of said depositions falsify others ; that allowing the account he gave of the time he 
 left the island called Prudence, the place of his residence, on the night the Gaspee 
 was burnt, and his return thither, to be true, or even near the truth, must render 
 his being at the taking and destroying her, totally impossible ; the distance being so 
 great between Namquit Point and said island. 
 
 In addition to all which, there is full and satisfactory evidence, to prove him, the 
 whole of that night, to have been at home ; and the request which he deposed was 
 made him, to carry a person off said island that night, and which he declared was 
 the occasion of his going from home, proved, on the examination of the very person, 
 to be an absolute falsehood ; and therefore, we are most humbly of opinion, no credit 
 is due to said Aaron s testimony. 
 
 May it please Your Majesty, the civil magistrates being entrusted with the power 
 of apprehending and committing ; and having determined against both, upon the 
 evidence before them, and there being no probability of our procuring any further 
 light on the subject, determines our inquiry. 
 
 All which, is submitted to Your Majesty s royal wisdom. 
 
 J. WANTON, FRED. SMYTHE, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, ROBET. AUCHMUTY, 
 
 To His Majesty. Commissioners, 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, June 22, 1773. 
 
 Chief Justice Horsmanden to the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
 New York, 20th February, 1773. 
 
 My Lord: On the 21st of January last, I had the honor of addressing Your 
 Lordship, in conjunction with the rest of the commissioners, at Rhode Island, giving 
 some account of our proceedings, and the reasons that induced us to adjourn to the 
 26th of May next. 
 
 On my arrival at that place, on the 31st of December, I was surprised to find 
 that the main object of our errand was become public, which, in prudence, was to. 
 be kept secret ; nevertheless, Your Lordship s letter to Governor Wanton, was pub 
 lished in the Boston weekly paper, and spread industriously over all New England. 
 
 However amazing to us, upon inquiry, it came out, that the Governor had commu 
 nicated it to his Assembly, who had got it printed ; upon expostulating with the 
 Governor upon it, he said, he by law was obliged to communicate all dispatches 
 from the ministry to his corporation, and sworn so to do ; that such dispatches were 
 usually directed to the Governor and Company. 
 
 Upon inquiry how Your Lordship s packet was directed, neither he, nor his sec 
 retary could inform us ; the superscription, they said, was mislaid, and not to be 
 found ; but that this was not so directed, as the Governor said, I inferred from its 
 being addressed to him (sir). 
 
 My Lord, as to the Government (if it deserves that name), it is a downright de 
 mocracy ; the Governor is a mere nominal one, and therefore a cipher, withou 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 131 
 
 power or authority ; entirely controlled by the populace, elected annually, as all other 
 magistrates and officers whatsoever. 
 
 The Governor treated the commissioners with great decency and respect ; and to 
 do that gentleman justice, behaved with great propriety, as a commissioner, except 
 his communicating Your Lordship s letter to the corporation ; which, indeed, he 
 seemed constrained to do, under the above circumstances. 
 
 To show that the Governor has not the least power or authority, he could not 
 command the sheriff or constable to attend us ; he prevailed with them, indeed } 
 but in expectation of being paid their daily wages by the commissioners, so that they 
 were hired for this service, at our expense ; and even for expresses sent to summon 
 witnesses, the commissioners found it necessary to advance their own money ; also for 
 the very fire-wood expended for our accommodation in the council chamber, on this 
 occasion. This, My Lord, we readily disbursed, and all other contingences, relying 
 upon the honor of government. 
 
 We found, My Lord, that the Governor, upon the first notice of this piece of vil 
 lainy, had issued a proclamation, offering 100 reward, for a discovery, but without 
 effect. 
 
 My Lord, it is suggested in the commission, that the people assembled upon this 
 adventure, in the town of Newport, and the places adjacent, by beat of drum, the 
 which was intimated, doubtless, through misinformation ; for it comes out, that it was at 
 Providence, Cn the Narragansett River, about thirty miles from Newport, and seven 
 or eight from the place where the Gaspee was aground. The news of which, was 
 soon communicated to that town ; and there it is supposed, the people assembled and 
 soon formed their scheme, to man six or seven boats on purpose to attack her at 
 that disadvantage. 
 
 My Lord, the colony of Rhode Island is branched out into three divisions ; New 
 port, on Rhode Island ; Providence and Warwick, more inland, adjoining to the 
 Massachusetts colony. At these three places, the Assembly is held, alternately ; 
 but Newport is reputed the seat of government ; between the two former, there is 
 an emulation, with respect to their trade, and a kind of enmity, likewise ; so that 
 they do not generally correspond cordially. Providence is thirty miles distant from 
 it, so that it seems most unlikely that the people of Newport could be concerned in 
 so sudden and precipitate an enterprise ; nor was the fact known at Rhode Island, 
 till the day after the treason was committed. 
 
 My Lord, as to the negro evidence, which seems to be the foundation of this in 
 quiry, it is much to be suspected, though his story is told with much plausibility, and 
 he pertinaciously repeated it upon examination before the commissioners ; and a 
 sailor of the crew of the Gaspee, swore he was one of the negroes after the attack, 
 that rowed the boat which landed part of the Gaspee s crew, near Providence. 
 
 But to countervail this information, it was asserted, that the master of this negro, 
 from whom he had escaped on board the man-of-war, with intent to run away, who 
 is a person of undoubted credit, would swear that about 9 o clock that night the 
 Gaspee was destroyed, he ordered this negro to bed, and that he saw him go, ac 
 cordingly, with his two other negroes, with whom he usually slept ; and it was said 
 that these negroes would also depose, that he lay with them all night, till his master 
 called him up in the morning, on business. 
 
 M Lord, the commissioners did not enter upon counter evidence, though I, my 
 self, was inclined to do it, as we proceeded ; and bring the witnesses face to face, 
 
132 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 considering tho commission required we should report all the circumstances attend 
 ing the affair. 
 
 Captain Dudingston had been plying upon his business in the Narragansett River, 
 for some time ; he had not communicated his commission to the Governor, on his 
 arrival, as Mr. Wanton informi d us ; Mr. Dudingston had made several seizures of 
 prohibited goods on that station ; and on seizing their traffic, might probably have 
 treated the boatmen with severity, roughness and scurrillous language, by which, 
 the people of that place might be provoked to this daring insult and resentment ; 
 and not knowing Dudingston bore the King s commission of what he had done, they, 
 as they gave out, looked upon him as pirate, and treated him as such. For, as the 
 Governor infornied us, upon complaint of his abuses, as they pretended, he expos 
 tulated with Mr. Dudingston. and demanded he would satisfy him as to the commis 
 sion upon which he acted, which at length he did. 
 
 From these three different branches of government, My Lord, there arise three 
 different factions ; their election of the chief officers being annual, sometimes one 
 party prevails, perhaps the next year, a different. 
 
 1 was told by a gentleman of the law there, he had known a land cause of consid 
 erable value that had judgment reversed different ways seven or eight times ; pro 
 perty being thus rendered wholly insecure, no wonder that persons of property and 
 best sense and most sincerity, among them, have long wished for a change of gov 
 ernment, and to be under His Majesty s more immediate protection. 
 
 Though by their charter, they are inhibited from passing laws contrary to those 
 of England, but to be near as may be, agreeable to them, yet they seem to have paid 
 little regard to that injunction, as may sufficiently appear upon inspection of the 
 printed book of them ; they have never transmitted them for the royal approbation 
 nor indeed, by their charter were they obliged to do so. 
 
 Under these circumstances, Your Lordship will not wonder that they are in a 
 state of anarchy ; and I assure Your Lordship, that their sister colony Connecticut, 
 is in the same condition in all respects ; justice has long since fled that coun 
 try. I have had an opportunity of being more intimately acquainted with the people 
 of that colony for about thirty years past ; having had the honor of attending there 
 twice, upon two royal commissions for determining a controversy between the cor 
 poration and a tribe of Indians and the family of the Masons. 
 
 Major Mason, a gallant officer of the army, a principal person among the first of 
 the English, who first lauded in these parts, fought their battles with the savages, 
 conquered several tribes, became the foster father to the colony ; acted with so 
 much generosity, humanity and prudence towards the natives, and so conciliated 
 their friendship and esteem, that, after they had, through his persuasion, granted 
 awav "reat tracts of their lands, to form the newly proposed colony, and to make a 
 sufficient plantation or settlement, the natives prudently thought of falling upon 
 a method of reserving and securing for the future, a sufficiency for the subsistence 
 of their tribe ; and putting entire confidence in Major Mason, as their patron and 
 friend (who had treated them with great generosity and humanity), requested that 
 corporation or government, that they might, with their approbation, invest the re 
 mainder of their lands in Major Mason and his heirs, as the guardians and trustees 
 of the Mohegan tribe ; and that in future, they should be restrained from selling 
 more of their lands without the advice and consent of that family. 
 
 Some were afterwards, from time to time, sold, with the consent of the Masons ; 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPfSE. 133 
 
 and to preserve the fidelity of the Masons, the family was to have an interest in the 
 lands so to be conveyed, coupled with the trust. 
 
 For this purpose, My Lord, a deed was executed with solemnity, and by the de 
 clared approbation of the corporation, entered upon their records. 
 
 Notwithstanding this solemn engagement, so recorded, the heads of this corporation, 
 did, from time to time afterwards, unknown to the Masons, inveigle the Indians to con 
 vey to them several tracts of very valuable reserved lands, without the consent of 
 the Masons, and divided them among themselves ; and this was the ground of their 
 complaint, upon which those special commissions issued. 
 
 Upon the whole, My Lord, I was, and am still of opinion, that the devices in con 
 sequence of them, in favor of the corporation, were unjust; for it appeared to me, 
 that the corporation had most shamefully prostituted the good faith and honor of 
 government, by ungratefully and fraudulently wresting many large and valuable 
 tracts from that tribe, and the Masons ; and becoming the instruments of impover 
 ishing that honest and worthy family (whose ancestors first founded the colony), in 
 prosecuting and maintaining their rights, at their own expense, for thirty years past, 
 and hitherto in vain ; for the matter still lies before His Majesty and Council, waiting 
 a determination. 
 
 Those two colonies, My Lord, commenced their settlements nearly at the same 
 time ; their charters bear date one year after the other ; and they adjoin each other ; 
 the charters are similar ; each has a grant of " all royal mines, minerals and precious 
 stones," which may be thought a privilege of too much importance for a subject to 
 enjoy. 
 
 My Lord, these colonies united, which as times are so alike in features, temper 
 and disposition, that it were a pity they should remain separate. For, from my 
 knowledge of the people, and credible information from many in each, I am fully 
 persuaded, that the better sort of them have long groaned under their motley admin 
 istrations, and wish for a deliverance ; to be taken more immediately under the 
 protection of the crown. These two, consolidated, might become as respectable a 
 royal government, as any on the continent. The country in both, has a rich soil, 
 abounds in timber fit for ship-building ; the country, upon the whole, in my esteem 
 is superior to any I have seen in my travels, from Boston to Virginia. 
 
 But it must be confessed, as to the people, it would require a gentleman of very 
 extraordinary qualifications and abilities, to adventure upon the first arduous task, 
 for modelling them into due subordination and decorum. 
 
 I humbly entreat Your Lordship s pardon for trespassing thus much upon Your 
 Lordship s time and patience. I flattered myself that some account of the present 
 as well as former temper and circumstances of these two colonies, might not be un 
 acceptable to you, in Your Lordship s high department ; and conclude with the as 
 surance that I am, with the most profound respect, My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordship s most obedient and obliged humble servant, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN, 
 
 To the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
134 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The Earl of Dartmouth to the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Whitehall, April 10, 1773. 
 
 Sir: I have received your letters to me, of the 19th of October, and 30th o f 
 January last. 
 
 I am very much obliged to you, for the favorable sentiments you are pleased to 
 express for me, in the first of those letters ; but I must not omit to observe to you, 
 that the publication in the common newspapers, of parts of my secret and confiden 
 tial dispatch, of the 4th of September last, addressed personally to yourself, cannot, 
 I fear, be considered as entirely corresponding with those assurances you give me, 
 of paying th e Strictest attention and defference to such orders as you shall receive 
 from me. 
 
 I am sensible, that you could not do otherwise than communicate the substance of 
 that dispatch to the other parts of your corporation ; but I refer it to your candor* 
 whether it was proper to give copies of it. 
 
 I sincerely hope that it will appear by the report of the commissioners for in 
 quiring into the affair of the Gaspee schooner, that no part of the corporation of the 
 colony of Rhode Island has failed in obedience due to the laws and authority of this 
 kingdom; in the meantime, the King is graciously pleased to approve of the respect 
 shown to his royal commission, and the decency and order with which it was pro 
 claimed. I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 DARTMOUTH. 
 
 To the Governor of Rhode Island. 
 
 Chief Justice Horsmanden to the Earl of Dartmouth.* 
 
 New York, 23d July, 1773. 
 
 My Lord : Your Lordship s favor of the 10th of April last, I was honored with 
 on my return hither, on the 13th inst. ; after the close of our commission, at Rhode 
 Island, concerning the affair of the Gaspee. 
 
 It gives me great pleasure, that my representation of the 20th of February, has 
 the honor of Your Lordship s approbation ; and now beg leave to observe to Your 
 Lordship, what has occurred to me, after finishing our report. For waiting some 
 days at Newport, for a passage, wind and weather, I was accidentally informed of d 
 piece of evidence, which, had it come to light sooner, would most probably have cut 
 our business shorter. 
 
 An officer of a man-of-war, stationed at Newport, to whom the negro Aaron was 
 turned over, informed me that upon his examining the fellow one day, before his 
 master, and his two negroes who came on board, and interrogating face to face, the 
 fellow prevaricated much ; but still persisted in the main of his story, notwithstand 
 ing confronted by the master, and his two negroes, who declare that he slept wthi 
 them all that night, on which the Gaspee was destroyed. 
 
 The master and his negroes being dismissed, the officer, upon what he had heard, 
 from the master and his negroes, and had observed from the conduct of Aaron, upon 
 the occasion, concluded he was an impostor, and charged him home, as such, and 
 
 * New York Colonial Documents, Vol. VIII. ; from British State Paper Office, 165. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 135 
 
 told him he was convinced he was no more concerned in that affair than he himself 
 was ; and conjured him to tell the truth ; and at length, he confessed it was all a 
 fiction, which he was constrained to, for saving himself from the punishment threat 
 ened him on board the other man-of-war, as they had charged him so positively with 
 being one concerned ; and therefore thought he must confess himself guilty, and 
 name some principal people as accessories. 
 
 My Lord, a few days after the Gaspee was burnt, one of the ships stationed at 
 Newport, went and anchored close by the island called Prudence, where the master of 
 Aaron lived, about seven miles from where the Gaspee lay, and Aaron purposing 
 to run away from his master, went on board in a small canoe ; and they rightly 
 guessed of his intention, and threatened to whip him ; but on second thoughts? 
 charged him as a confederate in destroying the Gaspee ; and if he did not confess 
 and make discovery, they would whip him, and hang him up at the yard arm. 
 
 And thus, My Lord, this forced confession of the negro Aaron has been held up by 
 the marine, as a hopeful and sure clue to unravel this mystery of iniquity. The fellow 
 might probably have heard the names of the most noted and principal traders at 
 Providence, and other trading towns in that neighborhood, though he might not 
 know their persons ; and one Dr. Weeks, inserted in his list, he might know per 
 sonally, as an attendant upon his master s family. 
 
 But my sentiments upon the whole are, that this daring insult was committed by 
 a number of bold, daring, rash enterprising sailors, collected suddenly from the 
 neighborhood, who banded themselves together, upon this bold enterpriz ; by whom 
 stimulated for the purpose, I cannot conjecture. They cunningly calculated the at: 
 tack at a time of night, under the Gaspee s disadvantage, aground, when it was 
 probable the crew would be below deck, and asleep ; as was the case, only one sen 
 try on deck ; and thus, by surprise, easily boarded and plundered her. 
 
 My Lord, I have been two voyages of four hundred miles each, upon this occasion, 
 at great expense ; and no small fatigue, for a person of my age, viz. ; seventy-six ; 
 and I assure Your Lordship, I am already upwards of 200, out of pocket ; and am 
 still liable for my proportion with the other commissioners, for the pay of the clerks 
 we found necessary to attend us .upon the service ; and though we have not had 
 the wished for success, we hope His Majesty will graciously accept our sincere 
 endeavors. 
 
 My Lord, I have lately received advice that His Majesty has been graciously 
 pleased to sign a warrant for my salary, as chief justice, which further adds to the 
 obligations Your Lordship has conferred upon me, which I cannot but esteem with 
 the utmost gratitude. 
 
 I am, with profound respect, My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordship s most obliged and dutiful, humble servant, 
 
 DAN. HORSMANDEN. 
 
 To the Earl of Dartmouth. 
 
 The following letter ; which is printed in the New York colo 
 nial documents, is here inserted to show that Chief Justice 
 Horsmanden, of New York, one of the royal commissioners, to 
 inquire into the destruction of the Gaspee, had not, in 1777, or 
 
136 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE QASPEE. 
 
 five years after the commission was held in Newport, been paid 
 his expenses for that service. 
 
 Chief Justice Horsmanden to Governor Tryon. 
 
 New York, 19th April, 1777. 
 
 Honored Sir : Your Excellency well remembers what circumstances you found 
 me in, on your arrival in this government; that I was then chief justice of the pro 
 vince, and had been so for eight or ten years (as my memory serves me), and had 
 no other allowance on the Assembly for the support of the dignity of that office, 
 than a miserable pittance of 300 a year, this currency, and the fees of the office, 
 trifling and insignificant ; but upon Your Excellency s recommendation home, His 
 Majesty was pleased to allow me 500, sterling, a year, which I was to receive half 
 yearly, on the commissioners of trade at Boston ; which I did, to the time of their 
 removal to Halifax ; since which, has incurred one year and a half, the beginning of 
 this month ; but I am much at a loss how to apply for it ; but as the commissioners 
 are now in London, I have written to them for information. 
 
 When the duties arisen by trade, fell, the commissioners had directions from the 
 lords of the treasury, to give drafts upon them for the salaries of the officers of gov 
 ernment, of which I have had two, the salaries being payable half yearly. 
 
 Your Excellency well remembers that three or four years ago (I think), the 
 King s special commission was sent over by Lord Dartmouth, then secretary of state, 
 empowering the persons therein named (of which I was one), to inquire into the 
 affair of the destruction of His Majesty s schooner, the Gaspee, at Rhode Island. 
 
 Your Excellency knew the state of health I was in, at the time I embarked for 
 Newport, much enfeebled by the rheumatism, the time of year in December, when 
 it is generally expected the river is full of ice. Myself unable to walk without help, 
 and at a time of life drawing near to four-score ; but as Lord Dartmouth s directions 
 were to proceed immediately to that place, in order to execute that commission, I 
 did not hesitate to undertake it ; but was obliged to take with me my wife, carriage 
 and two horses, without which, I could have been of no use. 
 
 After passing several weeks there, and doing little to the purpose, the commis 
 sioners found it necessary to adjourn over to the next year, which occasioned a 
 second voyage, under the like circumstances ; and at length the commissioners were 
 obliged to close the commission, having not been able to make any discovery, to an 
 swer the intent of the commission ; upon which occasion, I expended upwards of 
 200, of my own money, which remains out of pocket to this day; and hitherto, my 
 trouble for nothing. 
 
 Upon the proceedings of the commissioners being sent home, Lord Dartmouth di 
 rected the commissioners to send home their accounts of the expenses they had been 
 at. It was imagined with a view to compel Rhode Island government to discharge 
 them ; but if that was the intent, the alterations of the circumstances of that government 
 in this time of confusion, that expectation is at an end ; and in the anarchy and dis 
 traction which now surrounds us, and the great difficulty in getting money amongst 
 us, which is our due, Your Excellency knows how needful it is to be solicitous for it^ 
 where it is due in other quai ters. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 13T 
 
 I must humbly entreat Your Excellency to represent my case to Lord George 
 Germain, hoping, from his clemency and goodness, to have a method pointed out, 
 by which I may have satisfaction made in the foregoing particulars. 
 I am, with the greatest respect, sir, 
 
 Your Excellency s most devoted, obedient, humble servant, 
 
 DAN. IIORSMANDEN. 
 
 (Referred to the Right Honorable Lord George Germain, 
 by William Tryon). 
 
 The meeting of the royal commission at Newport, the pro 
 ceedings of which have been given, attracted great attention 
 throughout the English colonies. The extracts we have print 
 ed from the Boston newspapers, but speak the minds of the 
 whole people. 
 
 The House of Buigesses, of the colony of Virginia, took of 
 ficial notice of it, and on the 12th of March, 1773, passed resolu 
 tions appointing "a committee of correspondence and in 
 quiry," consisting of eleven persons ; among which, were 
 Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph and Rich 
 ard Henry Lee. 
 
 The preamble sets forth that " His Majesty s faithful sub 
 jects have been much disturbed by various rumors and reports of 
 proceedings, tending to deprive them of their ancient, legal and 
 constitutional rights." The committee were instructed " to 
 obtain the most early and authentic intelligence of all such acts, 
 and resolutions of the British Parliament, or proceedings of the 
 administration, as may relate to, or affect the British colonies 
 in America ; and to keep and maintain a correspondence with 
 our sister colonies, respecting these important considerations ; 
 and the result of such their proceedings from time to time, to 
 lay before the House." 
 
 They were further instructed " to inform themselves particu 
 larly of the principles and authority on which was constituted a 
 court of inquiry, said to have been lately held in Rhode Island, 
 with power to transport persons accused of offences committed 
 in America, to places beyond the sea, to be tried." 
 18 
 
138 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 
 
 The resolutions were transmitted by Peyton Randolph, by or 
 der of the House of Burgesses, to Metcalfe Bowler, speaker of 
 the House of Assembly of Rhode Island. Mr. Randolph asks 
 that they be laid before that body at an early day, with the 
 request that they "appoint some of their body to communi 
 cate from time to time with the corresponding committee of 
 Virginia."* 
 
 Rhode Island, in May, 1773, passed a resolution, appointing 
 the following persons, viz. : Stephen Hopkins, Metcalfe Bow 
 ler, Moses Brown, John Cole, William Bradford, Henry Mar- 
 chant and Henry Ward, as their committee of correspondence. 
 The General Assembly requested the Governor to furnish the 
 committee with a copy of his commission, as one of the judges 
 of the court cf inquiry ; and of all other papers which were 
 laid before that court. The Assembly further requested the 
 speaker to write to all the legislative assemblies in North 
 America, informing them of the proceedings of the colony, 
 " relating to the preservation of the rights of the colonies." 
 
 The other British colonies acted promptly in the matter ; 
 appointed their committees of correspondence, and passed 
 resolutions similar to those of Virginia. Among the colonies 
 which responded, was that of Nova Scotia. 
 
 We close this publication, with the remarks of Judge Sta 
 ples, inasmuch as they contain the legal opinion of an eminent 
 jurist, who had carefully examined the testimony ; and who, 
 as a diligent historian, is familiar with all the events connected 
 with the Gaspee affair : 
 
 li In reviewing the report of the commissioners, our surprise is not so much excited 
 .-fit the conclusion to which they came from the evidence before them, as at the small 
 .amount of testimony they collected. 
 
 It would be doing great injustice to the memories and characters of Governor 
 Wanton, Judges Horsmanden, Oliver and Auchmuty, to suppose that they sup 
 pressed any evidence, or did not exert themselves to the utmost to procure testi 
 mony. The course they afterwards took in the war of the revolution, when they 
 joined the ministerial party in the country, is a sufficient guaranty that they were, 
 
 * The correspondence of the several colonies together with the resolutions, passed by 
 them, in accordance with the desires of Virginia, is printed at length in the seventh volume 
 of the Rhode Island Colonial Records. 
 
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GASPEE. 139 
 
 by no moan?, luke-warm in the service of His Majesty. They were surrounded, too, 
 at th" time of their sessions, by the officers of the crown, and individuals high in 
 rank and standing, who were eager in the chase of those who insulted their sover 
 eign, in the person of his representative, Lieut. Dudingston. 
 
 Under these circumstances, it is passing strange, that no persons could be found, 
 who could identify those engaged in the enterprise, or that the great reward offered 
 on the occasion, should not have induced some one to have turned informer. That 
 the enterprise was suddenly conceived, there can be no doubt ; but every circum 
 stance shows, that no great care was used to preserve secresy. They were called 
 together by the beating of a drum in the streets. The collecting of the boats, the 
 assembling at a public house, the embarking from a public wharf, all must have at 
 tracted the notice of the inhabitants. The parties assumed no disguise of any kind, 
 but went in their usual dress. 
 
 Among them, were some, little conscious of the crime they were committing, and 
 the penalty they were incurring. Mr. John Howlaud says, that on the morning 
 after the affair, Justin Jacobs, a young man, was parading himself on " the Great 
 Bridge," then the usual place of resort, with Lieutenant Dudingston s gold laced 
 beaver on his head, detailing to a circle around him, the particulars of the transac 
 tion, and the manner in which he obtained the hat from the cabin of the Gaspee. 
 It required sharp words to induce him to retire and hold his peace. There were 
 others, probably, equally indiscreet; and yet not an individual could be found, who 
 knew anything about the affair." 
 
 The following song, composed at the time, on the occasion, 
 is attributed to Capt. Swan, of Bristol. 
 
 " He richly deserves the thanks, not only of his cotempora- 
 ries, but of posterity ; not so much for the sweet poetry of his 
 song, as for the ballad shape in which he invested the transac 
 tion. Undoubtedly some tune was found, at the time, to match 
 it, notwithstanding the limping gait of some of the stanzas ; 
 and as it was sung in the circle of boon companions, they re 
 called the light of the burning Gaspee to their recollection, and 
 hailed it as being, what subsequent events have shown it to be, 
 the dawning light of freedom, whose mid-day effulgence now 
 overspreads the land." 
 
 s o isr a. 
 
 Twas in the reign of George the Third, 
 Our public peace was much disturbed 
 By ships of war, that came and laid 
 Within our ports, to stop our trade. 
 Seventeen hundred and seventy-two, 
 In Newport harbor lay a crew, 
 That played the part of pirates there, 
 The sons of freedom could not bear. 
 
140 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE QASPEE. 
 
 Sometimes they weighed and gave them chase. 
 
 Such actions, sure were very base. 
 
 No honest coaster could pass by 
 
 But what they would let some shot fly : 
 
 And did provoke, to high degree, 
 
 Those true born sons of liberty ; 
 
 So that they could not longer bear 
 
 Those sons of Belial staying there. 
 
 But twas not long fore it fell out, 
 
 That William Dudingston, so stout, 
 
 Commander of the Gaspee tender, 
 
 Which he has reason to remember, 
 
 Because, as people do assert, 
 
 He almost had his just desert ; 
 
 Here, on the tenth day of last June, 
 
 Betwixt the hours of twelve and one, 
 
 Did chase the sloop, called the Hannah. 
 
 Of whom, one Lindsay, was commander. 
 
 They dogged her up Providence Sound.. 
 
 And there the rascal got aground. 
 
 The news of it flew that very day, 
 
 That they on Namquit Point did lay. 
 
 That night, about half after ten 
 
 Some Narragansett Indian men, 
 
 Being sixty-four, if I remember, 
 
 Which made the stout coxcomb surrender ; 
 
 And what w r as best of all their tricks, 
 
 They in his breech a ball did fix ; 
 
 Then set the men upon the land, 
 
 And burnt her up, we understand ; 
 
 Which thing provoked the King so high 
 
 He said those men shall surely die ; 
 
 So if he could but find them out, 
 
 The hangman he ll employ, no doubt ;. 
 
 For he s declared, in his passion, 
 
 He ll have them tried a new fashion. 
 
 Now, for to find these people out, 
 
 King George has offered very stout ; 
 
 One thousand pounds to find out one 
 
 That wounded William Dudingstou. 
 
 One thousand more, he says he ll spare, 
 
 For those who say the sheriffs were ; 
 
 One thousand more, there doth remain 
 
 For to find out the leader s name ; 
 
 Likewise, five hundred pounds per man 
 
 For any one of all the clan. 
 
 But let him try his utmost skill, 
 
 I m apt to think he never will 
 
 Find out any of those hearts of gold,. 
 
 Though he should offer fiftv fold. 
 
T\ A XT TT^, 
 
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