The following text of The Documentary History of the Destruction of the Gaspee is reprinted from the edition published in Providence by Knowles, Vose, and Anthony in 1845. The sources of the two appendices are indicated in their footnotes. Throughout these texts, both in the Documentary History and in the appendices, the spelling of names has been regularized, punctuation has been added or changed where necessary to clarify meaning, and obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the texts follow their original printed sources as closely as the present format allows.

The first appearance of his Majesty's armed schooner, the Gaspee, in the waters of Narragansett Bay, was in March, 1772. She was dispatched here by the Commissioners of Customs to prevent breaches of the revenue laws, and to put a stop to the illicit trade that had been successfully carried on for a long time in this colony. Soon after her arrival the following letter was sent by Deputy Governor Darius Sessions, then residing in Providence, to Governor Joseph Wanton, of Newport: 

It is suspected he has no legal authority to justify his conduct, and his commission, if he has any, is some antiquated paper, more of a fiction than any thing 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. In consequence of the above mentioned application, I have consulted with the Chief Justice 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 applying to the Governor and showing his warrant for so doing and also being sworn to a due exercise of his office—and this he informs me has been the common custom in this Colony.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your Honor's most obedient and humble servant,

The "famous Reid," above referred to, was master of the armed sloop Liberty, which the commissioners sent to Newport in 1769 for the suppression of illicit trade.—Capt. Reid exhibited a laudable zeal to execute his orders. Dressed in a little brief authority from the government at home, he little regarded the supposed rights of the colonists. He seemed inclined to consider that his commission warranted the exercise of unrestricted authority over Americans, and he required from them the same passive obedience to his orders which had been the fashionable court doctrine in some previous reigns. On the 17th of July, he carried into the harbor of Newport a brig and a sloop taken in the Sound, on suspicion of their being engaged in illicit trade. No proof was exhibited against the brig. Capt. Packwood, who commanded her, had reported his cargo at the custom house previous to his sailing.—On the 19th, no prosecution having been entered against him or his vessel, Capt. Packwood went on board the Liberty to get some of his clothes which had been transferred to that vessel, in order to proceed on his voyage. Capt. Reid was not on board, but the commanding officer refused to deliver up the things required, and offered personal violence to Capt. Packwood. He succeeded, however, in forcing his way over the side of the Liberty into his boat. Before he reached the wharf, several muskets were discharged at him, but without effect. The Liberty was then lying between Long Wharf and Goat Island. In the evening Capt. Reid was met on the wharf as he was going on board the Liberty, by a large concourse of people, and was required to send for the Liberty's men to come on shore. Soon after they had landed, the Liberty was boarded, brought to Long Wharf and there scuttled, her masts cut away, and her boats taken out and carried to the Common in Newport and there burnt. The Liberty was afterward towed over to Goat Island near where the Light-house now is, where she was subsequently burnt. The brig received her papers from the custom house and proceeded on her voyage. The sloop escaped. No injury was instituted as to the authors of this outrage on one of his Majesty's vessels.

The letter from Deputy Governor Sessions led to the following correspondence between the Governor and the commanding officer of the schooner:
 

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 expect 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,

In answer to which, I have done nothing but what was my duty, and their complaint 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,

I am your humble servant,

Here ended the correspondence between the Governor and the Lieutenant. It would seem that the Lieutenant's sense of propriety was shocked, by the letters of the Governor, implying as they do, a right to control, in some degree, the proceedings of one of his Majesty's officers, while within the colony.

He therefore enclosed the letters to Admiral Montagu, then commander-in-chief of his Majesty's fleet on this station. The Admiral sympathized with the Lieutenant. He felt his own dignity wounded in the requisition made by the Governor on his Lieutenant. Forgetting that he was the Governor of a colony of free Englishmen, elected by themselves, and not a royal governor of a Province, who held his office at the will of the King, Admiral Montagu addressed the following letter to Gov. Wanton:

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 officers 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, your most humble servant.

This produced the following spirited answer:

I am, sir, your humble servant,

The Governor laid the proceeding letter from Admiral Montagu 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.

"Resolved, That his Honor the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the written letter 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 correspondence between the Admiral and the Lieutenant, of which only the following letter has been obtained:

SIR:—I have received your letters of the 14th and 18th inst and copy of commissioners 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 officers at this port, no seizure could be safe with them.—There was only the alternative to send her or remain in this harbor and guard twelve hogsheads of rum, a 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 contrary, but never doubted if the sloop got safe I should be supported by them, as I informed the board. The owner of the rum resided in Coventry, which is but little further from Boston than Newport, of course could, at as little expense, defend his property at the one as the other. 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 consequence. If I should have any doubt about that, will take the opinion recommended to their officers relative to the officers in the Navy being arrested here by the Attorney General. I shall 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, near as I can recollect, what follows. The morning after my arrival from Boston was when I first saw him.

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? (meaning the Lieutenant I superseded.)

Lieut. D.—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 Gaspee, 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, and said it was in their power to have saved her before she had received much damage, and said he would not mind what they represented concerning him, if they had told facts. I said I had heard it otherwise mentioned, but hoped I should meet with no difficulty in the execution of my duty.

Governor—You may 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 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 leave to observe, if he had asked me to show my orders, is it possible 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 respected, is said to be denied by me. Had such an assertion come from a private character, 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 person will be respected as an officer as much as any 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 gentleman, 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 manner they have been used to, which always falls into the old owners' hands without opposition. I hope soon to have the board's answer to determine her destination.

I am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

At the next session of the Assembly, which was in August following, Gov. Wanton presented a copy of his letter to the Secretary of State, which was as follows:
 

As Admiral Montagu has endeavored to fix a stigma on my character and administration 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 indulge 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 questioned, exhibited to me a complaint in writing, that a certain schooner was cruising in the Narragansett river, boarding every vessel and boat that passed, and otherwise 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 enquiry 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 power as would justify his proceedings, which produced my letter to him of the 22d of March. It was answered by Wm. Dudingston, 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 returned 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 convinced 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 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 constitution, to injure the colony, and bring upon the inhabitants his Majesty's displeasure. 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 conviction that your Lordship's opinion thereupon will be consonant to the strictest equity.

It is now my turn to complain of Wm. 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 present 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 tedious. Let it then suffice, that since the Gaspee and Beaver have been stationed 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 injury and disturbance of the colony.

I have, my Lord, constantly afforded the King's officers all the assistance in my power in the legal discharge of their trust; if any of them through prejudice, ignorance of their duty or youthful indiscretion, insult the colony, it is my duty, as his Majesty's governor, to remonstrate against it.

I am, with the greatest deference and respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,

The facts stated and alluded to in the foregoing letters must have done much toward rendering the situation of Lieut. Dudingston more uncomfortable, and the discharge of his duties less acceptable to the colony.—In one instance, at least, he had violated the express provision of an act of Parliament relating to seizures made for illicit trade. The act required that goods so seized should be adjudicated upon by the court of Vice-Admiralty in the colony where seized. He seized a sloop with twelve hogsheads of rum on board, within the county of Kent, and sent them to Boston for trial. He states that the owner of the rum was a Mr. Greene, a member of the General Assembly from Coventry. If so, it must have been Nathaniel Greene, Jr. For this act he had been threatened with a suit, and dared not go on shore for fear of being arrested. Things continued in this state, growing even worse rather than better, until the destruction of the Gaspee in June following, which is thus described by an eye witness:

"In the year 1772, the British government had stationed at Newport, Rhode Island, the schooner called the Gaspee, of eight guns, commanded by Wm. Dudingston, a Lieutenant in the British Navy, for 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 9th day of June, 1772, Capt. Thomas Lindsey left Newport in his packet for Providence, about noon, with the wind at North; and soon after, the Gaspee was under sail, in pursuit of Lindsey, and continued the chase as far as Namquit 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 merchants, of the situation of the Gaspee. He immediately concluded 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, and is now owned by and is the residence of Colonel Richard J. Arnold, his son.

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 3 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 9 o'clock, I took my father's gun and my powder horn and bullets and went to Mr. Sabin's, and found the southeast room full of people, where I loaded my gun, and all remained there till about 10 o'clock, 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 Duddingston mounted the starboard gunwale in his shirt and hailed, "Who comes there?" No answer.

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.'' I took my seat on the main thwart, near the larboard row-lock, with my gun by my right side, facing forwards. As soon as Dudingston 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 exclaimed, " I have killed the rascal." In less than a minute after Capt. Whipple's answer, the boats were alongside of the Gaspee, and boarded without opposition. The men on deck retreated below as Dudingston entered the cabin.

As it was discovered that he was wounded, John Mawney, who had for two or three years been studying physic and surgery, 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 company 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, including one of our boats. They departed and landed Dudingston 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 waters' edge. The names of the most conspicuous actors are as follows, viz: Mr. John Brown, Captains Abraham Whipple, John B. Hopkins, Benjamin Dunn, and five others, whose names I have forgotten, and John Mawney, Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin, and Turpin Smith, my youthful companions, all of whom are dead, I believe, every man of the party, excepting myself, and my age is eighty-six years this 29th day of August, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine.

The foregoing statement was published by Col. Bowen at the time it bears date. Since then he also has followed his "youthful companions" to the grave.

Col. Bowen mistook in his recollection as to the day. Gov. Wanton's proclamation, issued June 12th, which will hereafter be given, states that the Gaspee was destroyed on Tuesday, the 9th day of June. Capt. Lindsey's sloop, called the Hannah, according to the Providence Gazette of June 13, arrived at Newport on Monday, from New York, and after reporting her cargo at the custom house, proceeded up the river on Tuesday.

Mr. John Mawney, who is named in Col. Bowen's narrative, in a statement published in the American and Gazette in the year 1826, records the following additional facts. After hearing the drum beat, he repaired to Mr. Sabin's, where he learned the object of the meeting, and some of his acquaintances there, urged him to go with them as surgeon.

"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 commander 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 had 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 levelling a stroke, when he cried out, "John, don't strike." Being very intimately acquainted with Capt. Samuel Dunn, I knew his voice, left him, and sprung back of the windlass, where there was commotion and noise, but which soon subsided, the crew jumping down the hold, I immediately following, 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 is 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, woollen 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 attempted, 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 giving 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 compresses 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 Lieut. 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 now was 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 some others. We got into the boat and rowed up the river a certain distance and went by land to town, when Capt. Tillinghast, 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."

In the proceeding statement of Dr. Mawney, are some facts not recollected by Col. Bowen; facts which did not, and could not, considering the different parts they acted, fall under his observation. They are evidently different parts of the same transaction. The attention of Dr. Mawney was particularly directed to his patient, the wounded Lieutenant, though, it seems, he was equally ready to inflict as to cure wounds.—From a subsequent statement of Dr. Mawney, it appears that Lieutenant Dudingston was not wanting in gratitude to his surgeon. After his wound was dressed, he offered Dr. Mawney a gold stock buckle as a testimonial of his gratitude. This was refused, but a silver one was afterward offered and accepted, and worn by Dr. Mawney but a little while before his death.

Daniel Pearce was the individual who beat the drum through the streets. At the time of this occurrence there were two packet masters by the name of Lindsey. Col. Bowen was mistaken in the name of the Capt. of the Hannah. That was Benjamin and not Thomas.

Deputy Governor Sessions addressed the following letters to Gov. Wanton, which probably gave him the first notice of the destruction of the Gaspee:

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 wisdom 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 the apprehending the persons who have thus offended. You will please consult the gentlemen your way, and in the meantime, I will endeavor to collect the sentiments of the members of the Assembly, and other principal gentlemen by name and send the same to your honor as soon as may be.

I am, with respect, your honor's most humble servant,

Enclosed in this letter were the following affidavits:

The examination of Bartholomew Cheever, seaman, lately belonging to his Majesty'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 afterwards, 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 informed the commander, Capt. Dudington, who immediately came on deck, and ordered him to hail them and bid them stand off on their peril, to which they answered, "Damn 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 boats 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 before any of those persons that boarded the schooner at that time?

Answer—No.

Question—Have you any knowledge of the persons that boarded the schooner?

Answer—No.

On the following day, June 12, Governor Sessions addressed another letter to Gov. Wanton. The bearer of which probably brought the proclamation of Governor Wanton:

Your honor's most humble servant,

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 colony aforesaid, 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 afterward 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 apprehend 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 countries.

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 Dom. 1772.

HENRY WARD, Secretary.

God save the King.

The deposition enclosed was that of Wm. Dickinson, which was as follows:

William Dickinson, midshipman of his Majesty's schooner Gaspee, sayeth: That the said schooner was at single anchor about three leagues below Providence, 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 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 commander) cried out, "Good God, I am done for," and was wounded in his groin and arm. While 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 quarter, there were thirty or forty men, at least, and in the whole, I suppose, about 150 in number, on which we thought proper (the Lieutenant being wounded) to surrender. 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 Lieutenant and officers any necessaries 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.

Question.—How long had you been lying in Providence River?
Answer.—We came to an anchor there at about 4 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 100 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 Secunet 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, "Damn you, where is your Pilot Doget." I answered he was discharged six weeks ago. He answered, "Damn your blood, you lie;'' and said they would find him, and [illegible] 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 ringleaders, with a number following them, came to him and said, "Now you piratical rascal, we have got you. Damn you, we will hang you all by the laws of Great Britain. Damn you, what made you fire when we answered you that the head sheriff was in the boat."

The Captain (N.B. The head sheriff and captain are fictitious names that the two ringleaders went by) said, "Stand aside and let me despatch 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, "Damn your blood, you are shot by your own people." He was then taken down into the cabin by some of the mob. They then pinioned 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 loose 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 in 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 ringleaders 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 Admiral, 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.

Governor Wanton's reply was as follows: 

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 Wm. 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, you honor's most obedient and most humble servant,

On the 12th, Lieutenant Dudingston had so far recovered as to be able to write to Admiral Montagu a letter, containing his version of the affair, of which the following is a copy. In perusing it, it should be borne in mind, that both he and his midshipman Dickinson had every inducement to represent the circumstances as favorably to themselves as they could.

I then ordered the men to come forward with their small arms and prevent 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 to 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 ordered them up one by one and tied their hands behind their backs, then ordered them into different boats. I then begged they would either despatch me or suffer my wounds to be dressed; 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 apeared to me to be merchants and masters of vessels, 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 in 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 neck, and the boat to come off immediately, and told me if I did not consent to pay the value of the rum I must not expect to have any thing belonging to me saved. I made answer, whatever reparation law would give, I was ready and willing; as to my things they might do with them as they pleased. They were accordingly going to land me on this neck, which I told them they had better throw me overboard. 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 unbound five of the men and gave them a blanket to carry me up. When I was halfway 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 exclaim'd, 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 despatched 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. There are none of the people any ways wounded, but bruised with handspikes.

I am, sir, your most humble servant.

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 persued 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, which 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 way of recovery.

I am your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant.

Gov. Wanton transmitted the following account of the transaction to the Earl of Hillsborough, on the 16th of June:

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 12 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, Wm. Dudingston was wounded by a ball through his arm, from whence it passed and lodged in some part of his body. Mr. Sessions, the deputy governor of this Colony, immediately upon hearing of this unhappy affair, went to Wm. Dudingston, and offered him all the help and assistance 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 offer 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 indisposition, 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 11th transmitted copies of the most material 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 notified, and laid before them the proceedings of the deputy governor, which they highly approved of, and unaminously recommended my issuing a proclamation, with a reward 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 them into the several towns in this Colony.

This transaction gives me the utmost uneasiness, and your Lordship may be assured, that the utmost vigilance of the civil authority will not be wanting to bring the perpetrators to exemplary and condign punishment; and injustice to the inhabitants 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 without 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 manner, 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 up. 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 market; 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, 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 nature and extent of our trade, the profits of which ultimately centering in Great Britain, for 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 first 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, although seized and condemned here, were sent by Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver, and Lieutenant Dudingston, to Boston, for sale, in direct opposition to the orders of the court of Vice Admiralty within this Colony, and the marshal of 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 harassed and perplexed with; but as the General Assembly will be convened, I make no doubt they will order a more particular remonstrance to be made.

In the meantime, permit me, my Lord, to implore your attention to the complaints of a much abused and injured people, whose loyalty and affection to their Sovereign claims your Lordship's countenance and patronage.

I am, with the greatest respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,

There is little room to doubt but that Gov. 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:

I am, sir, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

P.S.—I shall be glad 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 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.

John Brown and Joseph Brown, principal men of the town of Providence; Simeon Potter of Bristol; Doctor Weeks, of Warwick; Richmond, of Providence.

Instead of pursuing the course recommended by the Admiral, the Governor took the following affidavits, going to discredit 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, mulatto lad of about 16 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; in 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 ninth 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 in the evening and early in the morning of the 10th at his work; that at the time, there was but one boat at the 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 ninth of June until the said 2nd day of July, and never, during that time, gave him the least information, suggestion or hint of having any knowledge of the business of the said schooner.

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 oath severally depose and say: That to their certain knowledge, Aaron, a mulatto lad, who is also an indented servant to the said Samuel Tompkins, and now, as they are informed, on board of a man-of-war, has not been off from said island for many months preceding the 2d day of July inst.; in the night of which the said Aaron stole a boat belonging to the said Samuel 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 bed 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 information, 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.

About the same time, Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver, then lying in Newport, caused the following deposition to be taken:

The deposition of Patrick Earle, of lawful age, late belonging to his Majesty's armed schooner Gaspee, commanded by Lieutenant William 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 people's 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.

July 16th, Gov. Wanton addressed the following note to Capt. Linzee, of the Beaver:

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, your humble servant,

It appears from the following letter from Lieutenant Dudingston to Admiral Montagu, that his fears for his personal safety were not wholly removed:

SIR:—This day I received yours of the 8th inst., and am hardly able to give answer, 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 one of the people mentioned. I beg this may be private till I can be moved, as the copy of the former letter, being made public to the people by the Governor, puts me in great danger.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Governor Wanton communicated his proceedings in relation to Aaron to Admiral Montagu:

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 account 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 acknowledged 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 offence. 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. Villany 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 comitatus, 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 herewith 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,

The following was his answer:

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 Captain Linzee for the detention of his servant; therefore, as Captain 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 and humble servant,

Here ended the proceedings of the colony and the English Admiral in relation to this subject. Soon after the following papers arrived in this country from the government at home:
 

[L.S.] GEORGE R.
By the KING.

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 Narragansett 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, attacked and boarded our vessel called the Gaspee schooner, then lying at single anchor 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 other person or persons concerned in the said daring and heinous offences 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 five 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 of five hundred pounds, over and above the sum of five hundred pounds herein before promised for the discovery 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 said Lieutenant William Dudingston, shall discover any one or more of the said accomplices, 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 pounds or one thousand pounds as the case may be: 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 our Governors, Deputy Governors, 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 published, in the usual form, and affixed in the principal places of our town of Newport, 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.

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 otherwise hinder the said Lieutenant William Dudingston, in the performance of his duty, and their boldness in that respect grew to so desperate an height, that on or about the tenth day of June last, great multitudes of people were assembled 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 traitorously 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 integrity, do, by these presents, appoint you, the said Joseph Wanton, Daniel Horsmanden, 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 relative to the attacking, taking and 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 general 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 for 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 receive 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 carrying 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, you and every of you, do carefully observe and conform yourselves to such instructions 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.

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 enquiring into and making report to us of all the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering and burning the Gaspee schooner on the tenth 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 attack, 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 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 diligence pursuant to the authorities and directions contained in our said commission, in making a very full and particular inquiry into all the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering, and burning our armed schooner the Gaspee, on the tenth of June last in the Narragansett river, within our said Colony of Rhode Island, and to the assembling, 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 perpetrators of those heinous offences, and to those ends you are to summon before you, all such persons as you shall think may be 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 custody 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 lay, 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 magistrates, such informations as you shall be able to collect touching the persons concerned in that daring attack upon our authority and commission, to the end that they 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 proceeding 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 enquiry, 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, 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 lawless 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 directions given to you, and that the reports which you are to make us, by one of our principal Secretaries of State, of those proceedings, be in writing and signed by any three or more of you.

 These papers were transmitted to Admiral Montagu, and sent by him to Gov. Wanton, by express:
 

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 soon as you 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 you 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 indented mulatto informed 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 Captain 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 commission should at any time want him, you will direct his person to be secured from insults 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, your most obedient humble servant.

This led to the following correspondence before the opening of the session of the commissioners:
 

I am your most humble servant,

I am, with real regard, sir, your most obedient servant,

Your Honor's most obedient servant,

I am, with esteem, your most obedient servant,

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

 I am, sir, your humble servant,

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

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, your most obedient humble servant,

I shall be glad to wait on you at Newport, and am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

Your humble servant,

I am, yours, &c.,

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 agreeable 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 [illegible] from them.

I am, with respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Colony of Rhode Island, &c.

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 England 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 cases arising within the limits of the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut, commissioners appointed for enquiring into and reporting to his Majesty a full and true account of the circumstances relative to the attacking, taking, plundering and burning his Majesty's armed schooner called the Gaspee, commanded by Lieutenant William Dudingston, Esq., within the Colony of Rhode Island in America, on the 10th day of June, A. D. 1772, and for other purposes therein mentioned, at the Colony House at Newport, in Rhode Island, Tuesday the fifth day of January, A. D. 1773, the above commissioners being present.

His Majesty's said royal commission, with instructions to said commissioners under his Majesty's signet and sign manual, were delivered to the 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 conceived that the presence of Rear Admiral Montagu, commander-in-chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels employed in North America, is necessary for the furtherance of the present service. The following letter was thereupon written and delivered by James Clark, one of the Secretaries of the commissioners, to Captain Simmons, to be by him immediately conveyed to Admiral Montagu.

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 commisioners. The commissioners then appointed James Brenton and James Clarke, Esqs., joint Secretaries, who were accordingly sworn truly and faithfully to execute the duties of their office.

The proceedings of said commission were then adjourned till tomorrow at 11 o'clock, then to meet at the Colony House aforesaid. 

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 on and duly executing the said commission, and that they are ready to receive information relative to the attacking, taking, plundering and burning the Gaspee schooner on the 10th of June last, in consequence of which resolutions, the following advertisement was ordered to be published:

"The public are hereby informed, that the honorable the commissioners appointed under the great seal of Great Britain, for inquiring into the circumstances of attacking, plundering and burning his Majesty's schooner Gaspee, under the command of Lieutenant Wm. Dudingston, on the 10th of June last, are now convened and continue to set 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 to the directing and preparing the same, are requested forthwith to give information thereof to said commissioners at the above mentioned place."

The proceedings on said commission were then adjourned till tomorrow at 10 o'clock, then to meet at the Colony House aforesaid.

Governor Wanton laid before the commissioners four letters which had passed between him, Admiral Montagu and Lieutenant Dudingston, also one other letter, signed by Governor Wanton, and transmitted by him by order of the General Assembly 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 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 burning 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 account of the steps he had taken in order to discover the persons who destroyed his Majesty's schooner Gaspee. A message was sent to Mr. Sessions requesting his attendance, who accordingly came before the commissioners and