Naval Documents of The American Revolution, Volume 1 ... - Ibiblio

1234 AMERICAN THEATRE
side at the City at large. You surely cannot doubt its being my Duty to defend
every Part of the King's Stores, wherever they may be: For this Purpose I fired
upon the Battery, as the only Means to prevent the Intentions of the People
employed in removing the Guns. For a considerable Time I thought they had
desisted from their Purpose, till their huzzaing and their firing from the Walls
upon the ship, convinced me to the contrary; this occasioned the Broadside
to be fired, not at the City at large, but as the most effectual Method to prevent
their persisting in their Pursuit, which it were impossible I could tell they had
effected. I have no more to add, but that I shall persist in doing what I know
to be my Duty: In the doing which I shall, if possible, avoid doing Hurt to
any one. I am, Sir [&c.] . G. Vandeput
1. New York Gazette, Aug. 28, 1775.
CAPTAIN GEORGE VANDEPUT, R.N., TO VICE ADMIRAL SAMUEL GRAVES
[Extract]
[Postscript, Moord in New York Harbor]
25th [August, 17751 - Capt [James] Montagu is just anived, as the July
Packet may be now daily expected, I shall direct him to lie at the Hook, for
the Time you have prescribed, and if the Vessel with Provisions from Jamaica
should Sail in the Interval He will be able to perform that Service - I have
had no answer as yet from the Mayor, and it is now noon, indeed I know it is
not in his power to send any other Answer, except such as will be dictated by
the Rioters who are now at the Head not only of the Civil Government, but
will not even be contrould by their own Congresses and Committees. - The
friends of Government who we are told wanted nothing but some Countenance
to induce them to take an Active part, will 'be obliged to go with the Stream,
they are many of them people of the best property in the Town, to secure which
a great number have already Signed the Association and the rest will do the
same, so that the best that can be said of them is that they are not so bad as they
might be, there may be some Exceptions to this but very few. I have just received
the enclosed Letter from the Mayor in answer to mine, in which as I
expected, they have mistated facts, but I did not think they wou'd have avowed
the taking away the Guns, as the Robberies which had been committed before,
they always pretended to be ignorant of - You, Sir, are better able to determine
what to call this Avowal of theirs, to me it seems that the same Spirit of Rebellion
exists in all the Colonies; but if there be any difference it is more violent as you
look to the Southward, it is however too great a point for me to determine upon,
whenever you, Sir, are not as yet empower'd to give such Orders as I dare say
before this time you may have thought Necessary.
1. PRO, Admiralty 1/485, LC Transcript.
PURDIE'S Virginia Gazette, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25,1775
Williamsburg, August 25.
From Norfolk we learn, that lord Dunmore seized last tuesday a fine new
ship lately launched, frigate built, and pierced for 22 guns, belonging to Eilbeck,
Ross & co. of that place, although the owners represented to him the very great