Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-05-01

of September last, you had given Capt
Kee,er, Of the Mercury, the senior Off
crr of,h King's ships at that Island, to-
whom you had before despatched his
Maiesy's commission for enqu'ring 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 EXPIRE ssly directs the
prisoners to be delivered 10 you, the
commissioners did not choose to proceed
10 business until your arrival /; that, in
onsequence Of receiving such informa-
ton, you had proceeded ,hrher by land,
and hoisted your flag on board the L'z-
zard and that the commissioners had
examined some few persons; and where
as you further represented to us, by
your said letter, that, IL you are obliged
to attend the commissioners at Rhode Is
land, the naval business at Halifax and
Boston will be greatly retarded, rs II
will be impossible for you to attend to
those and your other duties, and have
therefore desired, ~ the senior "nicer oi
hi. Majes,y's ships at Rhode Island will,
in vour opinion, in every respect, an
swer The purposes there as well ns your
self, that you may receive our directions
10 remain at Boston with your flag, un-
less there appears TO he an absolute ne
ccssiiy for your being Mt Rhode Island {;
and whereas the Earl Of Dartmouth, one
Of his Majesiy's principal secretaries Of
state, to whom we sent an extract oi so
much Of your letter rs related to this
business, for his Mnjesty's Information,
bath, by his letter Of the Goth instant,
acquainted us that his Majesty 's pie ased
to approve that the execution Of his
Majesty's orders respecting the service
ai Rhode Island, should be entrusted to
the senior Captain Of such OF his ships OF
war ms may from time to time be station
ed at that colony. You are therefore
hereby required and directed to eatrust
the execution Of his Majesty's said or
ders 10 such senior captain accordingly :.
Given undcr our hands the Goth Oh
March. l773. SANDWICH,
J. BULLER,
LlSBURNE.
By command Of their Lordshps;
CHAs. STEpnENs.
To John Mon,ngu, Esq Rear Ad-
miral Of the Blue and commandcr-ln-
chief of his Alajesty's ships and vessels
in North America, at Boston.
Previous To the reception Of these Or
d'rs, The following letters passed between
tho commissioners and The officers Of the
Navy stationed in New England {:
I,osrov, 24lh May, l773.
GgSrLEMEy As understood yon
nrc s"on to meet to proceed on business
am 10 inform you | have ordered to-
Capt, Keelcr, Of his Majesty's Mercury,
William Dickinson, late mldshiPman OF
the Gaspee, and Bartholomew Chcever,
one Of her seamen, two evidences sent
on, or England by the Right Honorable
the Lords Commissioners OF The Admiral
". As they were on hoard when cap
tain Duddingston was wounded, these
people (if the men called the head sher-
~ -"h co,>~;o eau be found) can swear
to their persons. You will be the best
Judges what toe TO make Of them when
they appear before you
expect the Captain man-ol-war will
return from Halifax in ten days, when /
shall lose no time in repairing to Rhode
Island but #, in the meantime, you
should think my presence absolutely
necessary, will set out by land, although
il viii be attended with great inconveni'
cncc Ia mo. ..
Capt Keclrr has my orders 20 give
v"u every assistance in hiS power, aRd 1
doub, no, but that he " III faithfully exc
cute them.
am, gentlemen, your most ohedent
humble servant, J. MONTAGU.