Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-04-24

answer that he should give no account
ah"o, the matter before hs was brough,
befbre the court martial, where he ex.
pec'ed his thai, but was willing that his
people should declare all they knew of
he mailer, and were sworn before the
Deputy Governor accordingly. -
- - Mr.. DudJings,on afterwards,
and desired him, if he had any knowl-
edge oi any of The persons who did the
mischief, he would inform me thereof,
That they might be brought to condign
punishment, but always declined saying
any thing at all and that is the sub.
stance of the knowledge | have of the
matter, and which am ready to swear to-
JOHN ANDREWS.
To the Honorable Commissioners
Joseph Wnnton, Esq Governor ofthe
English Colony Island, on oath declares
and says That at nm interview he had
with Lieutenant DudJing s,on, late Of the
schooner Gaspee, he asked him whether
he had any authority from the commits
sioners nj Boston, or from Admiral Mon.
'agu to which he replied, he had not,
bu, received his authority from the Lords
ot the Admiralty, and that he was come
'utu the Colony of Rhode Is.and by vir-
tue Of that power, and no other Whatever.
The doponont then asked how long it
was probable he should continue in the
colony TO which he answered, at pres
ent he was in the colony, bu, how long
he should coniiDne was uncertain. And
this dePonent saith, that he does not re-
the said Lieutenant Duddings,on.
On or abou, the 2OIh Of March last, a
complaint was transmitted to the depo-
uent, by The deputy governor Of the
colony, signed by sundry persons residing
III and near the town of Providence, that
an armed schooner was cruising in tie
Naragansett Bay, mterrup,ing their
legal commerce, by searching and un.
necessarily detaining Inc ireic h, boats,
SC, and Therefore requested the depo'
nent 10 rake such inquiry as was neces-
sefy Tor obtaining information, whether
the persons belonging TO said schooner
were duly authorized to exercise that
power within the body of The colony. -
Upon receiving the complaint, the dopo-
nent conceived it was his duty, in order
to satisfy the complainan,s, and AT the
same time 10 i've the persons complained
Of an opportunity of exculpating them
selves from the several charges and ac-
cusalipns which were exhibited against
them, to pursue such measures as were
prudent and legal, and lhereupon wrote
a letter to the commanding officer Of said
schooner, advising 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 Duddingston, which, no,
being satisfactory, the deponent wrote
him another letter, on the 23d Of March
in consequence whereof, Lieutenant
Duddingsion sent the deponen,, by one
Of his officers, whose name was Dundass,
an order from the Lords OF the Admiralty
Tor his commanding the schooner Gas
pee, also their letter to the commission
crs at Boston, requiring them to give
depuiation from the commissioners at
Boston, directed TO the said Dundass, all
which the deponent, after he had read and
examined, returned to the said Dundass,
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
improperly of Mr.. Duddingston's pro-
ceedngs, in sending "A quantity Of rum
he had seized in the county of Kent,
within this colony, for illegal importation,
to Boston for trial, it being, in the depo-
nenI's opinion, repugnant to an act Of
Parliament made aud passed IN the
eighth year Of his Majesty's reign, as
there was Court of Vice Admiralty es-
Itabiishcd within this colony and that if
he persevered in such measures, he
must expec, that a process would he is
sued against him. A short time after
this another complaint was brought
against Mr. DnddiuSslon, hy one Faulk-
ner, Of Ports smou,h, in this colony, and
proprietor Of certain island called
Gould Island. within the said colony,
who alleged ,hai the people belonging
to said schooner Gaspee had been upon
said island, and committed a trcspass and
waste thereon, by cutting down lhiitJ or
more trees and carrying the same from
off said island The deponcnt recon
mended TO the complainant 10 make Nn-
I rlcu'iou 10 said Duddingsion, and dc.
mand such satisfaction, aud demand such
satisfaction as was adequate to the dam
ngs he bad sustained, aud If possible TO
avoid n law "ull which, ha said, be had
beru ufnou to commence after which
ho was informed by SAID Faulkner, thai
Lieutenant Duddingston had paid him
about fifteen dollars on account Of the
above named irespass md waste, with
which he appeared satisfied.
On the lhh of June, the deponent re-
ceivcd from Darius Sessions, Esq OF
Providence, aud deputy governor OF the
colony, an account Of the destruction OF
his Majes,, s schooner the Glspce upon
Which, he Immediately called together
such Of bis Majfsly's council and mem
bers Of the Generai Assembly as could
be seasonably notified, and comn'unic ated
Ito them ihe dissgiersLle Intelligence,
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