Middletown transcript., 1875-06-05
TIE FIRST BLOW.
The Burning and Capture OF the British
vessel-of- War Gaspee, in Narragansett
Bay, june 10, 1772.

| Vessel.O1. War Gaspee, In NarraganSetl
Bay, june 10, 1772.
Arnold, in his +" History of Rhode
Island" says that the people Of Nara.
gansett Bay were harassed by the con-
duct Of his majesty's schooner Gaspee,
of eight guns, which, in company with
the Beaver had been stationed in Mar
ragansstt bay to enforce the revenue
acts. Lieutenant Duddingston, the
commander. had practiced every annoy
ance upon vessels in the bay, detaining
them often without colorado pretext,
stopping even market boats. and in some
cases Plunderine the people on shore.
He had violated the charter of the col
ony in acting without showing his COM
mission. and had exceeded bis authority
by making illegal seizures and sending
the captured property to Boston for
trial, contrary to an act of Parliament
that required such trials to be held in
the colony where the seizure was made.
His arbitrary conduct had already ex-
cited public attention, and was cautious
ly referred to in the papers of the day.
Complaints were made by the inhabi-
tants Of Providence to Deputy Governor
Sessions, who. upon consulting Chief
Justice Hopkins, received as his opin-
ion "that no commander Of any vessel
has . right to use any authority in the
body Of the colony. without previously
applying to the Governor. and showing
bis warrant for SO doing, and also being
sworn to due exercise Of his office"
Sessions then communicated the COM
plants and the judges opinion to Gov
ernor Wanton, who Immediately sent
the high sheriff on board the schooner,
with letter to the commanding officer,
requiring him to produce his commis-
sion and instructions The next day
Duddingston sent, by junior officer,
an arrogant reply, to which Governor
Wanton answered directly. repeating
his demand, and assuring Duddingston
Of safety in coming on shore. Dud-
dingston incloscd the correspondence to
Admiral Montagu at Boston. who took
sides with the lieutenant, and addressed
an extremely insolent letter to Governor
Wanton, defending the conduct of Dud-
ridiculing that Of the Govern
or, and threatening. in case the rescue
Of any prize was attempted, "to hang
as pirates" the parties concerned. Gov
ernor Wanton laid this letter before the
Assembly, together with his very spir-
tied reply, in which he informs Mentagu
THAT l do not receive instructions for
the administration of my government
from the Kings admiral stationed in
America" The Assembly directed CO.
pies of the correspondence to be sent to
with a narrative Of the pro-
ceedings referred to therein. Governor
Wanton wrote to Lord Hillsborough,
complaining Of Montagu's insolence, |
and Of the conduct Of the Gaspee and |
Beaver.
Duddingston also wrote to the ad-
miral. giving the details Of his first in
terview with Wanton and admitting that
he had knowingly violated the law by
sending captured sloop with rum to
Boston, but had expected the commits
,ioners of customs there would sustain
lim, because he knew the prize could
,ot be safely retained at Newport. He
.lso states that the owner of the rum
vas Mr.. Greene, Of Coventry, member
# the House. If so, it was Nathaniel
Greene, soon to become a great leader
# the revolutionary armies. Mean
While the vexatious interference of the
rmed vossels eontinnad nntil an eoca
ion offered for the destruction of the
4aspee. The sloop Hannah, Captain