The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle Domestic News February 5, 1773

From the Providence Gazette.

About the middle of March last an armed schooner appeared in our Bay that boarded, searched and maltreated every Vessel she came up with, not showing any commission or authority for so doing.

This matter was represented to his honor the Governor of the colony, who sent the high-sheriff of the county of Newport on board the schooner, to see who and what she was. Lieutenant Duddingston who commanded her, did not think proper to wait on the Governor with his papers as he was required, and as it was his indispensable duty to have done; but sent the master of the schooner, with some Papers from the Commissioners of the customs at Boston, empowering them to make seizures of any vessels that should be found smuggling, &c. Several messages passed between the Governor and Lieutenant Duddingston, in which the impropriety of Mr. Duddingston's conduct was pointed out; and he was even told, by one of his friends, what must be the consequence of such behaviour: but he blustered much; and swore the whole Colony could not get on board his vessel.

Admiral Montagu was made acquainted with the dispute, which he soon took a very improper part in, and treated the Governor with great indignity. After Mr. Duddingston had yoked the Admiral in his cause, his behaviour became more haughty, insolent and intolerable, personally ill treating every master & merchant of the vessels he boarded, stealing sheep, hogs, poultry, &c. from the farmers round the bay, & cutting down their fruit and other trees for fire-wood. In a word his behaviour was so piratical & provoking that Englishmen could not patiently bear it. This gave rise to the unhappy scheme of destroying the Gaspee, which though it has been represented, by the King's officers, as an affair preconcerted by the inhabitants round the Narraganset Bay, and that almost all the whole town of Providence were concerned in it, I say this action was done by about forty people, in five or six long boats, as the Gaspee's people declared on oath the day after she was destroyed.

The enterprise was hastily concluded on; and very secretly executed, so that the authority of the town of Providence had not the least knowledge of it. The most effectual steps were immediately taken by the authority in this colony, to discover the perpetrators of this riotous affair. A proclamation was issued; offering a large reward to any that would give information, so that the offenders might be brought to justice; but no witness of validity appearing, the brave Captain Linzee kidnapped a mulatto, and by fair promises and threats made the villain swear to a number of falsehoods, whereby he has impeached some of the best characters in the colony; and because the civil authority did not think the evidence sufficient to apprehend them for trial, the Admiral and other officers in their great wrath against the colony, have so represented this matter to the ministry, that his Majesty has been pleased to appoint special commissioners, for examining and sending to England as many of the offenders as can be apprehended.

I trust when the commissioners come to have a true account of the exertions of the authority of the colony, and that they now stand ready to give every one accused, on sufficient evidence, lawful trials, they will give his Majesty a favorable account. On the other hand when they see gross misrepresentations that have been made, and all from a lying servant that has not spoke a word of truth, it is expected the commissioners will do justice to the characters of those gentlemen that have been unjustly accused.