to the laws so ardently to be wished for by all loyal subjects and good citizens. I am sent hither to be the guardian of a British Colony; to protect His Majesty’s Governour, and all the loyal subjects in the Province of Virginia. This is my duty, and should wish it to be known that my duty and inclination go hand in hand. The same principles which have induced me not to harbour the slaves of any individual in this Province, will operate with me to protect the property of all loyal subjects. As I have before observed that I shall endeavour to promote the publick peace of this Province, it is hardly necessary to mention that I shall not remain an idle spectator, should any violence be offered to the persons or property of any of His Majesty’s subjects.

I have reason to apprehend, that many gentlemen in this Province, from their connexions with Government, or their readiness to supply His Majesty’s ships or servants with provisions, stores, &c., are held up as objects inimical to the liberties of America, and unjustly censured for their loyal conduct. Men under these circumstances are more particularly entitled to my protection. I have not the least doubt, from your desire and readiness upon a former occasion to preserve harmony in the Town of Norfolk, but you will heartily concur with me in my endeavours to suppress all party jealousies and animosities, so highly injurious to the welfare of a country. More effectually to perform my part, I shall, the first opportunity, place His Majesty’s Ship under my command, abreast of the Town; and I must assure you, that notwithstanding I shall feel the utmost pain and reluctance in being compelled to use violent measures to preserve the persons and properties of His Majesty’s subjects, yet I most assuredly shall, if it becomes necessary, use the most coercive measures in my power to suppress all unlawful combinations and persecutions within the Province of Virginia.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN MACARTNEY.

To Paul Loyal, Esq., Mayor of the Town of Norfolk, Va.

PAUL, LOYAL TO CAPTAIN MACARTNEY.

Norfolk, August 13, 1775.

SIR: I just now received yours of yesterday’s date, by Mr. Swan. The summons you mention I believe did not go from a Committee of this Borough. I will make the necessary inquiry, and will answer your letter to-morrow.

In the interim, I am, Sir, your humble servant,

PAUL LOYAL.

To John Macartney, Esq., Commander of His Majesty’s Ship Mercury.

Norfolk, August 14, 1775.

SIR: Since writing you yesterday, I find, upon inquiry, that the summons referred to in your letter was sent from a number of gentlemen who are freeholders, and compose the Committee of the County of Norfolk, and are therefore entirely without the jurisdiction of the Magistrates of this Corporation. I can only promise, that as the place of meeting for the purpose of considering Mr. Sprowle’s conduct is said to be within the limits of this Borough, I will take proper care that he shall not be molested or injured in his person by any riot or mob, if he think fit to attend on the Committee. With respect to the treatment that Mr. Schaw received, I was a stranger to it till the disturbance was over; but can assure you, as soon as he put himself under the protection of a Magistrate, he was secured from danger.

The conduct which you are pleased to explain to me, as Chief Magistrate of this Borough, as your intention to pursue in preserving peace and obedience to the laws, in the station assigned you by His Majesty, must be commended by every good man. By that care in your department, particularly in discouraging the elopement of slaves, which of late it is notorious has frequently happened, from the countenance shown them by some enemies to this Colony, as well as to the British Constitution, much mischief and confusion may be prevented. Your suggestion, that gentlemen are in danger, by supplying His Majesty’s Ships, &c., in this Colony with provisions, I cannot account for. I am very sure the Contractors for the Navy in this Town are under no apprehensions of danger, as they have been assured to the contrary in the most explicit manner. I hope suspicions of this nature, prejudicial to the loyalty of a number of inhabitants, who are as much attached to the just prerogative of their Sovereign as any subjects in the Empire, may not be hastily taken up and adopted without full and satisfactory proof.

I am much obliged by your favourable opinion of my readiness to concur in the suppression of all animosities. It has hitherto been, and I trust ever will be, the tenour of my conduct. I have always found the authority of the Magistracy sufficiently competent for the maintenance of Government and good order; and while I thank you for your cheerful offers of assistance for that purpose, yet I presume your intention is only to act within the line of your department. I confess I feel myself somewhat astonished at the last paragraph of your letter, which seems to me to imply a threatening that would eventually prove destructive to the persons and properties of His Majesty’s subjects. A personal insult offered to an individual, by the ill-guided zeal of a number of thoughtless youth, can never justify a hint of this nature. At any rate, it is to be presumed, that gentlemen in military departments will not intermeddle in that capacity, unless particularly required by the civil authority, as I am determined, whenever I find any unlawful combinations or persecutions to prevail within the sphere of my jurisdiction, to take every legal method to suppress them. I have nothing further to add, but the strongest assurances of the earnest desire of the inhabitants of this Borough to live in the most perfect harmony with the gentlemen of the Navy, and hope that no little incident may interrupt it.

Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

PAUL LOYAL.

To John Macartney, Esq., Commander of His Majesty’s Ship Mercury.

CAPTAIN MACARTNEY TO PAUL LOYAL.

His Majesty’s Ship Mercury, Norfolk, August 15, 1775.

SIR: I was favoured with your letter of yesterday’s date, and it gives me much real satisfaction to find that the inhabitants of Norfolk are so earnestly desirous of living in harmony with his Majesty’s servants. You are pleased to assure me that no violence or insult shall be offered to the person of Mr. Sprowle; and upon the faith of your letter I have requested him to attend the Committee to-morrow. For some days past I have been much indisposed, but if I find myself well enough to-morrow, I mean to accompany Mr. Sprowle to the Committee, and will call upon you about eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. I must beg that you will go along with us.

You, I am sure, will agree with me that the summons sent Mr. Sprowle (a copy of which I have enclosed you) must be truly alarming to all good citizens. When any set of gentlemen assume to themselves the power of arraigning an individual for furnishing barracks for His Majesty’s Troops, and pretend to censure a conduct which I must think highly laudable, it gives me but too much reason to apprehend that the authority of the civil magistracy is not competent for the support of Government and good order.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN MACARTNEY.

To Paul Loyal, Esq., Mayor of the Town of Norfolk, Va.

PAUL LOYAL TO CAPTAIN MACARTNEY.

Norfolk, August 26, 1775.

SIR: When I had the pleasure of seeing you last, you mentioned having some letters that had passed between you and me published, which I gave you to understand might be done; since which, as those letters concerned the publick, I have thought proper to lay them before the Common Hall of this Borough. The Hall has made some Resolves on them, a copy of which I am directed to enclose you. My reason for not publishing the letters in this week’s paper, is, that as they are of a threatening nature, they might perhaps give the people of this Colony great uneasiness, to prevent which I think there cannot be too much precaution used. As I am willing to believe your intentions are only to act within your own sphere, and not to intermeddle with the internal policy of this Corporation,