And Whereas we are ordered in our instructions, to receive a full ace* of yoi^ motions of late in this Citty & ye grounds and reasons of yo' takeing and securing ye Fort, and when we came here we found to our amazement ye trueth of what we had heard (viz) ye Fort much out of repair, more of ye great gunns not fit for service, very few platforms for gunns to play on, and by ye account shewed us ; taken by skilfull honest men, of ye Powder, that of fifty barrells, but one good, & a considerable part not fitt for any service, and ye rest would not slinge a bullet halfe over the river, & also by informacon it appearing to us that Cap* Nicholson, late Lieut Gov^ having lift ye Fort who hasted away privately to Singeronis, about seven Leagues from Yorke to Coll. Dungan & other parts & some

LIEUT. GOV. LEISLER. 17

popishly affected, where there seems to be some considerable gathering of such: and also there being some ill minded, disaffected, and disloyale persons in the Citty & places adjacent; having first don you that justice, noble & Loyall Cap* Leisler, whose Loyaltie, courage, prudence, paines, & charge, hath been great; and you ye other nobl corragious & Loyall Cap'% Lieu^s, Ensigns, Serges and good souldgers in the train bands, that hath been active in this affaire, as also Loyall Mr. Samuell Edsall & other good worthy and Loyall gentlemen, that have taken such paines and beene at such charge, we say we must doe you that justice as to owne and acknowledge yo'' good service to God and unto our gracious Soverain Lord King William, and service done for yo- Country in ye presep'^ation of ye protestant religion.