Last Thursday night [April 20] Capt. [Henry] Collins, with a party of men, belonging to the Magdalen armed scooner, by command of Lord Dunmore, came to this city, from Burwell's ferry, and privately removed out of the magazine, and carried on board the said schooner, about 20 barrels of gunpowder belonging to this colony. The inhabitants were alarmed with the intelligence early yesterday morning, the Common Hall assembled, and the following address was presented to the Governor.
To his Excellency the Right Hon. John Earl of Dunmore, his Majesty's Lieutenant, Governor General, and Commander in Chief of the colony and dominion of Virginia.
The humble Address of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of Williamsburg.
My Lord,
We his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council, of the city of Williamsburg, in Common Hall assembled, humbly beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that the inhabitants of this city were this morning exceedingly alarmed by a report that a large quantity of gunpowder was in the preceding night, while they were sleeping in their beds, removed from the public magazine in this city, and conveyed, under an escort of marines, on board one of his Majesty's armed vessels lying at a ferry on James river.
We beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that as this magazine was erected at the public expence of this colony, and appropriated to the safe keeping of such munitions as should be there lodged from time to time, for the protection and security of the country, by arming thereout such of the militia as might be necessary in case of invasion and insurrections, they humbly conceive it to be the only proper repository to be resorted to in times of imminent danger.
We further beg leave to inform your Excellency, that, from various reports at present prevailing, in different parts of the country, we have too much reason to believe that some wicked and designing persons have instilled the most diabolical notions into the minds of our slaves, and that therefore the utmost attention to our internal security is become the more necessary.
The circumstances of this city, my Lord, we consider as peculiar and critical. The inhabitants, from the situation of the magazine, in the midst of the city, have, for a long tract of time, been exposed to all those dangers which have happened in many countries from explosions and other accidents. They have, from time to time thought it incumbent on them to guard the magazine. For their security they have, for some time past, judged it necessary to keep strong patrols on foot; in their present circumstance, they, to have the chief and necessary means of their defense removed, cannot but be extremely alarmed. Considering ourselves as guardians of the city we therefore humbly desire to be informed by your Excellency, upon what motives, and for what particular purpose, the powder has been carried off in such a manner; and we earnestly request your Excellency to order it to be immediately returned to the magazine.
To which his Excellency returned this verbal answer: That, hearing of an insurrection in a neighbouring county, 1 he had removed the powder from the magazine, where he did not think it secure, to a place of perfect security; and that upon his word and honour, whenever it was wanted in any insurrection, it should be delivered in half an hour; that he had removed it in the night time to prevent any alarm, and that Captain Collins had his express commands for the part he had acted; he was surprised to hear the people were under arms on this occasion, and that he should not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in such a situation.