icers of his Majesty's Customs,
both in the Province of Massachussets Bay and Colony of Rhode Island,
did exert themselves, and the Collector at Boston did Seize upon the
Ship and remainder of the Cargo,[9] The said Benjamin Norton upon the
Discovery having relinquished the Ship and absconded. And the
_Surveyor and Searcher at Rhode Island did Seize upon and Secure the
Sloop_ belonging to one Draper, employed by the said Joseph Whipple,
in which a considerable Quantities of the Sugars, etc., had been
carried off, And did insist against them, upon the breach of the Acts
of Trade, for _Neglect to make Entries as the Law directs_. Upon which
Informations I gave Decrees finding the same lawful Seizures, and
Ordered the Values thereof (after Sale should be made) to be Paid into
Court, in regard of the Circumstantial Case, and delivered up to the
Collector, etc., as Informers, upon their enacting and obliging
themselves in the Court of Admiralty to refund the Values in Case any
Owner should appear and make good their Title thereto within Twelve
Months. This is complyed with at Boston, but in the Colony of
Rhode-Island, though the Informations were Laid at the instance of the
Officers of the Customes, and that I had given Decrees Condemnator[y]
thereupon, and Ordered the Sales by Publick Vendue, Yet in regard I
had obliged them to Enact for Refunding, _The Collector_, in
conjunccion with the Governor at Rhode Island,[10] and some others of
his Assistants who were concerned in these, who had a part of the
Goods trusted in their Hands, till the same should be Sold by Warrant
of the Court of Admiralty, Did put a Stop to the Sale appointed by me;
And by an Act of the Governor and his Assistants have taken on them to
sell and Dispose thereof, and to lodge the Price in other hands than
by Decrees of Court was appointed, _albeit by their Charter_ they have
no right so to do.

[Footnote 8: Capt. John Whipple of Providence.]

[Footnote 9: The sheriff of Bristol county, Massachusetts, impressed
twelve men and horses and went to Tarpaulin Cove and took the ship
into custody. _Acts and Resolves Prov. Mass. Bay_, XI. 147.]

[Footnote 10: Samuel Cranston, governor 1698-1727.]

I being apprized of this their Proceeding that since the Cargo was
Condemned, and the Sale thereof appointed by the Court of Admiralty
which issued upon Informacions laid by the Collector and Surveyor of
his Majesty's Plantation Duties, who had the Sugars and Coco