And having dropped Anchor there, he fired at, and brought too several of Our Coasters, upon which a Rumour arose, that the Pirates were on the Coast, whereby Our Coasters, except his Accomplices who understood better, were deterred for some Days from Falling within his reach, And in the interim, the aforesaid Whipple, with One Christopher Almy, and One Pease, also considerable Traders of New Port in Rhode Island, with some others, did improve that Opportunity, and carried off and conveyed about 30 of the Negroes, with considerable Quantities of the Sugars, Cocoa, etc., partly in Sloops sent out by them for that purpose, and partly in such others as they intrusted therewith, and a great part of which was by the said Almy and Whipple directed to Providence Plantacion and recommended to the Care and Conduct of One Whipple,[8] Brother to the said Joseph, that Place being their Ordinary Mart and Recepticles for such Cargoes. But so many accessaries were concerned, and the Cargo so considerable, the Secret was Discovered, and thereupon the Officers 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.]