Secretary Atkinson to Governour Wentworth

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Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, July 7, 1775.

SIR: Your Excellency will give me leave to acquaint you, that on the fourth instant I had, as Secretary, a visit from a Committee appointed by the Provincial Congress of this Colony held at Exeter. They showed me their appointment, and requested the delivery of all the records and files in the Secretary' s office. I told them it would be against my honour and my oath of office to be a volunteer in such delivery. After an hour' s moderate conversation, and without any Heat, the Committee left me, and I was in hopes I should not have any farther visit from them; but on the sixth instant they came again and urged the delivery. I still refused as before, and told them they well knew it was not in my power to defend the office by force of arms; if they took the records, &c., or any of them, they must be answerable. They then entered the office and took all the files and records belonging to the Secretary' s office, except those books in which were recorded the several charter grants of land, which were with your Excellency to take some minutes from. The Committee offered me their receipt, agreeable to their orders from the Congress, but I refused, being no otherwise concerned than barely as a spectator. They then cleared the offices of all the books and papers, and transported them to Exeter, where they are (I am informed) to remain till further order. Thus I have stated the facts as they occurred; and I am, may it please your Excellency, your Excellency' s most obedient humble servant,

THEODORE ATKINSON.

Governour Wentworth.