Extracts of a Letter from his Excellency A Fenner Esquire Governor of the State of Rhode Island, to Timothy Pickering Esquire Secretary of War; Dated Providence — 5 Sep^t 1795 — As the State hath been freely censured by Mr Bondy in his Letter of the 6^th of August, to the Secretary of State — I think it incumbent on me to take some Notice of that Letter. You may be assured, Sir, that no application, either directly or indirectly was ever made to me or to any other person in authority in the State, for permission to buy Articles of Refreshment for the Africa; previous to this — Copland Letter to Mr Moore; and it will be extremely — difficult for Mr Bondy, to shew any reason for his believing the contrary, unless suggestion may be deemed a good one — I have in my former Communications stated the Facts relative to Lieut Apthorpe and shall only adds, that he was delivered by the French Prize Master to the Capt of the Mediator, as his Superior Officer, and that his being a prisoner of War and Release, were entirely unknown to me, and I believed to every Citizen of the State until after the Transactions was Completed, under the Sanction of Mr Moore. I can truly say, I have never heard of one instance of an attempt to seduce any Seamen from the British Ships of War, nor of but one Deserter. He was from the Nautilus and fled immediately into the Country; I believe there — hath not seen a single Deserter from the Africa — No British Ship of War since the present European War, hath Anchored within the State, excepting the two above mentioned. Neither the Legislature nor the Executive of the State have shewn any partiality to the French Ships of War — All British Ships of War may depend upon their Receiving, within this State, the treatment due them from a Neutral Nations, Provided they respect the Sovereignty of the United States. Captain Home had not, before he wrote his Letter to Mr Moore, nor hath he since, been offered Insult or Injury of any kinds. When I read that Letter, the Spirit of Independence beat high in my Veins, and instead of this, my Language might as well have been a little tempered — I take great Credit to myself, for the moderation with which I reprehended the Vice Consul. — It may be proper to observe that the Vice Consul States the detention of Capt Bliss, at about an Hour; Captain at two Hours. This difference is thus accounted for: Captain Bliss reckons it from the time he was brought to, until he was permitted to depart; the Vice Consul reckons only the time he was under the Africa's Stern. True Extracts (Signed) Geo: Taylor Jr. Chief Clerk Dep of State