Honbl. Sir, Providence Augst. 24, 1777

The Bearer is Benjamin Cuzens, a Poor but Honest Man, of this Town, who had two hhd. of Melasss. pasing from Bedford to this Town, was siezed by your the Committe of Attlebury, and has ben Unjustly held from him for About two months past and he being Informd it was to be reported at your Taunton Court this day and a Stranger at Taunton Apply’d to me for Direction in the Matter. As I am knowing to your Principles of Justice and Zeal to Oppose every appearance of Arbitrary & Unjust Measure. Have recomended him to you for Assissance as an Attorney to see him righted. I am Sertainly know’g to sum of the Attlebury Committe having a Wicked design of Depriving people of there Just property under pretents of having Law of there side, and at the same Time Igorant of there own State Laws, willing to take all advantages of Others. I was Consern’d in Three Vessels to Phia: for Flour 2 out of 3, was taken. In the Other I had a parcel of Flour though the graitest Chance amaginable of being taken & Escapeing Landed my flour at Nantucket from whence part of it was brot to Bedford & in Casting through to this State had 20 bbls. Seiz’d in Attlebury Abot. two months Ago, wch. suppose is now sour & spoilt. I once made personal application to the for Chearman, and wrote twice besides to the Committe, but have not ben Able as yet to get it from them. There pretents now is, that I did not make oath within 30 Days According to Your Laws, and they Acknowledge they had no knowledge of your States Act for Allowing any of the Other States people to bring any Goods though your State and never till within a few days Requird any Oath about it. However to prevent there holding my Goods so very unjustly have made Oath to the 387property of the flour but they still demand of me to pay there Cost. I could wish Any way Could be formd that I Could make them pay for there unjust Intention. My flour I sold, or permitted the Carters Sell & supply the people all along the Rode. If I should be put to the Disagreeable necessety of haveing to do with sd. Committee in a Law way, I Desire your Assistance, for wch. shall be Willing to make amply Satisfy you or if any way to punish them should be glad to do it. Though I Thing our wont of Emnity abroad for bid all Diputes amongst. our selves in the Country. I am Hond. Sr. Your most Esteamd. Humle. Servt.

Nicho: Brown

RC ; addressed: “To The Honbl. Robert Tret Pain Esq. at Taunton favr. by Benjamin Cuzens”; endorsed.