William Ruffin letter July 29, 1793.

William Ruffin to the Governor.
July 29th  1793.
Fredericksburg
Sir:
Notwithstanding the precautions your Excellency as well as the President of the United States has used in order to avoid even the pretext for a war to any of the belligerent powers of Europe with America by a strict adherence to the laws of neutrality on the part of our citizens, yet those rules have been more than once infringed by some of the commertial people on this River, by arming British trading vessels in our ports. There is an instance of this kind at Norfolk, which calls for the immediate interposition of your Excellence's power. The Ship Brandon, Capt. Woodrow, now at that port, has, within then & in days last past, been furnished with ten guns, nine pounders, by Captain Gibson. from Tappahannock, who has, I suppose, in order to avoid the vigilancy of the officers at that place, procured and shipt the Guns from Tapp'k, which affords an opportunity to Capt. Woodrow of taking them on board without the knowledge or even the suspicion of any at Norfolk. The Guns are without carriages, or nearly so, & Woodrow may say that he brought them into the country with him.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your Mo. Ob't Serv't,

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CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM AUGUST 11, 1792, TO DECEMBER 31, 1793, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE. VOLUME VI. RICHMOND: A. R. MICOU, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1886