Sr.

I had the honor to receive your Letter of the 17th Inst. dated from the Council Chamber at St. Johns in which you inform me the Council of this His Majestys Island Antigua "have no authority to prevent the buying & selling of Merchandize which hath been fairly imported & would advise an application to the Commander in Chief of these Islands for a proclamation to restrain the selling of Powder & other Warlike Stores to the No. American Traders. ["] I cannot avoid remarking to You & the Gentlemen of His Majestys Council, that notwithstanding Gunpowder & Warlike Stores may have been fairly imported to these Islands yet I presume the selling them as Merchandize to the No American Traders, at a time their Countrymen are declared to be in open rebellion will be deemed Treasonable especially as the Kings proclamation for prohibiting the exportation of Gunpowder & Warlike Stores from the Kingdom of Great Britain &c hath been published in the London Gazette of the 19th Octo, 1774 & of the 5th. of April 1775 which last Proclamation still continues in force, And I have no doubt before the expiration thereof the same will be extended to a longer time.

I think it my Duty as Commander in Chief of the King's Ships &c employed on this Station to take every precaution that may be in my power to prevent or put a stop to a practice so very pernicious & dishonorable; And I have therefore agreeable to the advice of the Kings Council (communicated by your Letter) wrote to the Commr, if Chief of these Islands to request, He will immediately issue a Proclamation to forbid the Exportation of Gunpowder and other Warlike Stores from any of His Majestys Leeward Islands for the space of Six Months. &c.