On August 28th last the mail brigantine Principe de Asturias sailed for Havana where she was awaited to carry the mail to Vera Cruz. She was insulted and stopped on this River on the first of this Month by a British Privateer Sloop which fired several shots of stone and metal into her. 

When I heard of this Attack, I called a meeting of Captains in which it was decided to reinforce His Majesty's Packet with the San Joachin under the command of Ensign Don Nicolas Arniaud on this River, led by two officers from the frigate Volante with twenty-five grenadiers and twenty-five sailors. They were to get under way immediately to find the Sloop, order her to this Capital to give satisfaction and in case of resistance to take her, afterwards bringing her here. It seems that the Sloop heard about the expedition, for she released the Packet, dropped down the river and went out through the passes.

Regarding all which I have told Your Highness, I enclose two statements on what is known and has been done on this matter and apprise Your Highness that as of this date I have also notified His Excellency the Conde de Florida Blanca as Superintendent General of the Mails, as your Subdelegate in this Province, so that through him and by this confidential channel it may come to the knowledge of His Majesty. May Our Lord Keep You Many Years.

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[Enclosure]

Mr. Governor — My dear Sir: The grave action of the British sloop-of-war prompts me to trouble Your Excellency by making you acquainted with that which took place and that which followed. Being eighteen leagues from this Town, I met the Sloop, and a French Ship that witnessed the event. She was going up-river, and I was going down, and having passed down my side, she sent an officer alongside in a boat. He climbed on board with his cutlass in hand, and his people did the same. Without saying or asking anything, he wanted to take command of the Ship, which I resisted. First, I advised him that this ship was His Majesty's Packet, and secondly warned him about the results of his actions, but as this was not sufficient, I attempted to show him the Passport, so as to end this Incident, but nothing could convince him to give up his brazen insolence and vicious words Against the nation. Thus, I found myself in this predicament where, if I attempted to resist with force, I would have been unsuccessful, but as he found himself thwarted, he ordered his men to fire, and came alongside us. They fired some stone shot mixed with metal; then they grappled, attempting to insult all our protests and efforts until I reprimanded the Captain, and protested all that had taken place. They withdrew, and gave as an excuse their inability to recognize our Flag; a Frivolous Excuse filled with malice; the one sure thing is that they have insulted a King's Packet, which I have recounted so that Your Excellency may take whatever steps may seem necessary. May our Lord Safeguard Your Excellency [&c.]

Julian Antonio de Palacio²

Puerto de la Baliza
3 of Septre 1777
This copy conforms to the original.
Berndo de Galvez