Monsieur

En Reponse a la votre du 27 du Courant¹ que nous avons recûe hier a 9 heures du Soir, nous pouvons vous dire que nous n’avons pas demandé l’Arrêt de votre Batiment,² puisque contre vous, nous n’avons aucunes Pretentions, ni même nous vous connoissons, ne Sachant votre Nom jusqu’au Recû de la votre; ce que son Excellence le Gouverneur de ces Isles³ a ordonné, c’est l’Arret du Capitaine Cunningham et de la Prise⁴ qu’il avoit a l’Isle de la Palme, en Vertu d’avoir injustement et comme un Pirate pris un Vaisseau Suedois chargé d’Effets qui appartenoient, la plus grande Partie a nous autres Naturels de cette Ville et le Reste a d’autres Naturels ou Voisins de ces Isles; touts Vaisseaux de sa Majesté Catholique, ce qui fut declaré a Londres par le Chargé des Affaires de notre Cour a celle d’Angleterre Selon le Certificat qu’en apportoit Le Capitaine Suedois et que nous aurions trouvé a Bord de sa Balandre avec Les Papiers du dit Capitaine, ce que nous avon Seû d’un Matelot Suedois qui a la Nage fut a Terre a la Palme; Mais comme L’Ordre de Son Excellence n’arriva pas assez a tems a La ditte Isle, Le Capitaine Cunningham s’echappa, Aussitot que nous le Sûmis, nous ecrivimes a Son excelence, lui disant que nous n’avions aucune Pretention contre La Prise qui pour nous etoit un Objet de tres peu de Consideration et qui pouvoit agir d’Office comme bon lui sembleroit et en Consequence Son Excellence envoia Ordre de la mettre en Liberté, ce qui aura été executé des le 24 du Courant qu’on aura recû Ordre a La Palme; des Son Arrivée a cette Isle et jusqu’a Son Arrêt, elle fut tenu comme Proprieté du dit Cunningham. Si elle vous appartient a present, presentés vos Titres a son Excellence qui vous fera Justice, & soiez ass[uré?] qu’il ordonnera aussitôt qu’on vous delivre votre Batiment n’en doutez Pas c’est tout ce que nous pouvons vous dire et restons [&c.]

Orotave 29 Juillet 1778

[Translation]

Mr. Cologan’s Answer./.

Sir

In Reply to yours of the 27th of this Month,¹ which we received yesterday at 9 o’clock in the Evening, we can tell you that we did not request the Arrest of your Vessel,² since against you we have no Pretensions whatsoever, nor were we even acquainted with you, not knowing your name until Receiving your letter; what his Excellency the Governor of these Islands³ ordered is the Arrest of Captain Cunningham and of his Prize⁴ which he had at the Island of Palma, in Virtue of having unjustly and as a Pirate taken a Swedish Vessel laden with Effects a majority of which -belonged to us, Natives of this City, and the Remainder to other Natives or Neighbors of these Islands; all Subjects of his Catholic Majesty, which was declared in London by the Chargé des Affaires of our Court to that of England According to the Certificate that the Swedish Captain brought and which we would have found on board his schooner with the Papers of the said Captain, which we learned from a Swedish sailor who swam ashore at La Palma; But as the Order of His Excellency did not arrive soon enough at the said Island, Captain Cunningham escaped, As soon as we Learned of it we wrote to His excellency, telling him that we had no Pretension whatsoever against the Prize, which for us was an Object of very little Consideration and that he could do an Office as seemed good to him and in Consequence His Excellency issued an Order to set it at Liberty, which should have been executed on the 24th of the Current Month, when the Order would have been received at La Palma; since His Arrival on this Island and until His Arrest, it was held as Property of the said Cunningham. If it belongs now to you, present your Claims to His Excellency who will do you Justice, & be assured that he will soon order your Ship delivered to you, without doubt. This is all that we can tell you and we remain [&c.]

Signed Cologan and Son

Orotava 29 July 1778