[Corunna] 15th June 1776.
Several masters of American vessels, in order to deceive His Majesty's ships of war, have of late made fictitious sales of their ships to British and Irish merchants established in this kingdom, and thereby continue their navigation with safety. An Irish merchant established at Ferrol acquainted me last week that he had made a purchase of the ship, the King of Prussia, of 300 tons burthen, belonging to Philadelphia,2 and desired me to indorse the ship's Register to him, but suspecting the identity [sic authenticity] of the sale, I refused to do it, notwithstanding the offers that were made me, unless both the purchaser and captain would positively swear that no foreigner or inhabitant of the Colonies in rebellion held or retained any part, share or interest therein, with which they have not thought proper to comply.
1. Letters and Extracts from the Correspondence of Lord Grantham In Spain, January 1776 to June 1779, Sparks Transcripts, No. 23, I, 9-10, HU. Hereafter cited as Sparks Transcripts, Lord Grantham, HU.
2. The ship King of Prussia, W. Potts, master, entered Philadelphia just prior to October 18, 1775, Pennsylvania Journal, October 18, 1775, Inward Entries.
