His Excellency Thomas Shirley Esqr his Brittannic
Majesty's Captain General & Commander in Cheaf &c. &c
of Dominica.

Sir

I have had the Honor of receiving your Excellency's very acceptable letter of the 5th Instant, with the inclosed memorial relative to the Capture of a Brigg, the property of Messrs Bendal Foster & McConnell of the Island under your Excellency's Command, haveing been taken by an Arm'd Sloop wch was said to have been fitted out here, and to be owned by an Inhabitant of the Island.

In ready Compliance with your Excellency's desire and recommendation of that matter to my particular attention, I have done every thing what laid in my Power to investigate the truth of the fact as represented, had immediately the Council assembled and brought such Persons upon Interrogatories upon [illegible] as Mr McConnell who had leave to be present desired to be called upon and had the Case been prov'd to be as was stated I wd not only have Caused ample damages to be given to the unhappy Sufferers in that Capture, but proceeded likewise to the Rigor of the Law against the Person or Persons found to be Concerned in such piratical Enterprizes: but after all the inquiries which were made nothing was proved upon the Persons

However should any proof here after appear or the Sufferers be able to discover any thing, I shall allways be ready to give them that justice which the nature of the thing requires, as I shall be happy upon every regular Complaint to render your Excellency and the Subjects under your Government any service in my Power I have the Honour to be with high Esteem & Regard Sir [&c.]

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