Just, Sir, as you sent over to me the memorandum which had been delivered to you by My Lord Stormont, I happened to receive from the Governors of Martinique and Guadeloupe letters copies of which I forward to you herewith. You will find in the letter of Mons. D'Arbaud to the Governor of St. Christopher satisfactory explanations to the first accusation made by Mons. the Ambassador of England concerning the Snow the Apollo of which the memorandum declares that the sale had been made publicly at Fort Royal, as also that of her cargo of negroes; the second charge could not possibly be defended according to the letter of Mons. D'Argout of March 2nd last, and all of his previous correspondence. It is in consequence of these same letters, which you could show if you think it proper to Mons. the Ambassador of England, that the Governors of our Islands maintain a conduct conforming exactly with those principles of neutrality which have been prescribed for them. You know the orders which I transmitted to them regarding the approaching troubles between England and her Colonies, and although The King commanded me to reiterate them in the most precise and strict terms, the most energetic watchfulness can not moreover prevent during the night and in remote anchorages the unloading of prize cargoes taken by the Americans, as it was never possible to prevent the export of our sugar to Foreigners so burdensome to the national commerce. I have the honor to be &c

[Marginal note] Reply to the complaints of Mons. Stormont on the Subject of a capture made off Martinique by an American Privateer under Spanish colors of an English Snow with Her cargo of Slaves.