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I was at Martinique from the 21st of April to the 6th of May, I had heard before I went there much of the protection given by the French at that Island to the American Privateers; and was astonished to find that there had been no exaggeration in the Reports.
Neither myself nor any part of my Family was permitted to land untill an Officer called a Visitor was found to Conduct us to the Lieutenant du Roi, who commanded in the Town and to whom We were to give an Account of our Errand. I imagined at first that this was an ordinary Regulation of a despotick Government, but was repeatedly informed that it had been a new Order of a few days preceding and that it had its rise from what follows.
A large french Ship with Military Stores had arrived at Martinique from Nantz or Bourdeaux I believe from the former Place. She was said to be cleared out for Martinique and St Domingo and the better to cover the Fraud some very small part of the Cargo was landed at Martinique. The Ship was in fact destined for Philadelphia and if the Adventure were a private one of Merchants, it was at least recommended to the care of Comte D'Argout the Governor of Martinique, because without any Reserve or Caution he assisted Mr Bingham in taking measures for the future safety of the Ship and Cargo. There came from France on board of the Ship a Mr Davis who appeared in the habit of an Officer and went by the Name of Col Davis. Accidentally I had formerly seen this Man who was born in Boston. He now brought Letters from Dr Franklyn to Mr Bingham and by the latter was largely supplied with Money and other Necessaries. Davis was to proceed to America, a Pilot was provided for the Ship by the French Governor and Mr Bingham and as the most undeniable proof of the place of her destination, an order was given by Mr Bingham upon the Congress to the Pilot for his Wages, whilst this Ship was at Martinique Ensign — of the 48th Regt happened to be there and being in a Public House at dinner where the Ship and American Colonel happened to be the Subjects of Con versation, he had incautiously declared that they would be taken, adding that he had given Information of her. Whether he had or had not given in formation the Ship was taken immediately upon going out and carried into Dominica2 Comte D'Argout I am told committed himself so far as to send a Sloop of War to claim her as French Property, but she was refused to his Application and was proceeded against at Dominica. There she was claimed by the directions of Mr Bingham, who according to my information cor responded with Mr Glanville a Barrister at Law at Dominica upon that Subject. I apprehend that Mr Glanville acted as Counsel for the Claimant and that he was employed so to do by Mr Bingham. Govr Shirley has no doubt given Information of all the circumstances attending the Capture and Condemnation of this Ship.
The Declaration of Ensign — and (whether it was consequential or not) the subsequent Capture of this Ship occasioned the vigilance of the French Government over the Actions of the English. a few days before my Arrival all the English Men in St Pierre had been summoned before the Lieutenant du Roi and questioned concerning their business. Several of them were ordered off in a few hours under pain of imprisonment, par ticularly a Mr Hallowell a young Man from Grenada, who was suspected of giving information to Lord Macartney.
A Sloop belonging to a Merchant in Grenada with 54 Slaves on board the property of Planters in Tobago was taken and carried into Martinique. The Owner of the Sloop went to Claim the Vessel and a Mr Stewart a Planter of Tobago to claim the Negroes. They both had Letters from Lord Macartney to Comte D'Argout but instead of receiving any Sort of Satis faction, they were scarcely treated with Civility. Tho their Property was lying in the Bay Comte D'Argout told them he knew nothing of the matter and was surprized at their Applications. The inefficacy of these has discouraged any further attempts of the like Nature. Lately a Schooner with 30 Hogs heads of Sugar and 20 Puncheons of Rum and several Marine Negroes and an unladen Sloop with 5 or 6 Negroes both at Anchor in a Bay were cut out of Tobago. The Proprietor of the former went to Martinique not to claim but to purchase his own Property and there actually contracted with Mr Bingham for the Schooner and Negroes (the Cargo was otherways disposed of) for a considerable Sum of money tho' not the full Value of them.
There is a Bay called Corbet about a Mile or half a League to the Southward of St Pierre's (the Capital) appropriated to the reception of the Americans and their Prizes. The Americans call it Philadelphia Bay. There the Prizes are openly Sold. Five or Six were taken whilst I was there. the Names of such of these as I could collect I have sent to Lloyds. I had such repeated Cautions of the risk of writing that I did not commit any informa tion that I obtained or observation that I made to writing. The motions of the English were narrowly watched and all Letters which they sent from the Island were examined. The Capture of the Hawke Capt. Mill from Africa with 454 Slaves and a large quantity of Ivory and Gold Dust was attended with some Circumstances that may deserve Notice. A Govr Mill who had Commanded a Fort upon the Coast and was coming home had all his property embarked on board of this Ship. After the Vessel was carried in Govr Mill with the assistance of two English Merchants of Antigua who happened to be at Martinique contracted for the Ransom of the Ship and Cargo at the price of 22,000 pounds Currency. The Arrangement was made, the Money and Bills provided and the Agreement was about to be executed when a Guarda Costa appeared in Corbet and signified his Orders that the Ship should not stir from thence. At the same time Comte D'Argout sent to purchase 11 of the Slaves the Marquis de Bouille 9 and the Captain of a Sloop of War 6 which the Captors durst not refuse to them. These Steps effectually frustrated the Agreement for the ransom and signified very plainly to the Captors that the Inhabitants of Martinique were alone to have the Benefit of the prizes brought in there and this valuable Cargo worth not much less than 30000 pounds Sterling was then retailed to the French for less than 12000 —
The Americans are much caressed among the Inhabitants who are equally jealous of those English whom they call Royalists. The American Flag is not only suffered in their Harbours, but is erected triumphantly in every Street in the Town. Whilst I was there an American Ship mounting 26 Guns called the Oliver Cromwell commanded by Capt. [Harmon] Courter which was generally supposed to be a Frigate, tho she was private Property belonging to Philadelphia upon going out of the Bay saluted a Sloop of War then lying there who instantly returned the Salute. This happened about the 1st of May. Mr Bingham a Native of Philadelphia has for some time been there, the professed and publick Agent of the Congress and resides publickly at No 252 Rue du Petit Versailles, from whence he deals out Commissions against the English to all such as apply for them. He had access whenever he pleased to Comte D'Argout & was upon the best terms with him. He trades very largely not only upon his own Account as a Merchant but in the purchase of all the Arms, Ammunition and Cloathing which he can get as Agent for the Congress.
The Number of Privateers fitted and fitting out is scarcely credible. Every prize Vessel proper to be converted into a Privateer is fitted out as one, for which Trade the Americans find every thing at St Pierres. There are how ever more Privateers the property of French Merchants than of Americans. They are manned chiefly with French and Italians. The real Master and Officers are French. They generally have a nominal Captain sometimes a nominal Captain and second Captain (this last is the french Appellation for that Officer whom the English call a Mate) who are Americans and to whom the Commissions (for they all have Commissions from Mr Bingham) are given. A Monsr Sargenton, a Monsr Pregent, Messrs Berne et Enfanton all Merchants in St Pierre and many others are largely concerned in these and notoriously so under the Sanction of the French Governor Comte D'Argout.
The Marquis de Bouille arrived about the 1st of May to take the Command from Monsr D'Argout who succeeds Comte D'Ennery lately dead in the Government of St Domingo. Some of the better sort of Planters and Merchants who mindful of the Events of last War had been alarmed at the Encouragement given to the Americans and had remonstrated with Comte D'Argout upon the probable Consequences of it conceived great hopes of a Change of Measures upon the Arrival of the new Governor. When I sailed Mr Bingham had been three Days at Fort Royal where the Commander in Cheif resides with both Governors & was not returned to St Pierres. I did hear that the new Governor had expressed his Surprize at the open manner in which Mr D'Argout had protected the Americans and encouraged the Hostilities of the French. How true this was I know not. I took the extraor dinary length of Mr Binghams visit as no very favorable prognostick.
Our Men of War have taken several French Ships out of Martinique with American Produce on board. This the French have complained loudly of, as an open and violent infraction of the Law of Nations. Not at all in formed of our Act of Parliament under which these Captures are made, they ascribe them entirely to the conduct observed by the French Governors and deem them Reprisals on our part for receiving in their Ports the American Prizes. I saw three Ships go out for Bourdeaux and Marseilles with Tobacco on board under Convoy of a Frigate of 36 Guns.
N.B. I cannot at this moment recollect the Name of the Ensign mentioned and for whose Name a Blank is left nor have I at hand a List of the Army in which I could readily find it.
[Endorsed] (Copy) Remarks received from Mr Arthur Piggott In Mr Knox's to Sr S P[orten] 3 July 1777
