Grenada
My Lord

As public affairs in this part of the World began to wear a serious aspect, owing to the countenance & protection which the Rebels received from the French, Dutch and Danes in the neighboring Islands, (not to mention their well wishers in our own,) I some Months since sent a Gentleman, on whom I could depend, to make a little Tour among them, and report to me what he saw and observed. He returned a few days ago, and I now sit down to give your Lordship such information as I have been able to collect from him, together with what has fallen under my own immediate view. I shall begin with Martinique, which ever since the commencement of the Rebellion, has been considered by the Americans as their chief magazine and Asylum in these seas. The Count D'Argout's conduct during his Government was so unjustifiable and he himself so conscious of it, that it became equally his own wish and that of his friends to exchange it for some other appointment, sauf son honneur. He is a native of S^t. Domingo, where he possesses a large estate, and has an only Daughter married in old France to the Marquis de Benzols, nephew of the Marshal Duke of Fitz James. Thro the Influence of this Connexion Monsieur D'Argout found means a few months since, to obtain the Command at S^t. Domingo, which fortunately for him had just then fallen vacant by the Death of the Count D'Ennery. He was succeeded at Martinique by the Marquis de Bouillè, whose letter of Notification, together with an account of the lan­ guage held to me by Monsieur de Kersaint, who brought it, I had the honor of trans­mitting to your Lordship in my dispatch of the 11^th. of last July.—¹

{Since² Monsieur de Bouille's arrival at Martinique, I have received no direct Complaints against him, in which the Islands under my Command, were properly con­cerned, but nevertheless, it is very certain that the Rebels continue to receive great countenance and assistance within his Government. They are permitted to fit out Pri­vateers from thence, to bring in their prizes and to dispose of them without under­going the ceremony of a tryal or Condemnation—This is done chiefly in the out bays, and the  Governor pretends to be totally ignorant of it; In  his conversation  he affects a perfect Neutrality, says that he is at a loss to distinguish between the  Englishman and the American, He does not know which is which, as both speak the same language and so strongly resemble each other, that all nations who bring provisions in time of Scarcity to the French Islands, are welcome to purchase goods, Warlike Stores and other Merchandize in return, and he never enquires what they do with them or where they carry them. "La France desire la paix, mais elle ne craint pas la Guerre."

Such is the language held of late by Monsieur de Bouillè, but that of the Mer­chants and generality of people at S^t. Pierre's is as hostile as possible. They consist chiefly of Buccaneers, Smugglers and other Adventurers who are eager for plunder and mischief, and expect that a War wou'd amply gratify them in both—} I dont, how­ever, find that the french planters and men of property are of that way of thinking; They chiefly reside upon their estates, keep themselves separate from the trading part, and wish to improve their fortunes in quiet and Security It cant be supposed that they have much affection for us, but it is certain, that they hold the Americans in the utmost contempt. They cannot indeed form a very advantageous Idea of them, for the Americans whom they have seen, are in general of the meanest education, and most unpolished manners, chiefly low traders, ship carpenters, Sailers and Supracargos, but nevertheless dignified with the titles of Colonels and Captains. {There are between 40 and 50 of them now at Martinique, the principal of whom is one Bingham, a native of Pennsylvania. He is about 30 years of age, was bred in a Compting house, and has within these few years travelled the several parts of Europe for the purpose of establishing Commercial Correspondences for the Rebels. He resides at S^t. Pierre's where he is considered as a kind of agent, or Consul, for his Coun­trymen; He keeps open house and makes a point of inviting to his table all the people of these Islands, who happen to visit Martinique, and I am sorry to say that too many of them have accepted of his hospitality—He corresponds with the Congress, fits out their ships, sells their prizes, and is in general charged with the whole of their affairs there—He prepares all the American Articles for the Martinique Gazette, has constant access to Monsieur Joubert, the Commandant at S^t. Pierre, and is often seen with him in public.—The Americans boast that he is well received at Fort Royal by Monsieur de Bouillè, but all the french officers and Gentlemen absolutely deny it. One part of the harbor at S^t. Pierre seems to be solely appropriated to the Rebel Ves­sels, and their prizes, which last after being unloaded in the out bays, and passing thro' several fictitious sales, are brought in and entered as American property.} The number however of American privateers in the West Indies, has of late been very much diminished and will probably be less and less every day, as there are now sev­eral of our Cruizers at sea, and our Merchant ships seldom sail without Convoy.­—There is also another reason. The Rebels find it very difficult to man their ships, ever since we have sent the prisoners to England. This circumstance more than any other deters the french Creoles from entering on board them, altho Monsieur de Bouille says it is principally owing to his prohibition. Some, however, do venture and I un­derstand the principal part of the Crews are composed of foreign desperado's of dif­ferent nations; {Among the prizes which have fallen into our hands, not a third of the people are natives of America—The french Smugglers and other small Craft have almost all Congress Commissions (perhaps without Monsieur de Bouillè's knowl­edge) and dont fail to make use of them, when a fair opportunity offers There is generally one American on board, a man of Straw, whom they then pass as the Commander, to justify their captures—} In truth the Genius of all the West Indians, with­out distinction, seems turned to piracy and freebooting, and I imagine that if the Re­bellion was at an end tomorrow, It would be necessary to keep several Cruizers here, at least for some time, till the seas are effectually scoured and the navigation secured.

Most of the Rebels at Martinique are of the sourest leaven, declare for a total in­dependance, look upon a Reconciliation with horror and talk of their own Partizans in England and their Ideas, with Ridicule and Contempt—{The Americans on the Continent are chiefly supplied in the articles of Cloathing and hardware, with British Manufactures, which are sent thither thro the Medium of S^t. Eustatia and Santa Cruz. Gun powder, Artillery, and all kind of Naval and Military Stores, are furnished them by the french—A Merchant at S^t. Pierre's told the Gentleman whom I sent there, that if he wanted 10,000 stands of Arms, he could supply him, and wou'd ship them in ten days, on board a french bottom to any port of America.} It appears that the French, Dutch, and Danes, are prodigious gainers by this trade, whilst America itself is almost exhausted to the last farthing, having no foreign Credit and  not being able to pur­chase a single article, without ready money or an equivalent commodity.

At Martinique, there are near 4000 Regulars well armed, well cloathed and in every respect well appointed, There is also a numerous Militia under good Regula­tion and discipline—The Coast is sufficiently guarded with batteries, and the Stores amply furnished with arms and ammunition. The only Naval force there at present, consists of one 64 Gun ship, 2 frigates of 32 Guns each and a Couple of small ten­ders.—Under the General Military superintendance of Martinique, (tho a distinct Government) is the Island of Guadaloupe, which is supposed to be nearly equal to it in population, culture and produce. The two Islands together contain about 20,000 whites, 160,000 Negros, employ 300 Topsail Vessels, in carrying on their Commerce, and export annually to the value of near two million Sterling.

The Island of S^t. Lucie is also a branch of the Government of Martinique, but it's progress, tho' very Rapid at it's first Establishment, seems to be now at a Stand. It contains about 1200 whites and 14,000 Negros but the Climate is not favorable and the land has proved so much inferior in quality to the first expectation, that num­bers have abandoned it and carried their negros off to Trinidada, where the Court of Spain seems to have projected a considerable settlement The Regular Troops in Guadaloupe and S^t. Lucie put together dont amount to more than 1500 Men. The other smaller french settlements are rather the shelter of Pirates and banditti, than the regular Colonies of a polished Nation. They are chiefly inhabited by the Refuse of Martinique & Guadaloupe.

As to the Great french Establishment of St Domingo, being so far to Leeward, it lay out of the sphere of my friend's observation and enquiry, but I presume that your Lordship must be perfectly instructed of what is going forward there, by your accounts from it's next neighbor, Jamaica.

With regard to our own Islands, I need not mention the strange mixture of peo­ple & Complexion which their Inhabitants are composed of—Your Lordship knows that above half of Grenada and the Grenadines are french, There is also a consid­erable Number of French in Dominique and S^t. Vincents.

These together with the Americans, of whom there are a great many scattered thro our West Indies, are certainly not well affected to us. I have often had reason to suspect that they convey'd intelligence to the Rebels and that several Captures had been made in consequence, but I never have been able to verify my conjectures, by Evidence—If there should be a french War, I imagine that this Island wou'd be a principal object for the Enemy.—The french having formerly been masters of it, are perfectly well acquainted with it's value and importance, and have often exprest their expectations of being able some day or other to recover it. Your Lordship will see by the Monthly returns how little resistance it could make in it's present state—A British fleet alone can effectually protect it, or indeed any of our West India possessions.­ And here I think it my duty to mention that for these three months past, the Admi­ral has paid very particular attention to this Government. Several Vessels of his Squadron have been cruizing round us, and we have had the pleasure of seeing them from time to time in our ports.

Before I conclude this Letter, I must apologize for it's being so long and desul­tory, but I imagined your Lordship wou'd rather excuse me for trespassing in this man­ner, than for omitting any thing, which when compared with other intelligence, might possibly tend to remove an Error or clear up a Doubt. I have the honor to be [&c.]

October 24^th. 1777

{P.S.

Since writing the above, I have certain information that the Governor of Martinique about a fortnight ago received dispatches from Europe, the purport of which was, that probably before that time the War in America wou'd be over, in  which case it was not impossible that the English forces and the Americans, (which last are now so well acquainted with all the french Islands,) might pay a visit to Martinique or some of the other french Colonies—In consequence of this Letter, on the 8^th. Instant an Embargo was laid on all Vessels at Martinique, The Troops have been review'd, The Guards of the Batteries doubled, the free Negros arm'd and Regimented, and every thing put into such order as if hostility was apprehended.} M