No. 40
St. Georges October 24th. 1777
Grenada
My Lord
Having mentioned the Island of Trinidada in my Letter of yesterday, I think it necessary to speak a little more particularly of it, and to observe that if ever it should come to be well peopled and cultivated, it might prove a painful thorn in the sides of these Windward Islands.
It lies about 5 leagues S.S.W. distant from Tobago, and 30 leagues almost due South from Grenada. To go from Grenada to Trinidad takes at least four or five days on account of the Currents, but the return is generally performed in one.
It seemed to have been entirely neglected by the Spaniards and was chiefly in habited by Caribs and fugitives from the Main, till a few months ago a new Governor1 was sent there, who on his arrival published a proclamation inviting people to come and settle at Trinidada, offering every advantage and Encouragement that could be desired. In consequence of it many of the inhabitants of St: Lucie, several Bankrupts of this Island, and various other persons of desperate fortunes, embraced the proposal, carried thither their Negroes & began to form Settlements and Plantations.
Among others a french Gentleman of this Island was tempted to try his fortune there, but not much approving either of the people or the Government he soon returned. Inclosed I have the honor to send a Copy of the observations he made during his Stay at Trinidada, and as he is a man of sense and Veracity, I imagine them to be pretty just.
As2 the passage from Trinidada to Tobago, is often performed in two or three hours, it some times happens that notwithstanding the utmost Vigilance of our people, Spanish Launches and other small Vessels approach the Coast unperceived.—About a Month since, a small Schooner from Trinidada came over in the night to Man of War bay at the North East end of Tobago, where two new Plantations were just begun by Messieurs Meyers and Kelly, landed a number of men and carried off near 40 Slaves and a small Schooner lying at Anchor—The Chief of this Enterprise was one Paschall Bonavitta, a Corsican by birth, who had formerly lived at Martinique and Committed several Piracies and Robberies in these Seas under a pretended American Commission.—The Commission now runs in the name of one White and has already served for several different little pirate Vessels, on board of which this White, who is generally the only American of the Crew, had served at different times.—He was with Paschal Bonavitta on the expedition at Man of War bay, but the Schooner was the property of Paschal and in fact Commanded by him—These plunderers then returned to Trinidada with their booty—One of the Proprietors of the Slaves immediately came over here from Tobago, & made his Complaint to me, on which I dispatched the Favorite Sloop of War which happened to be in the Road here, with a Letter to the Governor of Trinidada, demanding the Slaves to be restored, and the Pirate to be delivered up or severely punished—Neither of which Requisitions was complied with, but in return an evasive, unsatisfactory answer was sent to me, as your Lordship will perceive on reading the inclosed papers, which I have the Honor now to transmit—They consist of my Letter to the Governor of Trinidada and his Answer, also the Deposition of Mr. Meyers whom I had sent in the Favorite and who returned in her here, the day before yesterday—3
I send also a Letter from the Governor of Trinidada to Captain Fooks on his first arrival at Trinidada, and Captain Fooks's answer, to which no reply was given.4
The Negros were certainly landed at Trinidada and disposed of in the manner mentioned in Meyers's Affidavit No other British ship besides the Favorite went to Trinidada, or was near the Coast, but the Governor's apprehension had magnified her appearance into five armed Vessels as he mentions in his Letter.—
There is no defence or fortification in the Island, Except a small batterie of four Six pounders, and half a Dozen Soldiers, so that the favorite's boats well manned were an over match for the whole force of the Colony.—Captain Fooks behaved with the utmost prudence and discretion offering no offence or hostility whatsoever—But unless the Court of Spain sends orders to the Governor of Trinidada, to observe a different conduct, I am very much affraid that the people of Tobago will take upon themselves to retaliate and tho I shou'd certainly use all my power & Authority to prevent any thing of the kind, it might be very difficult to fix the fact upon the proper persons. I have the Honor to be [&c.]
