Señor Comandante General de este Reyno

Señor. Don Herman Katencamp Consul de S. M. B. en este Reyno con la major veneracion devida Digo a VS. que haviendose ausentado d'escapado (sin la menor inteligencia mia) Juan Jordan Marinero Ingles de a bordo del Corsario Americano Rebel de que se halla en este Puerto,¹ motivado del maltrato que recevia por no haver querido firmar Articulos de Servicio en dho Corsario, Cuio mariner se ha aplicado a mi para que le amparase y protexiese para su retiro a Inglaterra, en lo que no puse la menor Objeqion, mandandole al Ferrol abordo de un navio Ingles nombrado Thomas su Capitan Joseph Pine, quese hallava pronto a hazerse a la vela, siendo bien persuadido que hacia lo devido en amparar y assistir a los Subditos de mi Soberano que toman refuxio en un Pais neutral, escampandose de los Rebel des que por violencia les tienen y obligan a tomar las Armas contra su Patria, y allo la estraña novedad y attentado que segun aviso que por proprio me acava de dar dho Capitan Joseph Pine que en la noche del dia 20 del Corriente cinco marineras de la Tripulaçion del citado Corsario acompanados de dos Soldados Armados de los de la Guarnicion de la Plaza de dho Ferrol, pasaran a su bordo, y con fuerza y violencia llevaron a dho marinero Juan Jordan sin que precediese manifestaçion de Orden alguna loque me veo precisado a representarlo a la Justificacion de U.S. y rendidamente suplico Se Serva tomar las mas seria Providencia mandando que dhos cinco marineros sean examinados muy por menor, y que el Juan Jordan traido ante al Tribunal competente a donde pueda libramente hazer su defensa en Forma legal respecto no tiene Segun me ha informado echo Obligacion alguna, y en cas de salir inocente, castigar a los deliquentes o a su Capitan por haver les mandado cometer semejante violencia, y Ultraxe en un Puerto neutral, Merced que con Justizia espero recivir de la notoria Justification de VS. Corunna 22^d. Nov: 1777.

[Translation]

Commanding General of this District

Sir. Mr. Herman Katencamp, consul of his Britannic Majesty in this district, with the greatest veneration, informs you that John Jordan, English seaman, having absented himself by escape (without my least knowledge), from on board the rebel American privateer that is in this port,¹ motivated by the bad treatment that he received because of not wanting to sign the articles of service in the said privateer, has applied to me to shelter and protect him. For his return to England, to which he has no objection, I sent him to Ferrol on board an English ship named Thomas, Captain Joseph Pine, which was soon to set sail, being well persuaded that he ought to protect and assist the subjects of my sovereign that take refuge in a neutral country, escaping from the rebels that by violence take them and oblige them to take up arms against their country. And I learn the strange news and offence that according to information that the said Captain Joseph Pine has just given me by messenger that in the night of the 20th of this month, five seamen of the crew of the said privateer, accompanied by two armed soldiers from the garrison of the plaza of the said Ferrol, came on board, and with force and violence took the said seaman John Jordan without first showing any orders. I have the necessity to represent this to you for your explanation and humbly entreat you to take the most serious steps to have the said five seamen examined very closely, and John Jordan brought before a competent tribunal where he could freely make his defense in a legal form in respect to having not—according to what he has told me—undertaken any obligation, and in case he is found innocent, to punish the delinquents or their captain for having sent them to commit unjustified violence within a neutral port. Your honor, with justice I wait to receive your explanation from the notary's office. Corunna 22^d. Nov. 1777.

H Katencamp.