Sir.

Your Excellency has been pleased under the 12^th. of January last to transmit to me the Petition of James Potter, Attorney for John Adams Owner of the late Sloop Rose a private commission'd Vessel of War in Behalf of James Ledlar: in which I find he complains of, that the Crew saved were seized bv the Guards and Dragged into a Dungeon where thev now remain in a Deplorable Condition, one of whom died soon after being taken into Custody—

To which I must answer that those of the said Crew which the 26^th. of Decemb: last were picked up in the open Sea, were carried into Salt River Bay and from there without the least Guard brought in the Town here at Christianstad, when I order'd them to be arrested, not in a Dungeon but in the same Chambers where Burghers and other Inhabitants of this Island are secured and arrested for Debts, and where they all are in very good Health and not one died contrary to M^r. Potters Insinuation.—

The same day I ordered the Pilot to go with a Guard and others to Buck Island, to bring Captain Ledlar with two of his People then there, down to this Place, as said Ledlar had made his Station at Buck Island, being constantly to an Anchor there, and his Domicile the Mansion House on said Island, from whence he could see every coming or going Vessel, which he then brought to and forced them to go to an Anchor untill he had searched them.—

The same he did when at Anchor at Buck Island or some other Bay's at S^t. Thomas:—

He further attacked our own Vessels in the Mouth of the Harbour and within reach of our Guns, which several times were fired after him, chaced them by constantly firing at them both with his Guns and small arms, so that a Schooner belonging to this Place and coming from Puerto Rico with Mules was in the above Manner chaced by him and runned on Shore at the North Side of this Island, where she was lost—

These are neither Informations nor Narratives but Facts proved and asserted by himself and his saved Crew at a Polity Courts Examination which I have perused.—

I wonder if this is by Virtue of his Instructions (if ever he had a Commission) that he thus dared anoy the Trade and insult the Forts and Treaties of his King's Allies.—

I shou'd believe not; tho' one Mollineux from Tortola did the same before him: and he besides this killed a Man with a Musquet Shot on Board Ms^rs. Tennent & Ross's Vessel after he had hailed and brought her to, Killed Eight Sheep in the Pen at Buck Island, carried them on Board his Schooner, and pass'd close to the Harbour of this Town with them hanging quite fresh Killed over the one Side, so that no Body shou'd doubt his Violence: yea! when the Manager at Buck Island complained to him of his hostile Behaviour, acquainting him at the same time, that I had publickly forbid him and every Inhabitant here to supply them with fresh Meet from the Shore, but that they shou'd go in the Harbour where they cou'd get Refreshments: he then answered: I do not mind Your General, I wish, I had him and I wou'd hang him up by the Heels and I will take Sheep in Spite of him and the whole Island, also lay to an Anchor where I please.—

These gross Insults I must still forbear untill Satisfaction may be got from my Court, being tired of complaining in vain here: and I am likewise forc'd to suffer the daily Insults from the Commander of the Sloop call'd the Reprisal from Tortola; who has threatned different People of this Island and particularly Captain John Watlington, which Your Excellency will see by the following Deposition—¹

Your Excellency will judge by this whether I dare set James Ledlar on free foot,² before I have received my King's Orders, or whether I am bound to secure him untill such time.—

As to his Crew, I have nothing against they having been under his Orders and obliged to obey his Commands: but in regard to him I think, that his Misconduct rather than the Sloop's Misfortune aggravates his Crimes.—

I am sincerely Your Excellency's [&c.]

S^te: Croix
February 3^d. 1778.