On board His Britanic Majestys
Sloop of War the Sylph, in the
River Mississippi, 15th. March 1778
Sir
I am honored with your Excellency's Letter of yesterday's date, by which you express your surprise, at my conceiving you to be in a state of War against my Sovereign, I think, I have sufficiently explained my reasons in my letter of the 14th. which I was authorized to do, from knowing your Excellency's sentiments, respecting the privileges of the River Mississippi, fully explained in your Correspondence with Captain Lloyd of His Britanick Majestys Sloop of War Atalanta, in your Letter of the 12th. May 1777,1 in which you remind him of the Rights of your Sovereign, and beg, he will recollect the Privileges, which the whole River enjoys, with regard to every Vessel being under your Guns in its utmost extent, and consequently prohibited by the Treaties of Peace, and Law of Nations to commit any Hostility at so short a distance. Notwithstandg. of which, your Excellency has permitted that Liberty which, you deny to the King, my Master, to a Party of His American Rebel Subjects (immediately under your Protection) I therefore naturally concluded, that your intentions were hostile towards Great Britain.
Your Excellency is pleased to say, that you are guided in your present proceedings by the Customs of Europe where the Royalists & Americans are received equally, without the Court of Great Britain taking it for a declaration of War.
I must beg leave to observe to your Excellency, that the present point in dispute, is by no means, parallel, as I look upon the River Mississippi, to be a common Harbour to the Ships of Great Britain and Spain, and that we ought mutually to preserve the Rights of both our Sovereigns.I now think it indispensibly my duty, on the part and in behalf of the King, my Master, to demand and require immediate restitution of the Vessels and property, that have been lately seized upon, in the Mississippi by His Britannic Majestys Rebellious American Subjects in violation of the Privileges of the said River: if there is any part of the property, that does not come under the above description, it may be deposited with your Excellency, till the pleasure of your Court is known. Your Excellency enjoins me to preserve the peace, which now happily subsists between our respective Sovereigns,which I have hitherto most religiously observed, and will continue so to do, as far as is consistent with my duty. I most ardently wish, that you may comply with this my very reasonable request, and by that means put it in my power to salute the Spanish Flag, and to pay my respects to your Excellency; which I cannot possibly do, till this point is settled, and whilst there is a Flag displayed under your Guns, which is not acknowledged by Great Britain, and ought not to be by any Power upon Earth, &particularly by Nations, that are possessed of Colonies who should be cautious of setting a pernicious example in abetting, favoring or assisting by any means, directly or indirectly, such Subjects united in such direct and open Rebellion against their natural Sovereign.
I have just received another Letter from your Excellency,2 on the subject of the insult, I received, and expressing your disaprobation of such proceedings, which you say, you will put a stop to for the future, and at the same time, desiring that I would not use the appellation of Rebel, to any person under the Protection of the Spanish Government, I would have your Excellency assured, that I will not suffer any person, under your Protection, to be insulted, but if ever I have occasion to answer, the People that have shaken off their allegiance to their lawful Sovereign, I can find no word, in my language; so expressive, as that of Rebel. I cannot receive any other concession from the man complained of, but that of his delivering himself up, and imploring the mercy of his Sovereign. I think the affront was as much offered to your Excellency as to me, you may accept of what reparation you think proper; and I do again assure you, that I will punish with the utmost Severity, any person under my command, that shall dare to insult even the meanest Subject under your protection.
I am surprised, that your Excellency sent six Granadiers for my protection, as I apprehend you are possessed of force enough to keep peace in your Province, and I flatter myself, I have sufficient force to defend the Ship, I have the honor to command—I dare say, your intentions were good, as such I take them, and have the honor to be [&c.]
P.S I have the honor to thank your Excellency for your very polite offer of services, and am fully sensible of the attention you have had to British Officers & Subjects, on several occasions