Sir

The two last points of your letter,¹ to which I promised in mine a separate answer,² were your complaints against the American Officer, and my intention in sending you six Granadiers.

As the first of these points, you will give me leave (tho' we both know the case) to mention it in writing, that it may be an undeniable fact; because if our Courts read the expressions of insult and others relative to this affair, they would really think, that I would not have given you, & to your Flag a competent satifaction. The fact (as I have been informed) was this: the Americans plac'd themselves opposite to your Ship and hailed, from whence came you, and was answered, that no answers were given to Rebels or Banditti, to which words several others of the same kind were added, and to which the Americans replied; since we are such, we will come this night and pay you a Visit with two hundred Men—

In which of these expressions, is there an affront offered to you or your Flag. If the officer has behaved improperly, it is to me, in threatning from a place, from whence it is not permitted, and for which he has given me ample satisfaction before the officers of my Court, as well as he would have done to you, if you had chose to accept of it: so that without further reflections I do not find any reason to deliver you the said officer, as you demand it; these threats proceeded from impru- dence and levity, you may call them an insult, but not an affront—This insult (and it was nothing else) consisted in words, and in words, ought to have consisted the satisfaction. If it had been in facts, his person would have been your satisfaction: this is Justice, and any other pretensions are needless.

In regard to the six Granadiers & a Corporal, which with my Boat & the Royal Flag were to stay along side of your Ship. I must be very little acquainted with war (tho' it is my profession) had I thought, that seven Men could be capable of defending your Ship, which I took upon to be well armed. If my ideas had been to reinforce her, I would not have sent so small a Number; a reinforcement is useless, if its object is not to assure victory at the end of a battle.

What I mean is, on the contrary to prevent the beginning of an engagement. This being supposed, and the Americans alledging, that those vessels have been taken in this River, and that they have the right of reprisals in the same River. To prevent any rash attempt I sent neither the Boat, nor the Grenadiers, but a Flag of a King which is respected by the Americans. Moreover as soon as you complain to me of an insult and demand satisfaction from me, I think myself responsible, as soon as you lay the effects to my charge, it is incumbent upon me to prevent them for the future, and how if it is so, can you be surprised, that I take the only step, which secures you from insults & complaints, and me from responsibility and satisfactions. In short you thought my intentions were good, & you was in the right, because I am not capable of entertaining bad ones against any body—&c

New Orleans
March 20^th. 1778