May it please your Honour

I had the honour of Addressing you the 9^th: Ult^o.1 on the Affair of M^r. Allen in the Schoo^r Hawk's prize Brigg Britannia, w^ch has been seiz'd by the Marquiss Basecourt Gen^l of S^t. Sebastian; the Vessell unrigg'd, the Cargo unloaded & dispos'd of, & the Crew confin'd in Prison, with a design of Confiscation, on a specious pretence of Piracy. However valid their pretence, & how far warrantable their process, on the premises transmitted to you, your honour must be a Competent Judge:—but to all concern'd it is perfectly mysterious how the s^d Gen^l can justify his Conduct without any other pretence than her being a pirate; for since I wrote your honour I procur'd the fullest evidence of the legality of the Capture, both from the Coasting pilots, & the former master & his Crew, w^ch together with Cap^t Hibbert's commission has been translated into Spanish & the whole regularly Authenticated by a Notary & Attested by several principal Merchants, before a Magistrate:—these Sir, with a second & third petition have been laid before his Ex^cy the s^d Gen^l but to no other purpose than his bare acknowledging "he had been petition'd:"—& to the great damage of our Voyage our men are Still detain'd prisoners on the Scanty allowance of 6^d Sterling per Day.—

Upon our finding that our fate would finally Issue from Madrid,² we made application to our friend & Agent at Madrid M^r. James Gardoqui, with a full representation of the Case; such as the Authority of Cap^t Hibbert; positive evidence of the legality of the Capture; the process of M^r. Allen y^e master; that of the Gen^l & his Serv^t.; my application & the event; & the present situation of our Interest & people at S^t. Sebastian.—As it is necessary for us Sir, to be on our passage homewards, we must entreat your Intercession for the restoration of our Intrest & people; more particularly the latter, who suffer on a suspicion, w^ch in a Court of Justice would long since been dispel'd by our full evidence.

If your honour, may have occasion to direct a reply to our remonstrances, please to direct to M^r Jno: Emery in y^e house of Mes^s. Jos. Gardoqui & Sons at Bilbao. mean time I have the honour to be [&c.]³

"Bilbao Jan^y 6^th. 1778"