Capt Cunningham
Sir—

I have received your letter of the 4^th. ins^t. and consulted on the Contents with my Colleagues. it is very unlucky that you fell in with that Vessel,¹ every such Adventure gives our Enemies an Advantage against us by representing of us as Persons who regard not the Laws of Nations. Your Idea that you are at Liberty to seize English Property, on board of French or other Neutral Vessels is wrong; it is contrary to the established Laws among the maritime Powers in Europe, though it is true that the English in the last War, paid little or no regard to this Law, but their superiority at Sea carried them thro', they have practiced the same this war but their Situation, and ours is very different in point of Force, tho' not so, in point of right. You will, therefore, represent the case to the Admiralty just as it was conducted, as you have represented in your Letter to us, & drop your claim, and in future let French, Spanish, and other Neutral Vessels pass, without detaining of them, unless you find them loaded with warlike Stores, and bound to the Ports of our Enemys, in which Case only, they may be detain'd agreeable to the Laws, and Treaties between the Maritime States in Europe, I hope M^r. Hodge is with you by this Time who can give you particulars than is proper for me to write, Wishing you Success I am [&c.]

PS. over Leaf

I have not as yet received the Ransom money nor have I any Answer to my last Letter on the Subject² in which I sent forward the Letter of the Hostage & Copy of yours to me—