Most Excellent Sir

In answer to your Excellencys Paper of 21^st. March last which I received by direction of Captain Joseph Nunn Commander of one of his Britanick Majestys Ships of War,¹ Concerning the restitution of the Persons and Effects of his Majestys Subjects Seized in this River by a Party of American Troops, under the Command of M^r James Willing: I am to acquaint your Excellency That in the Actual War which old and New England carry on with reciprocal Vigores against each Other; We have seen the publick papers filled with Complaints, such as those made by your Excellency, upon the manner in which each party Conducts itself, between the Generals of both parties, without Touching the mutual rights of making this War, and it does not belong to me to declare, for the legality or illegality of the Congress Commissions, which have been presented to me: nothing remains for me to do but to maintain Inviolable the immunity of this Territory, and not to permit the least action to be committed which may affect the authority of the Prince, or Sully the Sanctuary of neutrallity, in doing which I have hitherto Succeeded—

From a natural principle I thought to avoid whatever may endanger the preservation of this Province, for if so be the americans once possess themselves of the upper parts of this River, they will of Course Command its Navigation, I cannot Treat them as Enemies without exposing myself to the resentment of a Victorious Party, who could dispute with me the rights of their Conquest—

That I on my part have acted with that Justice and Equity which your Excellency does me the Honor to suppose me Possessed of, cannot be doubted Let your Excellency inform yourself, and you will find that I have not only reclaimed, and delivered to her owners the Brigantine Neptune, taken on the Spanish Coast,² but also your Excellencys own Negroes, those of Mess^rs. Livingston and Bay—³ The Effects of M^r Priest & M^r Shakespear,⁴ Mess^rs. Poussett & Marshalls Negroes[,] the Effects of Rabbicaud those of William Easton,⁵ and archibald Crawford, and lastly the Schooner and Negroes belonging to M^r Ross.—⁶ If this can convince your Excellency of the Justice and Equity with which I have acted I believe you will also be satisfied with my reasons—Your Excellency asks restitution of the Negroes taken by said Party upon His Britannick Majestys Land, and the Ship Rebecca.⁷ I should be glad your Excellency woud advise me, if I was to consult you, whether I ought to deliver them up, even if it were in my own power to do it: for besides that I am only bound by the Laws of Neutrality, not to permit any Act in the Spanish Territory by which the Colours can be dishonored— 

Your Excellency must know that I cannot be responsible for Goods taken, between the Natchez and Manchack 

Your Excellency likewise knows that the Laws of Nations extends to the Persons of Santiago Elliot & Harrison.⁸ If said Person be in the Lands Commanded by me, I can as little deliver them up without Violating said Law of Nations, as well as those of Spain— 

I prevent as far as possible any of his C:M:⁹ Subjects furnishing Succours to the americans—I caused a Proclamation to be published, by which I Prohibit it, and as I am perfectly assured that they will not act against it,¹⁰ I have only to request your Excellency to be persuaded also, how sorry I should be to see that harmony which is daily renewed between my court and that of London interrupted upon this account &C.