Watertown, June 5th, 1776
[Extract]
A large Sugar Ship from Jamaica with 300 hhds. sugar, 80 puncheons rum, some Madeira wine, etc., etc., is taken and got into the vineyard in her way to Bedford. It is said that four or five others are taken by two Privateers who took this. What Privateers they are I cant learn.2
Must not something be done to prevent British Property being covered by the West Indians? We shall loose our Labour, and discourage our Seamen.capture? Why should not all English property going to Britain be liable to this matter must be considered.3 We should fight them on equal terms. We have a number of Seamen here supported at your expence. If your Generosity and Civilized Sentiments prevent, won't good policy dictate recourse to the Lex talionis?4 They are wanted. you will find the want ofthem when you man your ships.
1. Warren-Adams Letters, I, 245, 255.
2. The ship Reynolds, one of three sugar ships from Jamaica, taken by the Pennsylvania privateers Congress and Chance.
3. The resolution of April 3, 1776 confines captures or seizures to "any inhabitants of Great Britain." It was not until July 24, 1776 that Congress closed this loophole by resolving that captures should include any vessel or vessels "belonging to any subject or subjects of the King of Great Britain, except the inhabitants of the Bermudas and [New] Providence or Bahama Islands."
4. The law of retaliation.
