Illustrious Sir:

I have learned from the Royal Order Your Excellency transmitted, dated August 6, that the King has approved the answer I gave to the Governor of Louisiana, following his request to dispatch a War Frigate to the Mississippi River in order to maintain respect in those shores, and expressing His Majesty's will that amid the strict neutrality he enjoins be observed in the war of the English with their Colonists, no permission be given to one or the other to enter into these Ports, and much less to permit acts of h9stilities among them within the shelter of said ports, or reach of their guns, since in such cases they should be advised to abstain from executing those acts, and if they do not abstain, to oblige them to do so repelling them with Artillery. I have communicated that Royal Resolution to the said Governor of Louisiana, to that of Cuba and to the Lieutenant Governors of this Island, that they observe and obey it, as I shall punctually do myself; but I wish to bring to the attention of Your Excellency that the refusal to permit entrance to English ships, in my understanding applies except in cases of emergency, in which case in accord with the spirit of previous Resolutions the indispensable hospitality must be extended; and were it the intention of His Majesty not to permit anchoring under any circumstances I pray that your Lordship so advise me, so that thus it may be complied with, and we may be freed from the inconvenient visits of Foreign Ships, which will never cease to frequent Havana since there are no other ports nearby where similar facilities may be had to obtain promptly the necessary assistance. Our Lord Grant, [&c.] —

Havana, 26 November 1776