Copy.
Extract of a Letter from President Greathead to Lord George Germain dated St Christophers 31th Decr 1776.
I have the honour of forwarding to your Lordship Copies of my Letters to the Governor of St Eustatius, his answer and my reply, with Copies of Depositions taken in this Island, respecting the flagrant Indignity offered to His Majesty's Colours, in the Publick Honour paid by the Principal Dutch Fort to an American Privateer, and the notorious assistance afforded in that Island to His Majesty's Rebel Subjects. With regard to the specifick Charge of the British Brigantine [taken] by an armed Sloop fitted out at St Eustatius, I must beg leave to refer your Lordship to the representation which you will, I presume, recive from Governor Shirley, who sent down a Letter to the Dutch Governor on this subject by Mr Forster McConnell, the Proprietor of the Vessel and Cargo; and altho I had no direct positive Evidence on Oath laid before me of the Ownership of the Privateer by Dutch Subjects, nor of the specific nature of the supplies daily sent from St Eustatius to North America (the Difficulty of obtaining which will, I flatter my Self at once suggest it Self to your Lordship) yet I hope that my Zeal for His Majesty's Service will not be found by your Lordship to have transported me beyond the strict Line of my Duty; and that as the Capture of the Brigantine was seen from this Island, the Identity of her clearly established to my Satisfaction, and the Fact of the almost daily unrestrained Commerce between North America and St Eustatius too notorious to be contradicted, I shall not fall under His Majesty's Displeasure for making my representation and remonstrance to the Dutch Governor so full.
