No 47.

The last advices from Galicia and Sir John Hort's intelligence to His Majesty's Consuls in this country bring an account of the progress and boldness of the American privateers who have ventured so far as the coasts of this and the neighboring kingdoms; a circumstance which affects, and ought to alarm every commercial nation in Europe, and to induce a general opposition to it. There is now at Bilbao, as I am informed by letters written in the instant of the post setting out from thence, at anchor in the river there, a Captain [John] Lee, with an American armed schooner, named the Hawke, mounting eight carriage guns and sixteen swivels, who had landed there two captains of vessels which he had taken and sent to America; it is added that this vessel was fitted out even at Bilbao itself. The English vessels now there are detained for fear of this active privateer.

I have communicated these circumstances to M Grimaldi, who has promised to make the strictest inquiry, which I likewise do by this nights post, concerning it. I did not fail on this occasion to represent how absolutely necessary it was to convince the masters and captains of such vessels that they were not to expect the least countenance in the ports of this Kingdom. It does not appear that this privateer had come into the harbor, but only that it is at anchor in the river, which being the case, M Grimaldi could not be induced to take any direct measures against it.

Whenever he communicates to me the answers made to his inquiries on this head, I will again endeavor to bring him to some fixed point, but at present, being on my side much averse to meet with any refusal, and he unwilling to take anything upon himself, I cannot presume to promise how far any explicit measures may be avowed, tho' I think I can answer that no protection will be afforded, or even entrance allowed to a vessel manifestly armed against us.