(Copy.)

Sir I was favoured yesterday with your Letter of the 16th Instant, and having the Day before received one from Mr [Thomas] Warner, His Majesty's Attorney General of His Leeward Charibbee Islands, accompanied by Copies of two Letters he received from you, and of two wrote by him to you on the Subject of the Sloop Reprisal, also a Copy of a Case touching the same Sloop with his Opinion thereon; I am at a loss to know what legal Measures I can take for putting an immediate Stop to the proceedings you complain of within my Government, since His Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General, on whose Advice I must rely in Cases of Difficulty, both agree in opinion, that an Armed Non Commissioned Vessel has a right to take the Ships and Vessels which are found trading contrary to the 16th of His present Majesty intitled An Act to prohibit all Trade and Intercourse with the Colonies of New Hampshire &ca However although I cannot require Mr Warner to act contrary to his own Sentiments, I shall desire him to move the Court of Vice Admiralty in Antigua to Order that the proceeds of Vessels and Cargo's taken by Non Commissioned Cruisers do remain in the Hands of the Receiver of the Rights and Perquisites of the Admiralty until His Majesty's pleasure be known, or that the Captors do give Security to refund such part as may be adjudg'd to them by the same Court in case their Proceedings shou'd be disapproved of by His Majesty. —

I shall most readily pay all Regard and Attention to whatever comes recommended by you for His Majesty's Service, and am very sorry I have received no Directions from England to regulate my Conduct with Regard to Armed Vessels.

I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]

James Young Esqre
Vice Admiral of the Red &c &c.

[Endorsed] No 5. 16 January 1777. Copy of Letters from Vice Adml Young to Craister Greatheed Esqre Commander in Chief of St Christopher & the Leeward Charibbe Islands