Copy)
Sir

I have just received Your Excellency's Letter of the 2nd Instant,² Complaining that a French Brigantine called Le Guillaume, coming from Miquelon has been taken by an Armed Boat called the Abraham: one Gilbert Grant Commander, who had no Commission to Act in an Hostile manner, and has been carried into the Island of Dominica; I am very sorry to receive from any of his Brittanie Majesty's Friends and Allies: Complaint of such a Nature, as I totally disapprove and Disavow that any Vessels can legally Cruize on the High Seas, (to make Captures) even in the time of War, without being authorized by Commission from the Prince or State to which they belong: This Gilbert Grant I know not but am Concern'd to find that several other Armed Vessels, without any Commission to do so, are Cruizing in the like manner; having obtained an opinion from some of the Lawyers in this and the other Islands "that all His Brittannic Majesty's Subjects have a legal Right during the present open Rebellion to distress and annoy His Majesty's Enemies in any manner they can.["]

Though I very much disapproved this Opinion and Measure, I did not inter£ere therein, so long as they only annoyed the Common Enemy; and I flattered myself they would not presume to meddle with any Vessels that did not belong to the American Rebels, or do any thing to occasion dispute between his most Christian Majesty's Governors and myself, with whom I have at all times endeavoured to keep up the most Friendly Correspondence; however since it appears from your Excellency's representation they now begin to act offensively against the Friends and Allies of Great Britain: Be assured I will use every means in my power to prevent any more of them Cruizing on the High Seas, by ordering the King's Ships under my Command to make Capture of all such Armed Vessels as they can meet with at sea which are Cruizing for the purpose of taking Prizes and are not Commissioned to do so, and will also endeavour as far as I am able to prevent any of them hereafter to sail from this Island, I shall likewise request the Governors of the other English Islands to do the same in their respective Governments. As to the Vessel in Question: if the Circumstances of the case appear to be such as has been represented to Your Excellency, there can be no manner of doubt, but she will be cleared and restored by the Court of Admiralty at Dominica, and the Person to whom she belonged may recover ample Damages in the Courts of Law there.

In regard to the St Guillaume Captain David from St domingo Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed account given me by the Officer Commanding his Britannic Majesty's Armed Brigantine Pelican who Seized her that very few of the Circumstances appear as related in the Memorial Transmitted by your Excellency, and that the officer had great Reason to beleive the Vessel called the St Guillaume was intended to be fitted out as an American Privateer; having many Guns and other Warlike Stores seneted on board, although the Master had declared her to be only in Ballast. as to the Matter of Bribing the Sailors on board to give false Evidence, I presume no Court of Justice in any Nation suffer such Practices: this Vessel will be Libelled and tryed in the Court of Vice Admiralty at Dominica, — where the Parties claiming property therein' may be heard in defence thereof and will undoubtedly have strict Justice done them.

As such kind of Disputes may prove very disagreeable in their Consequence I shall send express to the Court of London a true and faithful Account of these matters and request such further Instructions and Authority as may fully enable me in future to prevent any Complaints of this Nature; and I hope in the mean time to preserve Inviolate that Friendship and good Faith with his Most Christian Majesty's Governors, which ought ever to exist between the Officers of Princes in Alliance.

After these Explanations your Excellency must permit me leave also, to make Complaint of the great Number of Privateers and Armed Vessels belonging to the American Rebels that are harboured in the French Islands, where they meet with every kind of Indulgence and protection, and are thereby enabled more Effectually to annoy the Trade of His Brittannic Majesty's Loyal and Faithful Subjects; and also obtain information of such Ships and Vessels as must unavoidably pass within sight of the French Islands: surely this cannot but be deemed breach of Neutrality, and there must be a great difference between protecting the harmless Trader, and the Armed Pirate: for I presume Your Excellency will agree with me that Subjects acting in open Rebellion against their Lawful Prince can only be considered in that light by reason they can have no Lawful Commission to authorize their proceedings: I flatter myself .therefore Your Excellency will not any longer permit the Rebel Privateers and Armed Vessels to be Harboured: Refitted and supplied with such Stores as they may want at any of the Islands under Your Government.

As Your Excellency is pleased to mention You shall order Reprisals to be made, should my Answer not prove definitive and Satisfactory: I must take leave to acquaint You. In that Case I shall Certainly use my utmost Endeavours to prevent any Injury being done to the Loyal Subjects of the King my Master —

I have the Honor to be &ca

His Excellency the Compte Dargout Governor General &ca Martinique

[Endorsed] No 2 Copy of Letter to Compte Dargout in Answer to his Letter dated the 2d February 1777.

[Endorsed by the Admiralty] In V. A. Young's Letter Dated 9th March 1777 —