(Copy)
Sir

I had the honor to receive Your Dispatch by Captain Colpoyse and can assure you Sir that I entertain the same sentiments with regard to the illegality of the Mode lately adopted of fitting out Armed Vessels without Commissions or any lawfull authority from the Crown, for the Purpose of Cruizing and making Captures of American Vessels and that it is highly derogatory to the Kings Authority; my Sentiments upon that head are I hope by this Time partly known to You, as I suppose my Dispatches containing a Correspondence between the Generals of Martinico Guadeloupe and myself have before this reached your hands.

I now take the liberty to inclose the General of Martinico's Answer to my last Letter to him upon that Subject: the Inclosed Papers Marked No 2 will inform You Sir what my Sentiments are in a fuller manner, and You may depend upon it, Sir, I will use the utmost my Endeavours and Authority that no Body from this Island shall Act Contrary to them. at the same Time Sir, I cannot but lament the Hardships the People of this Island labour under, their Property taken from them, themselves carried into Captivity, threat'ned from the French Islands within sight of Us that the Rebels are arming and fitting out Privateers in those Ports for the Purpose of Depredating even upon our Coasts and plundering us on Shore; Our local Situation so near the French (who surely notwithstanding all their excuses and pretences, behave in a most Scandalous Manner) make us feel the effects of these Troublesome Times very Severely: and certainly must raise a Wish in the Breast of every one to have it in their Power to resent and revenge themselves for such Injustice and Violence; But Sir I am sure that I can answer for the Loyalty of the Inhabitants of this Island, and that now the matter is Explained to them, they will patiently abide a proper Authority for doing themselves Justice, And I am sure I need not urge to You Sir that they ought to be Defended and protected from these intolerable Violences by every Lawful Assistance which We can possibly Afford them. I have the Honour to be with great Esteem and Respect. Sir [&c.]

P: S As we have so few safe Opportunitys of Sending Our Letters from hence, I beg leave Sir, of troubling Captn Colpoyse with some Dispatches to the Treasury Board and Secretary of State, and shall be infinitely Obliged to You Sir, to let them be forwarded with Your Dispatches. —

[Endorsed] (No 9) Governor Shirley's Letter in Answer to Adml Young.

[Admiralty endorsement] (one Inclosure) In Adml Young's Letter Dated 8 March 1777