Sir:

I received the letter of the 9th of this month which your Excellency wrote and honored me with. The disapproval which you avow of the acts by pirates without official sanction is a testimony of my opinion that you are just and I was already persuaded that such abuses, true acts of brigands in the eyes of civilized nations would be stopped with the issuance of orders as soon as they would have been made known. I would like to express my satisfaction in receiving the assurance regarding this essential point which the letter tenders.

Your Excellency deceived by rumors or insidious remarks believes that I am granting to the Anglo-Americans a protection prejudicial to the British; however I may assure you that being neutral in the national quarrel which divides you, France receives both in ports which, because of incontestible rights, are open to all the nations which deem them useful to their trade. Therefore the Anglo-Americans have traded with these islands with simple commercial intentions and not for protection; also I have not tolerated that any vessel be commissioned to wage war upon his Majesty and far from that; if Mr. Shirley, Governor of Dominica needed thirty thousand [barrels] of powder, he would be openly supplied by our traders. On the other hand when Anglo-American ships seek asylum in our ports I have always been careful to prevent any insults to the British. I have proof of this written by one of your officers whose ship was stopped by an Anglo-American vessel and who was released upon receiving my orders to do so since I do not tolerate any hostile acts in our waters.

Mr. Bougon, a distinguished citizen of this island and of whom I think very highly will be honored to communicate my gratitude in presenting you this letter. I trust that upon reading this letter which proves my motives of action toward the British, the request or better the claim which he brings and which I recommended that he bring to your attention will not encounter any difficulties.

The Trois Avanturés under the command of Mr. Lare and owned by Messieurs Desmajes, Salleron and Bougon has been intercepted, a quarter of a league at the most, offshore this island by the English schooner Tryall under command of one named Jardin who without a war commission seized it and led it to Antigua, assuming that it belonged to some American. According to your principles the lack of authority renders this seizure unqualified and the distance from our coasts where it was done is according to my actions in a similar circumstance a proof of a hostile act requiring on your part restitution. I hope that your Excellency will take this opportunity to act as I have done in the past and as I always will.

At this moment Mr. Seinaud de Vic tells me that off Canouan the schooner L'aimable Louise which was under his command on a diplomatic mission was molested by the British brig Pelican under Captain Aldersoif [John Plummer Ardesoif] which fired a round at him, and that upon dropping sail and hoisting his diplomatic flag, he received several shots followed by volleys from muskets; then he was searched and found clear but that the men from the Pelican having badly lashed his boat caused its loss, and that the masts, sails, and rigging were severely damaged by the criminal shooting.

An envoy is sent under public faith, thus Aldersoif's action is an odious infringement on the rights of men, moreover the criminal acts are uncalled for since being unarmed this vessel could not off er the least resistance. Such highhanded behaviour certainly does not have your ExceIIency's sanction, and I am bringing you the complaint of this Frenchman injured under all the laws of nations.

At all times will I give your Excellency proof of my provisions to maintain between our two nations the peace established by treaties.

I have the honor of being with the greatest respect [&c.]