No 3.
My Lord

I have received the Honour of your Lordship's, No 28, with its several Inclosures.

I saw M. Grimaldi yesterday, and spoke to him very strongly with respect to the Prize, which the Washington Privateer ² had taken, and sent into Bilbao to dispose of the Cargo. I represented this Transaction to him, as an Act of the most open Piracy, and as an Attempt to impose upon this Government by the Prize Master's Endeavour to pass for the Captain of the Vessell which he brought in, & added, that I was instructed to demand a Delivery of the said Ship and Cargo to the true Proprietor. I enclose to your Lordship a Copy of the Memorial which I have sent to him to state and explain this Business.

In the Conversation, which we had on this Subject, he asserted in the strongest Terms his not being at all acquainted with it, and declared, that ever since the first Discourse between us on the Subject of the American Ships coming into Bilbao, very positive Orders had been sent from Government here to prevent any Assistance being given to such Ships except of absolute Necessity, to hinder their Stay in that River, not to admit the Sale of any Prize which they might bring in, nor take any Step whatever tending to admit in any Shape the Existence of a Power in America, separate from that of Great Britain. I could not but observe to him, that if such Orders had been issued, they were ill obeyed, for that, if I was rightly informed, the Cargo of this last Vessell had been sold, tho' the Value of it was deposited 'till further Orders. ー 'Though on this Occasion I did not obtain from him a Promise of Restitution, as he asserted his own Ignorance of the Facts, yet I think on the Foundation of the Arguments which the Memorial states, and which he, I may say, allowed, it cannot well be refused. I have furnished him with all the Information which I have received on this Subject, as well the authentick Evidence which Captain Pennell gives of the Proceeding against him, as such Facts relative to the Prize Master bringing the Ship into Bilbao, as have come to my knowledge, and I am to add, that he promised me an immediate Inquiry and Answer in Consequence of it.

I am informed, that the Master of a Merchant Ship, who left Toulon on the 18th of last Month brought Intelligence to Alicant, that they were heaving down for Service eighteen Ships of the Line and six Frigates, but that he saw no Preparations for their being victualled and manned.

At Cadiz a new Ship called Angel de La Guardia, is arrived from Carthagena in the Mediterranean with ten thousand Tents, which, it is said there, are to be sent to Seville. Ammunition Bread is likewise ordered in great Quantities, and to be got ready with the greatest Dispatch.

I have the Honour to be with the greatest Truth & Regard My Lord [&c.]