I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, with the inclosed from His Excellency the Prince de Masereno to My Lord Weymouth, which is here returned, and have agreeable to their Lordships Orders, stated the case in the most particular manner of the Spanish Snow St Barbe [Santa Barbara]. ²

On the 24th of May 1776 I was laying at single Anchor with His Majesty's ship under my command under Cape Henlopen the southern boundery of the River Delaware, when a Snow under Spanish Colours appeared in sight standing for the channel of the river. I got under sail and brought her too, On board Her I found four chests of Silver, mark'd with the Firme of one of the greatest Rebel Houses upon the Continent; Willen [Willing] & Morris of Philadelphia, Men who had assumed the names of Treasurers to the Congress and a letter directed to them, but being wrote in the old Spanish characters I could not translate it. I thought it my duty and strictly consonant with the late Act of Parliament, to prevent such a Treasure getting into the hands of the Kings Rebellious subjects, therefore took it on board the Liverpool, and sent the said Snow to Virginia, with only one Man as Pilot belonging to me, the Spanish Supercargo, an Irishman, knowing me to have neither Pease, Oatmeal, Butter, or Cheese, on board, and at short allowance of Meat, He offered me some small quantity of Rice, and Melasses, and two or three Casks of Beef; I made him all the return the scarcity of my situation would admit of. It was my intention agreeable to Captain Hammonds Orders to return to Virginia when in want of provisions. It was likewise my intention as the Spanish Supercargo had represented to me the extreme scarcity of Flour at the Havannah, on My own risque to have taken his Bills for any quantity of that Article I could procure him at that place, giving me bond for the value of the ship. These intentions were superceded by my meeting with two large Store Ships who had been blown to the West Indies the preceeding winter, I convoy'd them to New-York. Captain Parker who commanded there, ordered me directly on a fourteen days cruize off Block Island, on my return from that Service, My Lord Howe ordered me instantly on the coast of New England, where by retaking several West India Ships I was constrain'd to see themto Halifax, at that place, I libell'd the Dollars, and delivered the papers and Letters to the Court of Admiralty, they were condemned agreeable to the Act of Parliament, and according to that Law, I divided the Neat proceeds in the proportions assigned by His Majesty's Proclamation. The Ship could not be libelled, as she was not on the spot.

The Supercargo had One thousands Dollars, half of which He took with him to Virginia, the other half he had my word of being return'd to him if on his declaration they were his own property.

The Vessel was in very good condition, wanted no repair as is pretended, and had a sufficient quantity of provisions on board for the Supercargo pressed me to take more.

It very evidently appear'd by her journals She had never attempted to make the Island of Dominica.

I wrote Captairy. Hammond and sent him a copy of the Decree of the Court of Admiralty to be shewn to the Spanish Supercargo, whether he ever received it, I am still ignorant of.

This being a true Narration of the Cases, I flatter myself shews clearly that His Excellency the Prince de Massarino has been imposed on by their misrepresentation, and I trust will sufficiently exculpate me from the least censure, as well as convince their Lordships, My Conduct has been consistent with the Duty of that Commission I have the Honor to bear.

It may not be unnecessary to observe that the Supercargo took it for granted the Money would be condemned but exprest himself very easy concerning it as he said it was insured in England. I have the Honor to be Sir,