Sir,

By various Accounts from the different Persons and Places, undoubted Intelligence has been received here of some illegal and dangerous Practices carried on by the French in the West-Indies.

A Vessel belonging to this Place with Slaves, Canewood, and Ivory, has been carried into St. Lucia by a French Sloop of ten Guns and fifty Men, said to be owned by Mr. Bigers, a Merchant in Martinico. The Sloop had only one Englishman on board, who was honoured with the Stile of Captain, but the actual Commander and his Officers were French, and the Crew all French, or other Foreigners.

The Venus, Capt. Sharpe, of and from Whitehaven for Granada, was taken after a gallant Defence of three Hours, by a Privateer belonging to Martinico, manned with French, Portuguese, and Spaniards, having only an American for Master. Many others are fitting out on this Plan, both at Martinico and Guadaloupe. The Congress Agents have blank Commissions, which they fill up there, and are very liberal of them. These Proceedings appear to us so very ruinous to the Trade of Great Britain, that it has been determined to bring this Business before Parliament by Petition. We shall esteem ourselves happy if honoured with the Concurrence of the Merchants of Bristol in our intended Application. I have the Honour to be, &c. &c.

To Henry Garnett, Esq; Master of the Merchants-Hall, Bristol.