(No 3)
My Lord,
I did myself the Honor to write to your Lordship on the 27th of March, since which I am Credibly informed that the French Government in Hispaniola Offered by Public Proclamation a free Trade to the North Americans.
As I have hitherto understood the North American Trade with that Island was tolerated only from Motives of necessity and conveniency, consequently that the risk of Seizure and Forfeiture hung over it; the giving the Royal Sanction to it at this time I conceive to be a Matter of such consequence that it is my Duty to give your Lordship the earliest advice thereof
By the Grantham Packet Admiral Gayton sent the original Letter to the Lords of the Admiralty of which I have the Honor to send you a Copy for fear of accident to the Grantham: and at the same time, explain to your Lordship why tho' this Letter was not addressed to me, it did not accompany my Dispatch by that packet: fearing for a moment to be suspected of the least Negligence in reporting by the first opportunity every thing that comes to my knowledge in which His Majesty's Government and the Interests and safety of His Subjects in any part of His Dominions may be concerned.
The Post Master by His Official Letter to my Secretary on the 14th March informed him of the Arrival of the Grantham and that she was to sail on the 29th of the same Month, my dispatches were delivered on board the 28th and I concluded she would sail on the day appointed, and from my inland Situation knew nothing to the Contrary till the Morning of the first of April I received a Letter from the Admiral inclosing a Copy of that sent him from New Providence, and telling me that the Packet did not sail before the Morning of the 31st by which means he luckily had the opportunity of transmitting this Intelligence to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
I do not hear that any more Troops are arrived at Hispaniola since Lieutenant Cobb left it, but the report still prevails that more are expected there.
Your Lordship will observe by that Officers Letter to me, which I transmitted with my dispatch No 2, that in his conversation with the Count De Ennery he amuses Him with an Account of His own framing of the Strength and Situation of this Island.
Nothing but the most imminent Danger or the most pressing Necessity, shall force me in these times to complain of either; for the present, contenting myself with giving the best and earliest information in my power of every thing that can make my Superiors perfectly acquainted with both.
The Admiral having favoured me with a Copy of Captain [Andrew] Barkley's Letter to him, as also of Mr Andrew Breadon's information, and a Discription of the Rebel Vessels fitted out from Philadelphia, I think it my duty to inclose them to your Lordship. 2
The Ship with our supply of Gunpowder on board is not yet arrived; but my mind is much relieved with regard to her as a report prevails here which I think very probable that she was detained for Convoy. I Have the Honour to be My Lord [&c.] Basil Keith
