Your Excellency: The Governor of Cadiz has just informed me that an English naval sloop called the Transport 2 arrived in the bay on the 13th of last month under Captain Charles Egan with some packets of letters for the British Consul. As soon as she had discharged her commission, the sloop made sail again, but, while going out the entrance to the Port, she. met an English galley entering. After firing four cannon shots at the galley, she followed it until its sails were lowered, and she could confer with those aboard. In view of the fact that two similar incidents occurred in the Canaries, as I wrote Your Excellency on the 2nd of last month, I spoke to the English Ambassador about it. From the reception given my comments, I can conclude that these incidents might be the result of some Admiralty orders that have not been well explained and which the officers of the Navy are interpreting from their own viewpoints. Hence, I feel it required that I make some appropriate reflections on the case to Your. Excellency. Any Sovereign is absolute master of his dominions, including his ports and does not permit hostile actions nor any detentions to be practiced in them. . Surely England would not tolerate such excesses to be committed in her ports by the warships of other powers, regardless of pretext. Therefore, do not cease to make the Minister understand how disturbed the King is, because the ships of His Britannic Majesty overwhelm our sinc;erity and good relations with abuses, making it necessary for His Majesty to give strict orders to prevent such occurrences. At the moment Lord Grantham gave us the order of his sovereign, which contained certain sections that can be referred to only as new insinuations of restriction, the most positive orders were given in order that the greatest caution be observed in this matter. American ships belonging to the rebel
Colonies were not to be permitted to load munitions and weapons for offense against England in our ports. But, despite having seen the excellent results of our good willand relations, we experience each day on the part of many English persons only arbitrary and violent actions that have become insupportable. The repeated protests that we have based on so many details are until now totally useless.
His Majestywishes that Your Excellency make the Court understand how sensitive he is to similar incidents and how much he will be mortified by new offenses of the English Navy, which can occasion disgust and disturb the peace that His . Majesty desires to maintain and that is of such great interest to both monarchies; God grant to Your Excellency [&c.]
Marquis de Grimaldi Aranjuez, 2 May 1776.
