Sr.

This Day I had the honor to lay before the Council of this His Majestys Island of Antigua your Letter of the 14th Inst dated from on board the Portland at English Harbour.

The Council gives full Credit to the information made to you of the No Americans offering at the Dutch, Danish & French Islands in these Seas unlimitted prices for Ammunition & Warlike Stores & they do not doubt but many of the No Americans who Trade to the Island would purchase powder &c for the Service of their Countrymen if such Stores were to be got at

The Council have no intimation of the Warlike Stores supposed to be in great quantities in the possession of private Adventurers & flatter themselves that this peice of information is without foundation; they will use their best endeavours to investigate the truth, & will with all their powers discourage a Trade dishonorable in itself & ruinous to the Community  they however beg leave to inform you that they have no authority to prevent the buying & selling of Merchandize which hath been fairly imported & would advise an Application to the Commander in Chief of these Islands for a proclamation to restrain the selling of Powder & other War-like Stores to the No American Traders  I am &c