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Sir

I have just had the Honor to receive Your Letter dated at St Eustatia, the 12th Instant by Your Excellency's Aid de Camp Henricus Godet Esqr demanding in the name of their High Mightenesses the States General Restitution to be made of the ship Water Geus and her Lading; consisting of west India and American produce; and of the Ship Hope [de Hoop], and her Lading consisting of One Thousand seven hundred and Fifty Barrels of Gun powder, and some West India and American produce; both taken on the High Seas by Captn Colpoys of His Britannic Majesty's Ship the Seaford and carried into the Island of Antigua.

In Answer to which requisition I am to acquaint Your Excellency that the Ship Water Geus and her Lading are Libelled in His Britannic Majesty's Court of Vice Admiralty for the Island of Antigua for having on board the produce of the British American Colonies now in Rebellion; which had been unlawfully imported into the Island of St Eustatia contrary to the late Act of Parliament, prohibiting all Trade and intercourse with said Rebellious Colonies; the day appointed for her Tryal is the 30th Instant when the parties claiming property therein may be heard in defence thereof, and will undoubtedly have due Justice done  them.

The Ship Hope's Detention is on account of the Gunpowder and War­like Stores on board her; and cannot be released without Express Orders from his Britannic Majesty.

I must take leave to refer Your Excellency to the Letter I had the Honor to transmit You the 14th Decemr last; containing amongst sundry other Complaints, one of a very extraordinary nature against Vanbebber the American Agent at your Island; and I must now farther add thereto that the 24th May last, one George Rall Commander of small American Privateer called the Jenny was taken by Captain Colpoys of the Seaford and brought into the Island of Antigua; and that the said Rall on his Examination deposed "that the aforenamed Vanbibber (the Congress Agent at St Eustatia) put several Men on board his Schooner from other American Vessels (then lying in St Eustatia Road) and sent him out to sea, after a sloop belonging to the Island of Antigua, Laden with Cotton &c that had just left St Eustatia, and says this matter was done publickly and in no wise hindered or forbid by the Government of Eustatia, and that in less than three hours he came up with & took as Prize the aforementioned Sloop Laden with Cotton &ca."² I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]

To His Excellency the Hone
Johannes de Graff, Governor &
Commander in Chief over the
Islands St Eustatia, Saba & St Martins.³
[Endorsed] No 2. In V. Ad. Youngs Lre of 21 July 1777