[Extract]
No. 19. Duplicate
. . . An Irish House here under the name of Thompsons & Seed, who sell Stores and provisions, have armed a Sloop, and sent her to St Vincente, where the Captain One Roberts has obtained a Commission from Governor Morris. This Sloop of Thompsons has begun by seizing a Dutch Vessel bound from St Eustatia to Demerara; both Dutch Settlements; the Vessel was released by the Vice Admiralty of One of Our Islands, and the Owners will most probably be called upon for Damages.
l am afraid it will be found, that many inconveniencies will attend the trusting the lower Class of people of these Islands with Such powers. And Although thus late, If I may be permitted to offer my Opinion, It would be, that For the protection of the Islands, The Legislature of each Island be permitted to arm and send to Sea, as far as two Vessels, fitted out and maintained at the publick Expence of the Island for the purpose of pro tecting the Coast; and under Such Commissions as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may be impowered to grant; Such Commissions in blank to be lodged in the hands of the Governor of each Island, to be filled up by the Governor, with Instructions to issue them out to no other Vessel than such as shall have been fitted out by the Appointment of the Legislature, and at the public Expence of the Island, and by no means to be delivered for the Use of Individuals. I humbly submit these my own particular thoughts to Your Lordship's Superior Judgement, to make such use of them as You may think they deserve. They have arisen from the complaints of the Islands of their being much exposed to the depredations of the Americans and of their want of protection; and which I am sensible Admiral Young cannot afford them to the extent they require, out of the small number of Ships of his Squadron, and the constant duty they are called upon in serving as Convoys &ca . . . .
