The King has been informed regarding the contents of your letter of May 12, No. 49, concerning the effective and fortunate steps with which you succeeded in seizing eleven English vessels which were engaged in smuggling in your jurisdiction. Your Excellency added that most of them were entirely unfit for sailing and that among these prizes were two that belo11ged to North Americans who have requested that Your Excellency free them from arrest. Your response reprimanded them for their smuggling, which was just as illegal as that of the British, and informed them that His Majesty would be the only one who could grant what they were asking. His Majesty approves of the way Your Excellency handled this matter, knowing that your zeal and energy will eliminate the deep-rooted, illegal commerce in your Province. And with respect to the request of the masters of the prizes belonging to the Colonists, the King authorizes Your Excellency, by the most secret means to give them leave to depart, or of more importance, in such a way that the British may have no cause to quarrel with such an act. I advise Your Excellency to carry out the Royal Order according to your wisdom. May God Protect Your Excellency.
to be copied
Jose de Galvez.
San Ildefonso 15 Aug. 1777
1. AGI, Santo Domingo, Legajo 2596, LC Photocopy.
