Sir,

We have often heretofore addressed the Commanders in chief on the Jamaica Station respecting our complaints against our Neighbours the Spaniards, in partic­ular we crave your reference to ours of 16^th: Aug^t: 1777 by the diligence Capt^n. Cotes­—We are now to lay before You a circumstance which threatens no less than the entire ruin and distruction of this settlement as a trading Community, and we hope  that what we are at present will from its great importance merit your attention and claim your earliest assistance, the particulars are as follows

On the 12^th: day of last Month an American privateer Sloop called the General Washington mounting Eight Carriage Guns and twelve Swivels¹ came to an Anchor towards evening in the Harbor of S^t Georges Kay disguised under the appearance of a Merchant Vessel—Some of the Principal Inhabitants of this Kay considering her in that light went on board and were immediately made prisoners, but soon after were  permitted to go on Shore except one of the Number who was retained as an hostage for the safe return of the Commander Hezekiah  Anthony, who  also came on shore. Soon after his landing being met by a Number of the Inhabitants he was questioned respecting his intentions here; and made answer that he had no hostile Intentions against the Settlers whom he wou'd not Molest in their persons or properties provided he was furnished with such supplies as he wanted, and they to remain quiet and pacific; but, that in case of refusal or  opposition he would con­sider them as open Enemies and lay their Habitation in ashes. Circumstanced as we then were, we had no other alternative than compliance with his demands which being limited chiefly to some Rum he was that evening Supplied and then went onboard and returned the Hostage to this Kay—Early on  the next morning  (having the night before carried off a pilot) he got under way and proceeded for the River Sherboon² and that afternoon made prizes of three British Vessels the Ship Spiers of Glasgow, John Lawmont Master, a loaded Vessel which he took not far from Sher­boon under way on the Voyage homeward, The Brig Ann Isaac Lawes Master, and the Brig Nancy Edward Dawson Master both of London and then laying moored off the Mouth of said River³—Next morning he got under way carrying the three Ves­sels with him and proceeded to Sea by the Main through the southern Channel­ We have further to observe that said Hezekiah Anthony informed us he meant to make our harbor a place of Rendevouze hereafter, that we might expect to be vis­ited by other American privateers but for whose conduct to the inhabitants he could not be answerable—This Sir is what we have to lay before You, and we trust when our critical situation is duly considered, open as we are to the depredations of every Rover prohibited by treaty from erecting Fortifications for our defence, and desti­tute of all other resources but such as we may derive from the Commanders of His Majesty's Squadron at Jamaica, that You will clearly perceive the absolute Necessity of ordering down a Ship of War for the protection of our Trade, and safety of this Settlement, which otherwise must inevitably fall a prey to any Armed Force that may think  proper to come against us In short Sir, we are now in the most dis­tressful situation immaginable; by this Capture made in our very harbors we foresee our trade entirely ruined, our properties daily exposed to the most imminent risque & ourselves unprovided with the means of self defence from almost a Total want of Arms and Ammunition, under such melancholy circumstances where can we apply for relief and protection but to You—We would humbly observe that shou'd it prove incompatible with such part of His Majesty's Service as You have now more immediately in charge to order a Man of War for our Relief, an Armed Vessel of twelve Guns well supplied with a sufficient Quantity of Arms and ammunition to put into the hands of the Inhabitants in case of an attack, would with their assis­tance be sufficient to repell any force we are at present apprehensive of and should such an armed Vessel remain here until relieved by another, it wou'd give stability to our Trade, and such security to the settlers, as would induce them to pursue their business with Vigour and Industry. We hope there need be no occasion to enlarge further on the fatal consequences to be apprehended from this Settlement's re­maining any longer in it's present defenceless State. If speedy protection is not afforded for the support of trade and safety of the Properties of His Majesty's Sub­jects settled here what else can they think, but that being Neglected they are deemed unworthy of protection and devoted to Ruin—But we firmly trust when the im­portance of the Trade of this Settlement is attentively considered and the Number and properties of His Majesty's Subjects here attached to and connected only with the Mother Country, it will plead in their favor and merit the protection required, shou'd it prove otherwise, then there is an end to  this settlement—We  have  thus far, Sir, done our duty by hiring a Vessel at a very considerable expence to give You the earliest intelligence possible of this affair and sincerely hope You will comply with the petition of the Inhabitants by sending such immediate aid as they stand in need of—We request Your Answer as soon as possible—The Master of this Ves­sel has our Instructions to remain at Jamaica 10 days or longer if You require it, and immediately on receipt of your dispatches to make the best of his way for Honduras that the inhabitants may be timely certified how far they may trust to pro­tection from You. We have the honor to be [&c.]

S^t Georges Kay Bay Honduras
8^th: October 1777—

a True Copy

Clark Gayton