Ex^mo. Señor

Señor

Dⁿ Manuel de el Cerro Rubio vecino de la Ciudad de la Coruña Reyno de Gali cia, con el mayor respecto que deve representa à V. Exa que abiendo Cargado en la Bahia de este Puerto de barios Jeneros procedentes de Ynglaterra è yntroducidos en España Lexitimamte, pagado en la Aduana de Està misma Ciudad los Derechos cor respondientes à su salida, y formado el devido rexistro en una Embarcazion suya propia nombrada San Nicolas y San Pedro Felmo, de que Nombrò por Capitan y Maestre D^n. Fran^co. Xavier Garcia Ruiz, y lo dirixio con los despachos y documentos Correspondientes, y con Catorze Hombres à las Hislas de Barlobento y Puertos à que hiba destinado segun su rrexistro, parece que abiendo llegado à àbistar en el dia 8. de Mayo la Ysla del Sombrero sobre las de Barlobento, la quese alla desierta, le à cometio una Balandra Ynglesa Armada en Corso y procedente de los Yngleses Europeos Establecidos en la Ysla de s^n. Christobal,¹ la qual sin Embargo de las protestas que el Dn. Franco. Xabier le à écho, le arestò y Conduxo à la Ysla Nombrada de la Anguila, despues de aber le rreconocido toda su cargazon, en donde le rrecoxio por fuerza todos los Papeles y abrio èl rexistro,² Ocurrieron èl Capitan, Piloto, y Contra maestre del Gobernador de la misma Ysla de la Anguila, quien cerciorado de ser Español, de la Lixitimidad se sus Papeles, y biaxe, y deno åber procedido confraude alguno le hizo de bolber todo, y le dio testimonio para su seguro y libertad, bien que la restitucion de viberes, y cargamento fue con muchissima falta de barios efectos quese le àbian robado, en los reconocimientos y Extorciones echas por la Jente de la Balan dra, adbirtio el Capitan antes de acerse à la vela que en el Puerto se állaba ôtra Ba landra compañera de la que le avia apresado, y tambien Armada en Corso, ynsigñuo lo à el Gobernador, y le asegurò èste podia Emprender su biaxe sin rrecelo, como lo à ècho, y en el mismo dia adbirtio saliò de aquel Puerto Esta segunda Balandra,³ le dio Caza, le apresó, y conduxo despues de quatro diàs à la Ysla de San Christobal, y Puerto de Basseterre, en donde despues de 22. dias de dilacion no obstante de aber presentado el Capitan todos sus Documentos, y el testimonio de su àvsolutoria en la Ysla de la Anguila, se declarò todo aunque ynxustamente por buena presa, bien quenose dio testimonio de ello à el Capitan ni pudo conseguirlo por mas solicitudes que sobre ello à écho, commo rresulta de los autos que àformado el Gobernador y Capitan General de San Juan Bap^ta. de Puerto rico, à donde se conduxo èl Capitan y Tripulacion, con la necesidad, y estrechez quese puede rreconocer de este acahècimiento, y de cuyos autos ès la Copia adxunta:

Considera El Suplicante fue èste un atentado ynxusto de estas dos Valandras àrmadas èn corzo, Executado contra las Leyes de la Guerra, y la Paz, èn que se con serba esta Monarquia con la de la Gran Bretaña, y sebe Expuesto à una quiebra àvsoluta de su casa y comercio, como no dexara de rreconocerlo la alta penetracion de V. Ex^a. y por lo mismo:

Rendidamente suplica à V. Ex^a. se sirva poner uno y otro en la consideracion de Su Magestad, afin de que se digñe èn proteccion de sus Basallos de pasar los ôficios conducentes para que en la Corte de Londres se den las probidencias mas actibas y promptas, sobre que se rrestituya à el suplicante su Embarcazion, con toda la carga, yntereses, Daños, y perxuicios que se le àn ôcasionado, con lo demas que la Justifi cazion de V.E. àlle por combeniente, merced que espera rrecivir de la poderosa proteccion de V. Ex^a. Coruña Ôctubre 4. de 1777.

[Translation]

Your Excellency

Sir,

Don Manuel de Cerro Rubio, resident of the city of La Corunna, in the kingdom of Galicia, with the greatest respect, represents to your excellency that having loaded in the bay of this port various goods of English origin, legitimately introduced into Spain, having paid in the customs house of the same city the proper duties for their departure, and having entered into the registry a ship of his own property named San Nicolas y San Pedro Felmo, of which Don Francisco Xavier Garcia Ruiz was captain and master, and directed it, with the dispatches and appropriate documents, and with 40 men, to the Windward Islands and ports to which it was intended according to its registry, it appears that on the 8th day of May having arrived within sight of the uninhabited island of Sombrero, above the Windward islands, his ship was assaulted by an English sloop fitted out for war and sent out by the European Englishmen established on the island of St. Christopher,¹ which, despite the protests that Don Fran cisco Xavier made, siezed it and took it to the island named Anguilla, where they examined all his cargo, and forcefully seized all the papers, and opened the registry.² The captain, first mate, and boatswain went to see the governor of the same island of Anguilla, to whom they affirmed their being Spanish, the legitimacy of their papers and voyage, and their not having acted with any deception. The governor had everything returned to the captain and gave him a written protection for his security and freedom, although the restitution of provisions and cargo was very deficient of several items which had been pilfered during the examinations and extortions made by the sloop's people. The captain noted before making sail that there was in the port another sloop,³ a companion to that which had captured him, and also fit ted out for war. The captain ingratiated himself with the governor and secured the power to undertake his voyage without suspicion, which he then did. On the same day he sailed, the captain witnessed the second sloop leave port, give him chase, sieze him, and take him after four days to the island of St. Christopher, and the port of Basseterre. There, after 22 days of delay, notwithstanding the captain's having presented all his documents, including the proof of his acquital in the island of Anguilla, all was unjustly declared a good prize, although the captain gave no testimony nor was he able to do it through additional entreaties he made about it in consequence of the decrees issued by the governor and captain general of San Juan Bap^ta. of Puerto Rico—where the captain and crew were taken under what necessity and austerity can be imagined from this incident—and of whose decrees the copy is inclosed.

Consider the supplicant was done an injustice by these two sloops fitted out for war, executed against the laws of war, and against the peace which this kingdom maintains with the kingdom of Great Britain, and was exposed to an absolute loss of his house and trade, which will not fail to be recognized by the great perception of your excellency, and for the same reason:

I humbly beseech your excellency to deign to place my case before the consideration of his majesty, so that he may condescend to act for the protection of his subjects to send official letters so that the most active and prompt measures may be taken in the court of London for the restitution to the supplicant of his ship, with its en tire cargo, interest, damages, and losses which have happened to him, with whatever else may appear suitable to your excellency. Respectfully, I hope to receive the powerful protection of your excellency. Corunna, October 4, 1777.

Manuel del Zerro Rubio