My Lord,

We take the Liberty to inclose to Your Lordship a Letter which we received Yesterday from our Correspondents Mess^rs. Ventura Gomez de la Torre & Barrena of Bilboa¹ (the first of whom is Vice Consul for the English Nation at that Port), by which Your Lordship will see the daring Insolence of Cap^n: Jeremiah Hibbert of the American Privateer called the Hawke, by taking the Schooner Adventure of Jersey Capⁿ Philip De Gorrequer, bound from Newfoundland with a Cargo of Fish to the said Port of Bilboa, when lying at an Anchor near the Bar at the Entrance of that Harbour with a Pilot on board, and under the Sanction of the Forts, As it may be a Matter of Doubt whether the said Vessel and Cargo will be restored, we have thought it necessary (and more particularly at this time that the Newfoundland Ships are daily arriving at the different Ports of Spain, where and on that Coast we are informed several American Privatcers are waiting for them) to inform Your Lordship of this, that Your Lordship may take thereon such Steps as in Your Wisdom may be thought necessary for the Protection of the Trade of the English Nation. We have the Honor to be [&c.]

Walbrook 21 October 1777 ​