This is to Certify that on the last day of September at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, being on the Coast of Spain, one Mile from Mount S^t. Anthony where I took a Pilot for Bilboa; The Morning ensuing at 5 o'Clock distant about two Miles from Shore, I was boarded by the True American privateer mounted with 12 Guns commanded by John Buffington who immediately took possession of my Vessel ordered myself & Crew on board of his privateer, where we was kept thirty six hours, but it blowing strong from the N.W. obliged him to put in Castro (the said Privateer left Bilboa at 2 o'Clock the same Morning) At my arrival at Castro I sent an express to Mess^rs. Gardoqui & Sons of Bilboa who had for several Years before transacted my owners business in that port, desiring them to have the Privateer arrested, I receiv'd an Answer the 3^rd. day of October that if I could have a Certificate of the Pilot, proving that I was taken within Gun Shot I could have the said Privateer arrested; but in the same hour Buffington received a Letter from Bilboa ordering him to leave Castro immediately which was effected in the night. I repaired as soon as I could to Bilboa with my Crew and where I made a Certificate proving that I was taken within two Miles of the Coast, & obtained one of the same assertion from my Pilot. On the 13^th. of the same Month Mess^rs. Gardoqui's informed me that my Vessel was at Secouá [Socoa] in France; on the 15^th. I went Post & arrived there the 19^th. but after enquiry found that my Vessel had left the place the 16^th. but the Americans had unloaded the Cargo which consisted of 2200 Q^ls of Cod Fish & sold it to M^r Du fourcq of Bayonne in france, at Fifteen Livers ⅌ quintal. Sixteen hundred Quintals where sent by the said Du fourcq to S^t. Sebastien, where I have had them arrested; and the law suit to be tryed.

I went to Bayonne in order to speak myself to M^r. Du fourcq; & this is what he told me concerning my Vessel. “I have remitted to your Correspondents Mess^rs Gardoqui & Sons 26,000 livers, French curr^y for John Buffington's Account part of the amount of the Cargo I purchased from him.” He further said, that the Mess^rs. Gardoquis had sent several expresses ordering the Officer of Buffington who was Master in my Vessel to go to sea without delay for fear of my meeting him there. 

When M^r. Du fourcq hear'd that I have arrested the. 1600 hund^d. Q^ls. of Fish at S^t. Sebastien he told me he had remaining 330 Q^ls. but could not send them there for fear of meeting the same Fate. I returned to S^t. Sebastien & gave a full power to M^r. Birmingham a Correspondant of my owner M^r. Peter Mallet of Jersey.

Jersey 4^th. Nov^r. 1777.