To the Right Hon^ble: Lord Visco^t: Weymouth.
May it please your Lordship—

I humbly beg Leave to represent to you on the Behalf of my Friend M^r. John Goss of Teingmouth in the County of Devon Owner of the good Ship or Vessel called the Brittania, John Wood late Commander, that the said Ship was laden at Newfoundland with Cod-Fish and Oil for a Market in Spain or Portugal; that in the prosecution of the Voyage the said Ship was taken by an American privateer,¹ the Captain of which took out the Brittania's Crew and substituted some of his own people appointing one John Allen Commander, who carried the said Ship into S^t. Sebastian's in the Kingdom of Spain under American Colours and reported the same as come from Newberry in North America, and the Cargo as American Property, but fortunately there happened to be in the same place a Capt: John Hooper Master of another Ship just arrived from Newfoundland, who sail'd with the Brittania under the same Convoy and had been in Company with her some few Days before, this Capt: Hooper knew the Brittania to be the property of M^r. John Goss, and being acquainted with the Circumstances under which she was brought into that port went to the Commandant and acquainted him that the said Ship was falsely reported, where upon the Commandant committed the American Captain and Crew to prison on the Declaration and Affidavit of Capt: Hooper and detained the Brittania and Cargo till further Enquiry should be made into the Matter—I humbly therefore entreat your Lordship to cause this Case to be stated to his Majesty's Minister at the Court of Madrid, and to enforce the Restitution of the said Ship and Cargo to my Friend M^r. John Goss or to whomsoever he shall appoint to take Charge of the same—I have the Honour to be [&c.]