Si^r.

I received your estem^d favour of the 16^th. Instant Wherein you have mentiond that the publick is Only Concerned for half and in Consequence the Other half being private property I shall Obey your Orders in Reimbursing messr^s. Guaadoqui, I must Oserve that you have made a mistake in the Vessell as you Call her A Ship.¹ Wheras she is Only A Sloop Mounting at preasant eight Guns Which is too small to Cruze as the most of merchantmen Goes Armd. in Consequence it Can not be expected that many prizes can be made with her—in Respect of the Crew I have had to deal With, Verry little Could be expected for I do Assure you Such trouble I never experienced before, had it not been for the preasant Dispute, I should not have taken such pains to have keept them together—I shall Observe your Directions as I do Assure you I never had any Directions One way or Other, but I was Rather at a Loss how to Act as I never had any particular Orders how to Act and in Consequence Oblidged to Act myselve²—you have made mentione that its Disputed Whether the enemies Goods in a Neutral bottom Can be made A prize of. do not An Act of the British parliament expresly Say all America produce be it taken in Whatsoever Bottom to be all a Legal1 prize, And we all well know the[y] have put it in execution, have we not a write to retaliate. In this pointe as in every Other, it may be Observed We brought Our prize into A foreigne port. we are not in Alliance neither is england. in Consequence the[y] ought to stand Neutar or Otherwise the[y] Give a National Offence. We make no claime to the Vessell nor ever put the french Cap^t. Out of Command. I should have been Verry Glad you had been at madrid When the papers went up as no doubt you Could have Seen that Justice Should been done us I now must beg of you that this Cargoe may not be Given up to the former Owners As beyond Any doubt the[y] will try to make it Appeare to be spanish property. I am [&c.]