My Lord,
I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship some important papers transmitted to me by a respectable House in Bristol. They contain an account with the proper Vouchers of the Capture, by American Privateers, of two Newfoundland Ships, in a great part the property of my constituents. One of these Vessels has been taken into Bilboa, the other into St. Andero. I am desired by the owners & Insurers to request that your Lordship will make a requisition to the Court of Madrid that these Vessels & their Cargoes, or their Value may be restored to the proprieters. I am authorised to inform your Lordship that if any further information or explanation should be wanting, it will, as far as possible, be procured.
The Gentlemen, from whom I recieved these papers express, in very strong Terms their apprehensions, that if the American privateers continue to receive countenance & assistance in the Spanish Ports, the Trade of our City, already overloaded with high Insurances, & the exorbitant wages paid to Seamen, maybe totaly ruined; & particularly that valuable Branch to Newfoundland. I have representations of the same kind from other Gentlemen concerned in the Fisheries. I have the honour to be [&c.]
Westmer. Feb. 16. 1778.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of the Papers transmitted in Mr. Burke's Letter to Lord Viscount Weyrnouth of the 16th. Febry: 1778. and sent in orginal on the 20th. of that Month to Lord Grantham at Madrid
(No. 1.) Letter from Messrs. Lynch Killikelly & Morony to Messrs. James Rogers & Co: at Bristol. dated Bilbao. 31st. Decr: 1777 concerning the Nancy Capt: Underhill.
(No. 2.) Letter from Do. to Do. dated Bilbao. 7th. Janry 1778.
(No. 3) Certificate of the proper Hand writing & Firm of the House of Messrs. Lynch Killikelly & Morony. Sworn at Bristol the 12th. Day of Febry. 1778. Before a Master Extry: in Chancery by James Rogers.
(No. 4) Nancy's Protest Capt. Underhill.
(No. 5) Letter from Messrs. Lynch Killikelly & Morony to Mr. James Bonbonous dated Bilbao. 21 Janry. 1778.
(No. 6.) Certificate of the proper Hand writing & Firm of the House of Messrs Lynch Killikelly and Morony. Sworn at Bristol the 12th. Day of Feby. 1778 before a master Extraordinary in Chancery by James Bonbonous.