Ex^mo Señor.
Señor.

Hallandome exerciendo el empleo onorifico De Alcalde maior x^a. R^l. y hord^a. De esta Villa Del puerto De Santoña por S. M. (q^e. Dios gue.) y como tal y en su R^l. nre., Alcalde, y Castellano De los Castillos De 10s Castillos De S^n. Martin, y S^n. Carlos De ella; faltaria al Cumplim^to. De mi Obligaz^on, si omitiese poner en Noticia De V.E. el ynsulto acaecido en esta Costa el día Onze De Enero prox^mo. pasado; y hes que aviendo Salido De la Zuidad De Santander (donde estubo De arribada) el Bergantin nombrado Hooper su Capitan Guillermo Knapp Cargado De Tavaco De Oxa con destino para la Ciudad De San Sebastian, llego hasta las Zercanias De este puerto Junto del Arenal De Noxa, en donde obserbo el Cap^n. q^e. un Barquichuelo a manera De Pescador sin Bandera ni Devisa De su Nazion le Venia Seguiendo y Reconociendo ser Corsario Garnesi armado en Cache Marin¹ se arrimo a dho Arenal con animo De Barar, lo q^e. no pudo Conseguir por haberle acosado al Remo, y haziendo fuego hallandose a Distancia De tiro De fusil Del mismo Arenal, p^r. loque dho Knapp con su Jente hecharon el Vote a la Agua y Salieron todos a tierra llebandose el Corsario el Bergantin apresado y acosendose a mi dho Cap^n. me hizo Relaz^on. De el hecho como a Juez De Fuerra por me dío [illeg.] un Pedim^to. solicitando le Recibiese ynformazíon a su tenor q^e. se executo asi, con diez y seis testigos, los quatro De la Tripulacíon, y los doze, q^e. hallaron presentes, y todos dan contestes en sus Deposiz^es. seg. Resulta Del testimonio q^e. acompaña. Y como el Cap^n. tiene yntroduzidas sus protestas, y solicita se proceda contra dho Cache Marin su Cap^n. y Jente, siempre q^e. se verifique arribar a este puerto o qualqa. de sus Zercanias, y estos dias sea dexado ver a corta distancía De este puerto, lo participo a V.E. para q^e. siendo de su agrado me Ordene lo q^e. Devo hazer p^a. Obedezer los preceptos De V.E. a quien deseo prospere el Zielo de la todos años: Santoña y febrero 17 de 1778.

Ex^mo. Señor Conde de Florida Blanca
A. L. P. de V. Ex^a.

Josef De la Villa

[Translation]
Your Excellency:

Finding myself exercising the honorific position of high mayor for His Majesty (whom may God keep), for this town of the port of Santoña, and as such and in his royal name, mayor, and governor of the castles of San Martin and San Carlos; I would fail in doing my duty if I omitted giving notice to Your Excellency of the insult that took place .on this coast last January 11. Having departed the city of Santander, where it had just arrived, the brigantine named Hooper, navigated by Captain William Knapp, laden with leaf tobacco intended for the city of San Sebastian, arrived at the outskirts of this port adjacent the beach of Noxa, where the captain observed a small boat with the appearance of a fishing craft without flag or sign of its nationality, approaching and recognizing it to be an armed Guernsey privateer cachemarin,¹ he drew himself near to the beach with the intent of running aground, but he was unsuccessful because he was being closely pursued and fired on when at a distance of musket shot from the same beach. Therefore, the said Knapp and his people put the boat in the water and went on shore, leaving the privateer to take the brigantine prize. And approaching me the said captain made a formal report of the deed as to a judge, for he gave me a petition seeking information to this effect, which was thus executed, with sixteen witnesses, four of the crew and twelve persons who happened to be present. All gave answers in their depositions according to the testimony that is attached. And as the captain insists on introducing his protests, and solicits proceedings against the said cachemarin, its captain and people, whenever it is verified to arrive in this port or any of its neighborhood, and these days it has been seen a short distance from this port, I inform Your Excellency of it so that you may give me orders of what I must do to obey the precepts of Your Excellency, whom I wish heaven to favor all the years: Santoña February 17, 1778

Most Excellent Lord Conde de Florida Blanca
At the feet of Your Excellency