Sir

I am inexpressibly sorry that any Act of mine should be the means of giving your Excellency the least displeasure; I am conscious of the rectitude of my intentions however I may have error'd without designing the most remote Approach to any disrespect to your Person or Authority, both which I hold in the greatest esteem and deference 

By what I can understand by the Translations I have been able to obtain of the Letter of the 27^th. Ult^o. which you did me the honor to write,¹ Your Excellency has been informed That I affixed Proclamations in the Publick parts of this City &c^a Permit me Sir to assure you that I set up a Notice in writing within side the House wherein I lodged by Your Excellency's permission and in no other place whatever; This House I esteemed my Quarters under the protection of your Government—This Sir I thought the least offensive method of requesting such Brittish Subjects as were by me made Prisoner of War to the American Arms, to repair onboard the Prize Ship Rebecca when I should grant them Permission in writing with full assurance to remain unmolested by any American Officer or Soldier upon their pledging their Honor that they would surrender themselves when thereunto required upon any future Cartel and as those Gentlemen could not or would not have any opportunity of being acquainted with my desire, if the same had not been made known to them in this City, I hoped, that such Notice as I gave them was the least likely to give Offence to your Excellency and might have answered the desire purpose; But as it had an effect I did not forsee, I take this opportunity to begg Your Excellency to be assured; That I am exceedingly sorry, any Act of mine should give you the least degree of disgust or Offence and shall in future take particular care that I shall myself and all Officers and Soldiers under my Command be particularly cautious of avoiding whatever may possibly be esteemed disagreeable to your Excellency or prejudicial to any of his Catholick Majesty's Subjects under your Government—I have the honor to be [&c.]