The Petition of David Ross & Company English Merchants in the Mississippi, Most Humbly Sheweth.— 

That the Schooner Dispatch commanded by Cap^t. James M^c.Craight coming from Kingston in Jamaica, last from Pensacola with a Cargo of fifty prime Negroes, a hundred Quarters of flour belonging to David Ross and Company, about the 24^th of last March, was seized in the river Mississippi, about four Leagues above the South West pass, by an Armed Boat, belonging to the Rebel Subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and Commanded by one Joseph Calvert, who pretended to Act under the Authority of the Confederate Rebels in his Said Majestys Colonies.—¹ 

That the Said Joseph Calvert, as soon as he had Seized the said Schooner, Conducted her from the River, where she had Anchored, into the Bay of Barataria to the westward of the entrance of the Mississippi where he discharged, in the Territory of his Catholic Majesty, the Negroes and Flour abovementioned, as with the personal Effects of David Ross, and Others that were upon freight belonging to the Passengers.— That on Sunday last the 6^th. of this Month, the Said Joseph Calvert being at Barataria embarked the said Negroes as well as the Flour, on Board the said Privateer, and four Periaguas,² and Conducted them by a Canal that leads from the Bay of Barataria to a habitation about a League above New Orleans. —

That he still Continues at this habitation with a part of the Slaves; and that the Rest have been conducted higher up the River by land (Supposed) to the habitation of Oliver Pollock, who calls himself Agent for the American Congress. —

That the Said Oliver Pollock has already offered to Sell a part of the Slaves, and that he and his accomplices have Sequestered all the Negroes, as well as the Rest of the effects of the Cargo.— That at the time of the Surprize of the said Vessel he had on board (belonging to a M^r. Barnardie, an Inhabitant of your province) Two Negroes who had taken a passage for their Masters Habitation and which Negroes were put in Irons, and Carried off in the Said Vessels. —

That those who have been on board, the Schooner at Barataria since she has been Seized, have seen neither Captain M^c.Craight, his Crew, or the passengers and from the Character of the Said Joseph Calvert, there is Reason to fear they have been destroyed by him, and his Accomplices, in order that the Act they have Committed (in Violation of the Rights of Men) may not be discovered And this Suspicion is Strengthened from the Said Joseph Calvert's having Endeavored to engage People at New Orleans by offering exorbitant Wages, to Conduct the Said Schooner to Campeche.—³ 

As this Act of hostility, or Piracy, had been committed in the Part of the Mississippi, which is bounded on both sides by the Territories of his Catholic Majesty, and which has been declared by your Excellency to be in every Respect a Spanish Port.—

Your Petitioners most humbly intreat that your Excellency will be pleased to take this affair into Consideration, and give Orders that the Said Privateer (now in the Canal which leads from Barataria to the house of the Lieutenant Governor) be seized; as well as the Captain & Crew.—

That the Bodies of Oliver Pollock, who calls himself Agent for the American Congress, and James Willing in the Service of Said Congress, be arrested as Encouragers and Accomplices of the Acts above mentioned and they may be obliged to Produce the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty, who were on board the Schooner as well as the Vessel and Cargo, seized in Violation of the Rights of Men, and in Contempt of Treaties, and good harmony that Subsists between their Sacred Catholic and Britannic Majesties.—

Your Excellency was so good as to grant a protection for this Vessel, as soon as she should be in the River, and there is every Reason to believe that She was in possession of the Captain, at the time of the Capture.— 

Your Petitioners, trusting in the humanity and Justice, of your Excellency, hope to find the Reparation they have Solicited, and their Gratitude for this favor shall finish but with their Lives.—⁴