Sir.

It is not without the greatest real Concern that I find myself reduced to the disagreeable Necessity of complaining to your Excellency of an Insult very recently offered to the Flag of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands and my person as Governor of this Island, by John Colpoys Esquire Commander of His Britannic Majesty's Ship of War the Seaford in the following manner.

On the 10th Current the said Ship of War came to an Anchor here and the usual Ceremonies of Salute being adjusted with the proper Officer, paid the Ordinary Compliment of the garrison which was returned with equal courtesy: in a few hours afterwards Captn Colpoys by a Lieutenant Signified to me; that he had received information of a Sloop belonging to Philadelphia being Anchored in the Port, requiring my permission to Seize her, to this demand or request not less Extraordinary than impertinent, I returned, as was my duty, a negative conceived in as gentle Terms as the nature of the case would permit, notwithstanding which he saw proper to cause certain of his Crew to board and take possession of her by Violence and then sent me a Letter of which the inclosed piece No 1 is a copy; to this repetition of his absurd demand I returned an answer in writing of which the piece No 2 is a copy; and ordered withal the proper Officer of the Government to take possession of the Sloop, which he did but not without some opposition on the part of the Officer & people Captn Colpoys had been pleased to put aboard, and some short time after their retreat, I received a Second Letter from that Gentleman, of which the piece No 3 is a copy, as preposterous as affrontive.²

I Complain not to your Excellency of the indecent and insolent behaviour of a Subaltern. I believe a Midshipman employed to bring Messages on the part of Captn Colpoys, because of my Contempt of his illiberality Secured him from being punished upon the Spot, I think him also beneath your Excellencys notice.

To a Gentleman acquainted as you are with the treaties, of Amity Subsisting between my Masters and his Britannic Majesty, it is unneccessary to say that the Conduct of Captain Colpoys was such as I neither ought or can consistent with the duties of my function, overlook without demanding and receiving such Satisfaction as hath been accorded to other Governors acting under the commission of a free and independent State in cases of a Similar nature.

When I did myself the honour of complaining to your Excellency formerly of the Singular rediculous and irregular Conduct of William Garnier Esquire Commander of His Majestys Ship the Argo, I received neither Satisfaction or Answer; Altho' I had an apparent claim of the former from your Excellencys Justice and might justly have hoped the latter from your known politeness.

The Political contention between Great Britain and her American Colonies neither hath or ever can furnish the former with any plausible reason for offering causeless insults to the Flag of any neutral power, and it is under that persuasion that I expect your Excellency will not only procure me intire Satisfaction from Captn Colpoys, but give such Orders to the particular Cruizers of the Squadron under your Excellency's Command as may prevent any future wanton infractions of the Law of Nations or of the particular Treaties subsisting between his Britannic Majesty and the States General of the United Netherlands.

This Letter will be handed to your Excellency by Mr Charles Chabert and I flatter myself with the Expectation of receiving by him such an answer as may prevent all future Altercation. I have the Honour to be with the most respectful consideration, Your Excellencys [&c.]

St Eustatius 14th May 1776.

James Young Esquire, Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's Squadron Stationed at the Windward Island, Antigua.