No. 1207
Most Illustrious Sir:
On August 23 there sailed into this port the mail frigate Patagon, which left La Corufia at the beginning of July. Its Captain, Don Joef Teodoro Perez, told me that on the night of August 19th, about ten-thirty, he encountered a British warship near the point called Hicacos on the coast of this island, which, after inquiring if it was a Spanish mail ship, ordered it to haul sail and stay within reach of its guns until daybreak. Not wishing to obey this order, the Britisher let go a cannonade of five shots which did some damage to the sails. Ceding, therefore, to force, he shortened sail and sailed under convoy of the British warship heading for this port until daybreak. Having then unfurled the Ryal standard and answered questions as to whether it had encountered any ships, he was allowed to continue on his course. This tale of the Captain is supported by the declarations I took down and the original of which were sent to the Marquis of Grimaldi, sice the event verified affects a ship of the Mail Service.
The British frigate in question is undoubtedly the one called Diligence, commanded by Thomas Davees [Davey], which has been on a cruise off these coasts against shipping belonging to the Colonists of North America;same that on the 14th and 15th of August anchored off the mouth of the harbor so as to take on water as informed in my letter of yesterday to Your Excellency. [&c.]
Havana, 3 Setember 1776
