[Copy]
Sir/

I have the honor of your Letter by Monsr Desfarge de la Valtiere, your Second Lieutenant concerning a Vessel belonging to His Britanick Majestys Rebellious Colonies in North America which has been Seiz'd by his Ship the Squirrel

I beg leave to acquaint you that after the repeatd assurances which have been given from all the Foreign Powers to His Britanick Majesty of not Interfereing or affording protection to His Rebellious Subjects, I am greatly surpriz'd at the part of your Letter wherein you say "You flatter yourself, that I shall think it very natural for the Schooner to avail herself of the protection afford'd her by your Court" which is very contrary to the assurances subsisting between the two Crowns

In respect to this Vessel when His Britanick Majestys Ship saw her, she was a considerable distance from the Island of Hispaniola and was chased so near it before she was taken

I have always given particular directions to the Captains of the Kings Ships under my Command never to approach near any French or Spanish Possessions, but in cases of the greatest urgency (and in those Cases it has been Customary for his Most Christian Majestys Ships to come into our Ports, where they have always met with every Assistance required it being my most sanguin wish for the good understanding at present Subsisting between the two Nations to be maintain'd[)]

As this Rebel Schooner has been Seiz'd in concequence of His Britanick Majestys directions and sent into an English Port, 'tis not in my Power to deliver her up, and as 'tis a National matter must be settl'd by our respective Ministers, which I shall take the earliest oppertunity of laying before mine for my Kings information. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect and esteem [&c.]

To The Chevr de Monteil Commander in Chief; of His Most Christian Majestys Ships Station'd at & about the Island of Hispaniolaー