Frederick Sund of the Parish of Kingston in the County of Surry and Island of Jamaica, Mariner late belonging to a certain Sloop call'd the Morning Star being duly Sworn maketh Oath and Saith that on the Thirtieth day of April last the said Sloop Morning Star was laying at Anchor near the Bar of Black River on the Mosquitto Shore, And this Deponent further saith that two Guarda Costas belonging to His Most Catholick Majesty the Pacifico of Fourteen Guns, commanded by Don Juan Castello, and the Recurso of twelve Guns command'd by Antonio Yepe under Dutch Colours, bore down upon the said Sloop while at Anchor as aforesaid (she having English Colours hoist'd) whereupon the said Guarda Costas haul'd down the Dutch Colours and the Pacifico haild the said Sloop Morning Star and ask'd "from whence came ye" and being answer'd "from England & Jamaica" she again askd "Have you any Flour or other Provisions" only for our own use And after so hailing the said Sloop they the said Don Juan Castello, & Antonio Yepe, came onboard the said Sloop & the said Don Juan Castello, askd "who the Vessel belong'd to" he was answer'd "to Messrs Irving & Blair" &what is the Masters Name", and he was answer'd David hlillar, who is onshore And this Deponent further saith that as soon as they the said Don Juan Castello, and Antonio Yepe came onboard the Sloop Morning Star they order'd the English Colours to be Haul'd down which was accordingly done & then ask'd if there were any amunition on-board when they were answer'd only some Powder and Musquets for our own use and they also ask'd "Have you sent any Powder onshore" and they were answer'd "Some to the Superintendant at Black River"

And this Deponent further saith that after their said Questions were answer'd the said Don Juan Castello order'd some Arm'd Men to come on-board who by his Command tyed the Sloops crew two by Two (except David Robinson the Boatswain who continued onboard the said Sloop some days after) and put them onboard the Pacifico, while the Spaniards took Possession of the said Sloop Morning Star & proceeded to Porto Bello and from thence to Carthagena from which last mention'd Place this Deponent made his Escape

Sworn before me
this 20th day of Septr 1776

J: French Custos &c Kingston
[Endorsed] (A Copy) Clark Gayton