Sir./.

Herewith you'll receive Duplicates of what I sent you by the last Packet

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the 17th of last Month, a French Frigate arriv'd Command'd by The Chevr de Monteil, the occaision of His coming was to claim a Rebel Schooner which had been Seiz'd by His Majestys Ship Squirrel and sent into Port Royal; The Chevalier in his claim sets forth, that she was taken within a Mile of the Shore, within Gun Shot at the Point under the Colours'at the Mole, which he consider'd as passing beyond the bounds of the Treaties, & a violation of the Laws of Nations, and at the same time say'd he flatterd himself, I should think it very Natural for the Schooner to avail herself of the Protection afford'd her by his Court. In answer to which I inform'd him that after the repeat'd assurances which had been given from all the Foreign Powers to His Britanick Majesty of not Interfering or affording any protection to his Rebellious Subjects, I was greatly surprizd at the part of his Letter mentioning affording those. people protection, which was very contrary to the Assurances; I mention'd. before.

In respect to the Vessel in dispute she was a considerable distance from the Island of Hispaniola, when she was first Chased by the Squirrel, and was not within Gun Shot when taken, that I had 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, it being my most sanguin wish, for the good understanding at present Subsisting between the two Nations to be maintaind, as this Rebel Schooner, had been Seizd in consequence of the Kings directions it was not consistant with my Honor to deliver her up, but as it was a National matter must be Settled by our respective Ministers, which I should take the earliest oppertunity of laying before mine, with which answer he Sail'd the next Morning very well Satisfied, and inclosed is for their Lordships information exact Copies of His Claim in French, with the English Translation & like-wise of my Answer, which I hope will meet with their Lordships approbation

On Captain [Stair] Douglas's arrival I gave Him Copies of The Chevaliers claim and desird he would be very particular in His answer, as it was to be sent for their Lordships information, which he [sic it] accordingly has been. In His Log for that Day, Sworn to by the Master of the Ship, it appears that when he made the Tenders Signal to Chace this Schooner, Cape Nichola Mole bore about SEbS 7 or 8 Leagues, and by the Affidavit of the Officer Commanding that Tender, attested by the Crew, that when he made her a Prize he was Five or Six Miles distance from the Land, all which circumstances are very contrary to those advanc'd by The Chevalier and plainly shews He was not well acquaint'd with the nature of His claim, Capt. Douglas likewise gave me his Log for the 6th & 7th days of September Sworn to by His Master, wherein it also appears that this very French Frigate offer'd protection to a Schooner from St Augustine at the Distance of Ten or Eleven Leagues from the Land, in Sight of the Squirrel, provided she had come from any part of North America, bound to Hispaniola and desired it, and inclosed me the Depositions of the Master & Super-cargo of that Schooner, who are both People of very good Character. I must beg leave to say that I think this behaviour of The Chevaliers a Gross violation of the Treaties he talks of, and contrary to the Laws of Nations. Inclosed for their Lordships information are exact Copies of Captain Douglas's orders, His Answer to the Chevaliers claim; the Papers refer'd to in it, which I hope will also meet with their Approbation²

(I likewise beg leave to inclose their Lordships the Extract of a Letter from Captain [Thomas] Lloyd, complaining of the Master of the Anna Teresa Packet not complying with His Instructions and parting Company, which I hope they will be pleas'd to Communicate to the Port Masters General, in order that the Master may be made an Example of for leaving his Convoy, after the Port Master General of this Island, had applied to me for one.)

Inclosed is likewise an Extract of a Letter from Captain Davey respecting the Illicit Trade carried on in the River Mississippi, since which I have receiv'd another from Him dated 27th August, informing me of His having been in at the Havanna, for Water, but that they would not permit any Person to go onshore, but sent onboard every thing wanted. He atlas told there was in the Harbour a Sixty four Gun Ship, and Six large Frigates

In my Letter of the 13th June last, I inclos'd their Lordships; Letters I had received from the Principal Inhabitants of the Mosquitto Shore, of two Spanish Guarda Costas, having Seizd a Sloop belonging to the Inhabitants, I now beg leave to inclose them the Copy of a Petition from Messrs Irving & Blair Owners of the Sloop, with an Affidavit annex'd to it, of her being carried to Porto Bello, and from thence to Carthagena, praying I would send to Demand her, which His Excellency Sir Basil Keith, has likewise desird as Governor of the Island, so that as soon as the more Important Duty of the Station will admit of it I propose sending a Ship to Carthagena to Demand the Sloop, or the value of her, & her Cargo

I likewise beg leave to inclose the Copy of an Affidavit of a James McGlashan, of an English sloop being taken by a Spanish Guarda Costa, at a place call'd Alta Vella, on the South Side of Hispaniola, in the Spanish Territories, and shall also send to Demand her, as soon as the Service will allow of itー

The Grantham Packet, arriv'd the 16th of last Month, Dismast[ed] in a Hurricane to Windward ー I've order'd her Damages to be repair'd at the Kings Yard and supplied with Stores, and directed the Storekeeper to procure Bills of Exchange for Payment thereof ー and by this oppertunity have wrote to the Navy Board respecting it, which I hope their Lordships will approve

I have the pleasure to inform their Lordships that His Majts Ships & Vessels under my Command have taken Forty Six Sail of the Rebel Americans; including Eight taken by the Diligence at Pensacola

With respect to the Disposition of His Majestys Ships & Vessels under my Command I beg leave to inform their Lordships that the Antelope, Winchelsea, Atalanta, Racehorse (Sloop) are Cruizing in the Windward Passage ー The Squirrel, at Port Royal but intend'd to go with the Convoy the 28th instant ー The Boreas arriv'd the 5th instant from New York having safely Land'd the 30th Regiment. The Maidstone is likewise arriv'd from the Convoy, both of which Ships I've order'd to be fitt'd for Sea again as fast as possible ー The Badger Brig will Sail in a few days for Pensacola to releive the Diligence who is exceeding bad, and intend her to remain 'til the Atalanta has Careen'd which shall releive her ー The Porcupine Schooner is at Greenwich attending the Survey on the Masts & Bowspreet many of which are very defective after the Survey, if I find them in such Condition as I Judge Necessary for their Lordships immediate Knowledge I shall dispatch her Express ー I am, Sir, with great respect [&c.]