N^o 55
Duplicate
My Lord

Inclosed is a Copy of a Letter which I have received from the Governor of Louisiana-respecting the Protection afforded by him to the Rebels, and also the Copy of a Letter written by me to that Gentleman upon the same subject.¹ I wish that my remonstrances may have some effect, but from the late Conduct of Governor Galvez, I cannot flatter myself that he will pay any great regard to these representations, And notwithstanding Several expressions in my Letter, I shall be exceedingly carefull how we embroil ourselves with the Spaniards, as it might at this time prove highly prejudicial to the King's interest—² The Sylph Sloop is sailed for the Mississippi and will proceed to Manchack to Support that Post, and I have been obliged to hire an armed Sloop which accompanied the Sylph to Transport Provisions for the Troops at Manchack.³ This Vessel is under the Command of Lieutenant Osborn⁴ of his Majestys Navy, and has an officer and a detachment of the Troops to do duty on Board, as Seamen to defend her were not to be procured in the Province. General Dalling⁵ upon my requisition has sent a reinforcement here from Jamaica of 100 men, and three Commissioned officers, These Troops are composed of Cap^n. Prevost's Company of the third Battalion, and a Detachment of the First Battalion of Royal Americans—⁶ Sir Peter Parker the Admiral on the Jamaica Station has also sent us the Active frigate of 28 guns, and the Armed Schooner Florida, designed for the Surveying Service The Active and Stork Sloop which is expected are ordered to return to Jamaica when apprehensions of an Invasion are over, and the Florida Schooner is to be employed in the Surveying Service The Hound Sloop will remain at Pensacola, the West Florida on the Lakes,⁷ and the Sylph at Manchack

I have consulted with Captain Williams of the Active Commanding officer here of the Navy,⁸ on the most proper and best means for protecting the Province and employing his Majestys Sloops under his Command the most effectually for that purpose, and it is intended that one of the Sloops be Stationed to Cruize off the Balize—the West Florida to remain in the Lakes, the Surveying Schooner at Ship Island and the Stork Sloop when she arrives to lay at Mobille Point, The Rebels still Continue their Incursions against the Colony from New-orleans, and have lately been so daring as to come into the Bay of Mobille, in large Batteaus armed with Swivels, and of a Small Draft of Water. I Shall therefore be under the necessity of procuring the same kind of Boats if Possible, as the Kings Vessels cannot follow them into Shallow Water and I shall be also obliged to employ Some of the Troops in these Boats, to keep up the Communication from this place with the Kings Sloops, and the Post at Manchack, as those Vessels are weakly manned and it is impossible to get Seamen here at any rate

Yesterday arrived here a French Brig from the River Mississippi, by which I am informed that there are five armed Vessels containing between four and five hundred Troops arrived at New orleans from the havannah, and that the Spanish Governor had Imprisoned four British Subjects residing at New Orleans, Two of which were Considerable merchants—who had been compelled to take the Oath of Allegiance to Spain, but we are Ignorant of the reason which occasioned this measure—⁹ I cannot learn what are the intentions of the Spaniards in sending this armament to the Mississippi in time of profound Peace, when the Troops which they had before in Louisiana with the militia have been hitherto Judged Sufficient. for the Service of that Colony—Their late Conduct is Suspicious, and I shall order 50 men from hence to reinforce the Post at Manchack to prevent any Surprize. I have the Honor to be [&c.]