The Virginia Gazette

The following most pathetick Representation of the Merchants of Kingston, in the Island of Jamaica, shews the lamentable Condition of our Trade to the West-Indies it is in, by reason of the Spanish Depredations.

To the Hon. John Gregory, Esq; President of the Council, and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Island of Jamaica, &c.

We the under-written Merchants of Kingston, most humbly beg Leave to present to your Honour, that we have received undoubted Advices of the Spaniards having lately taken, and carried into the Havanna, 3 Ships belonging to British Subjects, viz. the Loyal Charles, Capt. Benjamin Way; the George, Capt. Henry Ware; and the Dispatch, Capt. Philip Delamot; all laden in this Island, and with the Produce thereof, Commodities purchased here, or Money received of the Agents to the South Sea Company for Negroes legally sold, and exported to the Spanish Settlements, pursuant to the Asiento Treaty; that the said Ships were all homeward bound, on their Voyage to Great-Britain; and that there was not the least Pretence or Suspicion of their being engag'd in, or attempting to carry on any illicit Trade whatsoever.

These unjustifiable Captures do not only in the highest Degree affect the Concerns of our Constituents, and ourselves, but also the Planting Interest, and general Welfare of this Island, Great-Britain and our Colonies being the only Markets to which the transporting our Produce is confined, and the only Navigation to those Places being almost within Sight of the Spanish Forts, and always within Reach of their Cruizers. Vain will be our Labour, and vain the Success of that Labour, if the Fruits of it, when brought to Perfection, (after overcoming all the Difficulties to which we are otherwise liable) are suffer'd to be ravish'd from us in a hostile Manner; and that done at a Time, when there is, in Appearance, a Peace subsisting between the British and Spanish Nations, and Commerce in a friendly Manner carried on in Europe, and some other Ports of their Dominions.

This makes our Case more severe than in a Time of open and declar'd Hostilities, the Effects of which, we could in some Measure be guarded against; whereas, in the present Circumstance, our Dependance on Peace leads us into the most grievous Consequences of War, without giving us an Opportunity of providing against our Misfortunes, or defending ourselves, having Faith and Confidence in the peaceable Disposition of our Neighbours.

This being the miserable Situation of our Trade, Navigation, and Planting Interest, we think ourselves indispensably obliged to lay a State of the same before your Honour, not doubting of your Readiness to contribute all that is in your Power to our Relief and Redress, in such Manner as you in your Wisdom shall think proper.

Sign'd by 26 of the principal Merchants in Kingston.

Williamsburg,