The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Printer of the St. Christopher's Gazette.

SIR,

The enclosed Letter is a Copy of what I wrote to the Governor of Statia, which he did not think worth his while to answer: Your giving it a Place in your Paper, will vindicate a Part that I am determined to act, and lay a great Obligation upon,

Your most humble Servant, John M'Pherson.

On board the private Ship of War Britannia, Jan. 26.

SIR,

The Indignity done to my Country, and the Injury intended to myself, on Wednesday the 21st Inst. I think justly intitles me to demand of you the Reason of such unprecedented and lawless Proceedings.

I suppose I need not inform your Honour, that in the Morning of the above mentioned Day, I brought to, two Vessels to Leeward of your Island; as soon as I found that they were Vessels on a fair Trade, I acquainted them: That soon after I spoke with two small Vessels bound to St. Martin's, which I did not detain one Moment, but acquitted them also; all this happened in Sight of your Town and Batteries, though not within Reach of your Guns: And that some Time after I was passing peaceably along Shore with my Colours hoisted, when your leeward Battery fired three point blank Shot at my Ship. Had they fired from the Place you reside in, I assure you I should have returned the Compliment: The Reason I did not, was my believing it was done unknown to you, and perhaps contrary to your Orders. And here I must beg Leave to observe, that I defy the bitterest Enemy I have in St. Eustatius to charge me with an inhuman or bad Action, or any Thing contrary to the Law of Nations.

I make no Doubt your Answer will prevent my firing three Shot into the first Dutch Ship I meet on the high Seas; for I assure your Honor, had I lost a Mast, or received other Damage, I should have made Reprisals on the first Vessel I met bound to or from Holland.

Your Answer will much oblige, - Sir, your most humble Servant,

John M'Pherson.