<Governors in North America, and the West Indies.>

Whitehall August 23d. 1760.

Sir,

The Commanders of His Majesty's Forces, and Fleets, in North America, and the West Indies, having transmitted repeated and certain Intelligence of an illegal and most pernicious Trade, carried on by the King's Subjects, in North America, and the West Indies, as well to the French Islands, as to the French Settlements on the Continent of America, and particularly to the Rivers Mobile, and Mississippi, by which the Enemy is, to the greatest Reproach, and Detriment, of Government, supplyed with Provisions, and other Necessaries, whereby they are, principally, if not alone, enabled to sustain, and protract, this long and expensive War; And it farther appearing, that large Sums, in Bullion, are also sent, by the King's Subjects, to the above Places, in return whereof, Commodities are taken, which interfere with the Produce of the British Colonies themselves, in open Contempt of the Authority of the Mother Country, as well as to the most manifest Prejudice of the Manufactures and Trade of Great Britain: In order, therefore, to put the most speedy and effectual Stop to such flagitious Practices, so utterly subversive of all Law, and so highly repugnant to the Honor, and Wellbeing of This Kingdom, It is His Majesty's express Will and Pleasure, that you do forthwith make the strictest and most diligent Enquiry into the State of this dangerous and ignominious Trade, and that you do use every Means in your Power, to detect and discover Persons, concerned, either as Principals, or Accessories, therein, and that you do take every Step, authorized by Law, to bring all such heinous Offenders to the most exemplary and condign Punishment; And you will, as soon as may be, and from time to time, transmit to Me, for the King's Information, full and particular Accounts of the Progress, you shall have made, in the Execution of These His Majesty's Commands, to which the King expects, that you do pay the most exact Obedience: And you are farther to use your utmost Endeavors to trace out, and investigate, the various Artifices, and Evasions, by which the Dealers in this iniquitous Intercourse find Means to cover their criminal Proceedings, and to elude the Law, in order that, from such Lights, due and timely Consideration may be had, what further Provisions shall be necessary to restrain an Evil of such extensive and pernicious Consequences.

I am &ca.

W. Pitt

Drat. to the Governors in North
in North America, and
the West Indies.
August 23d. 1760