Whitehall May 20th: 1757 

The inclosed Extract of a Letter from Vice Admiral Townshend to Mr. Clevland, together with the Affidavits Thereunto annexed, will inform you of the Pyratical, Behavior of several Privateers, fitted out in North America, towards the Spaniards in the West Indies, particularly of the Peggy of New York, One Hadden, Master, and of a Privateer from Halifax, commanded by One Snooke. 

It was with the greatest Indignation that His Majesty received this Account of Proceedings, on the Part of His Subjects, not only contrary to all Humanity and Good Faith, but to the General Instructions given to Privateers; and in direct Breach of the Additional One of the 5th. of October last, with regard to Spanish Ships; And the King, being determined, that the most rigorous Justice shall be put in Execution against such notorious Acts of Violence, has directed the Governors of New York, and Nova Scotia, to commence Prosecutions against the Owners, Masters, and Securities, of the Two Privateers abovementioned; And It is His Majesty's Pleasure, in case Either, or Both, of Them, shall put into any Port within your Government, that you do cause them to be detained, giving immediate Notice, to the Governor of New York, of the Arrival and Detention of the Peggy, Hadden, Master; and of That from Halifax, commanded by Snooke, to Govr. Lawrence, in order that They may send You such Directions thereupon, as They shall judge most expedient for the Execution of the King's Commands, signify’d to them upon this Occasion. 

Tho' the Additional Instruction abovementioned, of the 5th. of Octr. last, has been already transmitted to you from the Council Office, I send you herewith some printed Copies thereof, and am to signify to you His Majesty's Pleasure, that you be particularly careful, not only to deliver the same to all Persons who shall hereafter take out Commissions for Privateers, but also that, whenever any Privateers come to the Ports in your Government, You do make Enquiry, whether they have already received, the said Instruction; and in case you have Reason to think they have not, you will cause a Copy thereof to be delivered to the Commanders of such Privateers, and, at the same time, acquaint them, that the King is determined to require the most exact Obedience thereto, and that the severest Prosecutions will be carried on against Those, who shall, in any manner, act contrary to the same, and thereby endanger that Harmony, which His Majesty is so desirous to preserve with the Court of Spain. 

I am &ca.

Holdernesse