L30/14/265/31

Sent from Madrid:

11 Sep 1776

From: 1776 To: 1776

Acknowledges his Lordship's favour of yesterday and Mr Hills letter which he has carefully persued and considers to be agreeable. Believes that the vessels employed in the commerce to Santender should not be charged with any tax for the use of a linguist. As master of the English Language, the Vice Consul should be made to pay for this service out of his own consulate. Suggests that complaints regarding the authority that has been granted to Mr Hills from the Customs Offices is not considered to be sufficient, as the Consuls/Vice Consuls should be the only people permitted with the liberty to go on board vessels. In order to prevent any misunderstanding or dispute, (whether through ignorance or otherwise) recommends that the Captain should be instructed on how to act in the event of finding prohibited goods on board. States one can only apprehend that when he wrote the letter, his passion got the better of his reasoning, as would appear from the recent circumstances of Captain Collins and the embargo of flint that was laid upon his freight. States that they can only guess as to what manner the affair was determined in paying the linguist five dollars for his efforts. Has taken a copy of this letter in order that he can forward it to Vice-Consul John Gardoqui to see what he has to advance on the subject. [Enclosed: Letter from Robert Wilkie, Alicante, 3 August 1776].

item

Hills,
Collins,
Gardoqui, John,
Wilkie, Robert