writing to your statement; which circumstances,
together with your refusal to comply
with my request and a copy of this my
answer, I shall transmit by the first opportunity
to the right honorable the lords commissioners
of the admiralty. I also conceive
it my duty to acquaint you, that from your
not having any other authority, that I am
aware of, besides being owner of a letter of
marque, you appear to me to have far exceeded
that authority by taking on you the
government of an island not actually considered
hostile to Great Britain; the wretched
state of whose inhabitants his Majesty has
been graciously pleased so far to relieve in
winter, as to grant licences to you and even
to the enemies of Great Britain to support
them; and you have, in my opinion, not
only transgressed the laws of Great Britain,
but of all nations, by assuming an authority
which no subject of any realm whatever can
have a right to; namely, that of declaring
the island free, neutral, independent, and at
peace with all nations, and of appointing a
governor, who is not a British subject, but
a Dane; who has been an apprentice on board
an English collier; served his time as a midshipman
in his Majesty’s navy; afterwards
fought against Great o O Britain ; and was made
a prisoner by an English ship of war. I understand
he has issued, with your sanction,
proclamations (declaring the island no longer
under the government or control of Denmark)
signed in a regal manner (We, Jorgen
Jorgensen); besides which, he has, in sight
of his Majesty’s ship under my command,
hoisted a flag as yet unknown: and is employed
at this time in erecting a battery
within musket shot, without my permission,
and even without having consulted me on
the subject; which is not only taking up
arms against his own country (Denmark),
but a disrespect to my pendant. I feel myself
called upon, therefore, to notice his
conduct, which no attachment or zeal that
gentleman may have for Great Britain can
countenance; neither would it, I am sure,
meet the approbation of government. I now
most earnestly recommend, either that you
do not leave the whole power in the island
in the hands of that gentleman alone, until
his Majesty’s pleasure is known (however
qualified or respectable his character may