John Hamilton letter September 20, 1793.

John Hamilton, British Consul, to the Governor.
Sept. 20th 1793.
British Consul’s office Norfolk
Sir:
Information having been lodged with me that the French Pravateer schooner, Republic, Capt. ___, mounting ____guns, &c, refitted since her arrival at Portsmouth, was about to sail on a cruise, which vessel I am informed comes under the description of those prohibited by the President's proclamation. I immediately wrote to the Collector for this port, and to Col. Wilson, commandant of Portsmouth, to request their interference in preventing the said vessel from leaving this Port should she come under the description my information gave of her.
I have been favored with a very polite reply from Col. Wilson, in which he tells me that he had made a demand upon Mr. Isdril, the owner, for the papers that constituted his vessel a Privateer; that he very readily produced one, purporting a commission, dated Cape Francois, the 26th May, 1793, signed Mape, or donnateur civil, and several other papers, which induce him to think the privateer legally commissioned. At the same time, Col. Wilson states that the owner told him he had shipped some pieces of rotten for sound plank since he has been here, and that he also intended to exchange an equal number of six for four pound Cannon. Upon this head Col. Wilson requires Data to regulate his conduct.
I have therefore to lay this matter before your Excellency and the Council of state, in order that the propriety of the Schooner Republic being permitted to sail may be satisfactorily ascertained, and at the same time to submit whether according to the Rules adopted by the Sept. 20th President of the United States, annexed to the circular letter of the Secretary of the Treasury, the 17th of which declares all equipments adapted solely for war unlawful, with some exceptions, which I am informed cannot include the Republic, or conformable to the 18th and 19th articles of the Treaty between the United States and France, the last of which seems only to allow repairs to ships, under peculiar circumstances, which cannot apply to the Privateer Republic, as she came in with the French fleet from Cape Francois, and has been in this harbour ever since. This Privateer should be permitted to proceed on her cruise. I have the honor to be with great respect and esteem, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obed. humble Servant.

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Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM AUGUST 11, 1792, TO DECEMBER 31, 1793, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE. VOLUME VI. RICHMOND: A. R. MICOU, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1886