“Sir:
“The natives or Kroomen of your settlement having this day fired on the boats of Her B. M. ship under my command, while in chase of a Spanish boat with seven men going to New Sestros, I therefore demand the persons who fired on the boats, to answer for the same; and, should this demand not be complied with, I shall take such steps as I deem proper to secure satisfaction.
“I have addressed you on this occasion, judging by the interference of those blacks in your behalf, that they are instigated by you.
“I have the honor to be, sir, your obed’t serv’t,
“H. F. Seagram,
“Lieut. Com.
“To Mr. T. Canot,
“New Sestros.”
When this cartel fell into my hands it lacked but an hour of sunset. The beach was alive with angry rollers, while the Termagant was still under easy sail, hovering up and down the coast before my factory, evidently meditating the propriety of another pill to provoke my notice.
I sat down at once and wrote a sort of model response, promising to come on board bodily next morning to satisfy the lieutenant of my innocence; but when I inquired for a Mercury to bear my message, there was not a Krooman to be found willing to face either the surf or the British sailor. Accordingly, there was no alternative but to suffer my bamboo barracoons and factory to be blown about my ears by the English vixen, or to face the danger, in person, and become the bearer of my own message.