The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, has the honor of communicating to Congress a Memorial, which has been sent to him by Don Francisco Rendon. He entreats Congress to take it into consideration, and he has no doubt that the resolution, which that body shall pass upon the subject, will be as advantageous to the subjects of his Catholic Majesty as justice will allow.
LUZERNE.
MEMORIAL OF DON FRANCISCO RENDON TO THE MINISTER OF FRANCE.
Translation.
May it please your Excellency,
Don Francisco Rendon, resident in this city, Encargado de Negocios for the Court of Spain, with all due respect, informs your Excellency that in consequence of the articles of capitulation granted to the troops and inhabitants of his Britannic Majesty at the reduction of Pensacola, by Don Bernardo de Galvez, commander in chief of the forces of his Catholic Majesty, permission was granted by the Governor of the place to Captain Jahleel Smith, with his vessel called the Sally, her crew and passengers contained in the passport, to go to New York, six of the passengers being prisoners on parole, to be exchanged for an equal number of Spanish prisoners; that in his passage the said flag was captured by an American vessel, called the Betsy, Captain Enos, belonging to the State of Pennsylvania; that in consequence thereof, the said J. Smith has presented to me a petition and an account, which I herewith enclose, praying me to obtain for him an indemnification and payment for the damages he has sustained, and that liberty may be granted him by the supreme authority to pass freely to the place of his destination, agreeable to the permission of the Generals of the King, my master.
I therefore entreat, that your Excellency would be pleased to present this Memorial, with the documents accompanying it, to the Honorable Congress, and pray them to order payment to be made to the Captain of the flag, for the delay and damages occasioned by this capture, and grant the said prisoners of his Catholic Majesty mentioned in the passport, free permission to go to New York, in order to discharge their parole and obtain their exchange. I am induced by your Excellency's goodness to hope for this favor, and am, &c.
FRANCISCO RENDON.