them to death, and the execution of their sentence waits only my confirmation, as governor of the colony. They are all English. Will you be pleased, Sir, to accept their pardon and their lives, in the name of the Spanish army, and of my King ? It is I trust the greatest present that can be offered to one Prince in the name of another. Mine is generous, and will approve my conduct.
“In case your Royal Highness deigns to interest yourself for those unfortunate men, I have the honour to send enclosed an order for their being delivered the moment any vessel arrives at Louisiana communicating your pleasure. We shall consider ourselves happy if this can be agreeable to you. I have the honour to be, &c.
To this letter H.R.H. sent the following answer by Captain (now Sir Manley) Dixon, in the Tobago sloop of war.
“Sir.– I want words to express to your Excellency my just sense of your polite letter, of the delicate manner in which you caused it to be delivered, and your generous conduct towards the unfortunate. Their pardon, which you have been pleased to grant on my account, is the most agreeable present you could have offered me, and is strongly characteristic of the bravery and gallantry of the Spanish nation. This instance increases, if possible, my opinion of your Excellency’s humanity, which has appeared on so many occasions in the course of the late war.
“Admiral Rowley is to despatch a vessel to Louisiana for the prisoners; I am convinced they will ever think of your Excellency’s clemency with gratitude; and I have sent a copy of your letter to the King my father, who will be fully sensible of your Excellency’s attention to me.
“I request my compliments to Madame Galvez, and that you will be assured, that actions so noble as those of your Excellency will ever be remembered by,
On the 12th May following, the day on which H.R.H.’s
- ↑ Admiral Rowley accordingly despatched a sloop of war to Louisiana, and the prisoners were brought up to Jamaica.
