Minutes of HM Council: 30 September 1739

Att a Council holden at the house of His Excellency the Governor the 30th September 1739.

Present:
His Excellency the Governor
Andrew AuchinleckEsqr
Leonard WhiteEsqr
Saml BurrowsEsqr

Notwithstanding it happened that a quorem of the Council could not be had suddenly and it being Sunday, in order to dispatch one Capt. John Hombas Commander of the sloop belonging to Cape Brittone a French settlement who had been hovering off and on in the North American Islands for some time and afterwards taken and brought on shore by Capt. Richd. Jennings, Comandr of the sloop "Eagle" belonging to these islands, a Privateer fitted out here pursuing and attacking her believing her to be the enemy, it was thought proper that he should be examined by his Excellency and the other members of Councill above named to examine him as follows vizt.

1Q Have you any commission from the Spaniards, from whence did you come last, whither are you bound and what is your loading?

1A No, he has not any commission from the Spaniards to cruize on the English coasts or to attack any English vessels But came last from Martinique bound to Cape Brittone with a load of rum, sugar, and molasses.

2Q How come it is if you did not know how to clear of our coast that when you was pursued you was able to find no ready way out again?

2A That he made this Island unexpectedly and seeing a fishing boat he hailed her and desired that the people therein to come on board for that he wanted to get some water from the shoar but they declined coming and made way for the shoar immediately.

3Q For what reasons were you yesterday hovering about our coasts from morning to evening?

3A That he hoisted his pendants seeing a signall hoisted at a place on shoar which he believed to be a fortification and stood to the northward till he came in ten fathom water when he backed ablout and stood to the southward thinking it only safety for his vessell soon after he seeing two sloops coming out of this port and standing towards him he stood off the way he steered in towards the shoar.

4Q What vessell was that to the southward of these Islands when you was to the eastward?

4A Does not know.

It being proposed to the said Captain that as his vessell is very far to the leward of the land and probably may not gett up soon whether on what reward would give to any person that should fill him water necessary and carry it in a sloop with him and his two men out to his sloop. He answered he would give them empty casks for their full one and a hogshead of rum for which his Excellency and said Councillors did agree with Capt. Richard Jennings, Commander of the sloop "Eagle" to fill and carry off the said sloop such water tomorrow.