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Most humble report!
In continuation of my most humble report dated the 20th of last month, I now have the honor to report that the frigate Minerva has again, by me, been sent to the Spanish coast by the attached order.
The reasons which have compelled me to do so are as follows: By the commencement of unrest in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, St. Thomas commerce has been significantly lowered for Americans and others, and it is therefore necessary for the inhabitants as well as for Your Majesty’s Revenues, if possible, to find new approaches.- The Kingdom of Grenada, which is in a somewhat calm condition and sources a quite considerable quantity of goods from St. Thomas, does not, on account of the pirates, send silver to St. Thomas which is the market that especially convene the inhabitants of said kingdom, who are [now] sending [ships] to Jamaica where they purchase more expensive and inferior goods because English men of war regularly protect their vessels or take their silver onboard.- On the latest cruise made by the frigate, it was believed that, as a subordinated benefit, it could also contribute to the forwarding of silver to St. Thomas; but as this opportunity was completely unexpected, all shipments from the country were entirely designated for Jamaica, and an English naval brig received, while the frigate lay in St. Martha’s harbor, a considerable sum. All, however, expressed the wish that a Danish naval vessel might arrive toward the middle of May and return by which, they opined, a facility would come about for remission of significant capital to St. Thomas.-
Since now, according to all the intelligence I have been able to gather, there is, for the moment, nothing to fear for the security of the islands, which, |