Captain Laws, `YOU may assure your self, I will never be wanting in the Duty of my Post. The Prisoners that are here are not in Prison, but only kept here to be sent to the Governor of the _Havana_: If you (as you say) command at Sea, I command on Shoar: If you treat the _Spaniards_, you should happen to take, as Pyrates, I will do the same by every one of your People I can take up: I will not be wanting to good Manners, if you will do the same. I can likewise act the Soldier, if any Occasion should offer that way, for I have very good People here for that purpose. If you pretend any Thing else, you may execute it on this Coast. God preserve you. I kiss your Hand. _Trinidado_, _Feb._ 20. 1720. Signed, _Bennette Alfonso del Menzano_. The last Advices we have received from our Plantations in _America_, dated _June_ 9th, 1724, gives us the following Account, _viz._ That Captain _Jones_ in the Ship _John_ and _Mary_, on the 5th of the said Month, met with, near the Capes of _Virginia_, a _Spanish Guard del Coast_, commanded by one _Don Benito_, said to be commissioned by the Governor of _Cuba_: She was manned with 60 _Spaniards_, 18 _French_ Men and 18 _English_, and had an _English_ Captain as well as _Spanish_, one _Richard Holland_, who formerly belonged to the _Suffolk_ Man of War, which he deserted at _Naples_, and took Shelter in a Convent. He served on Board the _Spanish_ Fleet under Admiral _Cammock_, in the War in the _Mediterranean_; and after the Cessation of Arms with Spain, settled with several of his Countrymen (_Irish_) in the _Spanish_ _West-Indies_. This _Guard del Coast_ made Prize of Captain _Jones_'s Ship, and kept Possession of her from 5th to the 8th, during which Time she took also the _Prudent Hannah_ of _Boston_, _Thomas Mousell_ Master, and the _Dolphin_ of _Topsham_, _Theodore Bare_ Master, both laden and bound for _Virginia_: The former they sent away together with three Men and the Mate, under the Command of a _Spanish_ Officer and Crew, the same Day she was taken; the latter they carried off with them, putting the Master and all the Crew aboard Captain _Jones_'s Ship. They plundered Captain _Jones_ of thirty six Men Slaves, some Gold-Dust, all his Cloaths, four great Guns and small Arms, and about four hundred Gallons of Rum, besides his Provisions and Stores, computed in all to 1500 _l._ Sterling. CHAP. I. OF Captain _AVERY_, And his CREW.