To James Madison from James Leander Cathcart, 7 April 1808

I have the honor to inclose for your Information, the Documents relative to the Ship Manchester, with [a] duplicate of My Letter of 4: Ulto. which will inform you of her detention. Since my last no Alteration has taken place whatever [on] this Island. On the 26: Ulto. Sr. Sidney Smith in the Foudroyant, with the Agamemnon, and a Gun brig loaded with Rockets & other implements of Destruction, touch’d here on his Passage [to] the Brazils to take the Command of that Station. He sail’d on the 27th. & will Rendevouz at St. Jago, where he expects to be Join’d [by] Some Transports. It is conjectured here that the British and [Po]rtuguese, will make an Attack upon Spanish America. Probably Buenos Ayres & Monte Video may be their primary Object.

Every Class of People on this Island are anxious for [an] Amicable termination of our Differences with Great Britain, & well [the]y may. For in the Event of a War of any Continuation, they would [be] reduced to a State of Famine.

As soon as Circumstances will admit, I request that [I] may be furnished with a Commission, and that a Copy thereof may [be] forwarded to our Minister at London, in order that My Exequator may be granted by the British Government, for until I receive those Documents, I execute the duties of My Office, merely through the Courtesy of the Governor for the time being which may be attended w[ith] great Inconvenience. I have the honor to continue with Respectful Esteem Sir Your most Obedt. Serv[t.]