Confidential

I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter from Mr Allen
Francis, United States Consul in this Colony, inquiring whether there
would be any objection to the firing of a National Salute on the
occasion of the anniversary of the Independence of the United States
together with my reply thereto.

Notwithstanding my refusal to accord my sanction to the proposed
proceeding a scow was chartered on which guns were mounted and being
towed to the mouth of the Harbour (half a mile from the Public
Offices) a salute of 36 guns was fired at daylight on the 4th July,
and repeated at sunset.

Mr Francis the Consul is an uneducated man of very intemperate
habits, and I did not think it expedient to take any further steps in
the matter, but I think the Government of this Colony should be
instructed as to the proper course of action in future years.

I believe I am correct in stating that the use of cannon by
unauthorized persons in a British Colony is illegal, and proceedings
of the nature I now bring under your notice may be reasonably
regarded as endangering the public peace, and I am in a position to
know that they have given offence to many British subjects.