Enclosure II: Antonio Serristori to the Governor of Leghorn, 23 October 1793
Enclosure II
Antonio Serristori to the Governor of Leghorn
Florence [Italy] 23 Octr 1793.
Having spoken to Lord Hervey, & shewn him Your Eccel⟨ys⟩ Letter dated the 21 inst. as well as the Paper No. 1, therein a⟨n⟩nex’d, he has inform’d me by writing that he has represented t⟨he⟩ matter to the Commander of the Squadron who is now in t⟨he⟩ City, & who has written to the Commander in his Absence ordering him not to take any Step against the America⟨n⟩ Vessel.1 I remain &c. Your humble Servt
(Signed,) Anthony Seristori.
Minister for Foreign affairs
Copy, DNA: RG 59, Consular Despatches, Leghorn.
Antonio Serristori was councillor of state for Tuscany from 1748 until at least 1794.
1. John Augustus Hervey (1757–1796), styled Lord Hervey, was the British envoy to Tuscany, 1787–91, and minister, 1791–94. The commander of the British squadron at Leghorn was Capt. William Young (1751–1821), a career naval officer who was promoted to captain in 1778 and ultimately rose to the rank of vice admiral (Filicchi to William Seton, 29 Oct., DNA: RG 59, Consular Despatches, Leghorn). According to a letter from Filicchi to Seton of 11 Nov., the Minerva “went away undisturbed” (DNA: RG 59, Consular Despatches, Leghorn).