My dear Lord ー I know you are so zealous in our cause against the American rebels that I should not act with that confidence I have in you, if I concealed from you the bitter complaints that have come home against Admiral Graves. Officers of distinction have written a state of facts that cannot be contradicted: such as, that many of our vessels have been taken, officers killed, men made prisoners; that a great number of swift boats called whale-boats have been supplied to the enemy from well-known towns on the coast, in which boats they have insulted and plundered islands immediately under the protection of our ships, and at noonday landed in force and burned the lighthouse almost under the guns of two or three men of war. The officers who write this ask where an excuse can be found for not enforcing instant restitution and reparation, or laying the towns in ashes where boats had been furnished, privateers fitted out, prizes carried in, or provisions refused. These are heavy charges, and I confess I do not see how they can be answered. The King, who is apprised of all this, has authorized me to tell you that he does not see, after every letter laying such blame on him (the Admiral), how the command can any longer be left in such improper hands. You will forgive me writing thus confidentially: we both mean with active zeal to promote the cause in which we are embarked; I am confident, therefore, that you will listen to any proposal that will m the smallest degree tend to forward the service. I am [&c.]