Copy.
Sir,

Trusting that you will have been joined by the Orpheus, Unicorn and Juno, subsequent to the Departure of the Greyhound with the Transports for this Port; and lastly by that Ship, the Captain of which is charged with this Dispatch, in Answer to your several Favors of the 11th, 13th and 23d of this Instant received yesterday; I reckon You will be now enabled to provide more sufficiently for the different Services recommended to your Attention. And as your Knowledge of the Port and Coasts obtained since your Arrival at Rhode Island, will direct your Choice of the most proper Stations, I am assured that the Ships you see requisite to keep with You for preventing the Escape of the Rebel Armed Vessels of different Classes, will be appointed with that View in the best manner that the Navigation and other Circumstances of the Port will admit.

The Demand for Small Armed Vessels, some of which employed here have been (for want of other, yet more seasonable Means for that End) necessarily manned from the Ships of War, will soon increase so considerably at this Port, that I cannot judge when it will be in my power to furnish You with any adequate Assistance of that Nature from hence. Lieutenant Browne was meant to be moved into One of greater Force, that I purpose fitting up as soon as the other more urgent Services in the Repair of the Cruising Ships will admit: And in the meantime he may remain as you have at present appointed. But if by the Hire, or other Means of procuring proper Vessels for your Purpose, You are capable of supplying that Defect at Newport, the Expedients you judge to be necessary therein shall be properly authorised.

Tho' I am entirely of Opinion that all requisite Precautions should be taken to guard against every probable Enterprize, I cannot think the Rebels will attempt an Invasion of Rhode Island, as they are said to intend; under all the known Difficulties attending the Conveyance of Troops Ammunition and Stores, and the Hazard of having their Boats from which their Force is to be landed, destroyed by the Ships of War, and their Retreat in that case totally cut off.

The constructing of a Redoubt for preserving the Command of the Seakennet passage, seems highly necessary, whilst the Rebels have possession of the Eastern Shore. But I apprehend such a Situation should be chosen for the placing of it, as will equally serve for the purpose of defending the Coast from Invasion, on such part where the Assistance of the Ships could be less readily afforded. Judging of the Face of the Country from the Draft you refer to, I apprehend the Hill near the Bridge on the Eastern Side of the Island directly opposite to Wanton's Cove, would be an eligible Position. I have always understood that the Enemy had con~ structed a Work upon the Hill overlooking Bristol Ferry. That Post (if not commanded from the opposite Shore) guarding a Strait. where the Ships would be much confined in their Operations if the Rebels made a proper Advantage of it, will I conclude be occupied by the King's Troops: In order that the Rebels might be obliged to direct their Landing (should they venture at any time on so bold a Measure) to other Parts of the Coast more accessible to the Ships. And if ever such a desperate Attempt should be made, it will doubtlessly be the Object of the Ships to press in Succession, at all Events, upon their Boats, when on their passage to the Island.

No better Method occurs to me at present for supplying the Want of Slops and Naval Stores in the Ships of your Squadron from the Magazines at this port, than to provide a Conveyance for the Quantity of each Species necessary according to the Contents of a General Abstract stating the whole Deficiency collected by your Direction and transmitted to me. But I must intreat that in the Preparation of that Abstract, Care may be taken to admit only such Articles as upon Inspection of the Warrant Officers Expences and Remains, are found to be indispensibly requisite for the Service of the Ship. This Caution is the more mate-' rial, as it is not uncostomary for the several Warrant Officers to calculate their Demands to complete their Remains equal to the Amount of their first Charges at a fitting Port. And I have had the Dissatisfaction in some Instances to observe, that the Commanders have not taken the care to regulate those Demands, which a due Regard to the Benefit of the King's Service and the Circumstances of this Fleet require.

The Payment of Artificers employed by your Order, may be adjusted in a similar Manner. Proper Returns expressing the Number and Qualit[ies] of the Artificers, and the times they have been employed being made out in the different Ships as when fitting at this Port, the Store-keeper residing here shall be directed to remit the Amount upon Receipt of the Vouchers: Three Copies thereof being transmitted for the regular Settlement of his Accounts at the Navy Office. Stores procured for your Squadron may be paid for, either by Draft on the Storekeeper for the estimated Value of the Articles you have need of; Or the Sum be remitted upon Delivery of the Vouchers, as in the Instance last mentioned

You will perceive that the Complaint from Mr Cooke concerning the Masters, passengers and others permitted to leave the port in the Triton Brig and his Claim of an equal Number of American Prisoners in Return, have been noticed; and my Sentiments thereupon signified in my Answer to his Letter: A Copy of which and the original Letter for Mr Cook have been sometime since forwarded with a Dispatch from me of the 23d Instant, to be delivered to you by Mr Thomas Goldesbrough in the Mary Armed Vessel.

I conclude You will have been able to contradict the Report respecting the Men, who, Mr Cooke is informed, were taken out of the Brig: But if that Assertion is founded, the Satisfaction I have left in his Choice, will, I hope, induce a Continuance of the Disposition in those Eastern Colonies, to leave us in possession of the Benefits derived to the Fleet from this Intercourse.

The Asia returning to England, I presume that You acquainted the Secretary of the Admiralty with the Exchange you had allowed between the Boatswains of that Ship and the Chatham; In which I should have concurred. The Appointment of a Lieutenant in place of the first Lieutenant of the Amazon, I equally approve of; tho' I have many reasons to be dissatisfied with the Cause of that Vacancy.

Permit me to make the Acknowledgments due for the very obliging Interest You take in my Recovery from my late troublesome Illness, at the same time that I assure You of the sincere Respect with which, I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] In Lord Howe's Lre of 13 Febry 1777