Sir

Please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that Captain [William] Fooks in the Favorite arrived at English Harbour the 29th January last, and Captain [James] Jones in the Beaver the 3d Instant, Captain [Edward] Garner in the Fly is not yet come to Antigua, from the Islands to Leeward, where He was sent by Captain Paisley [Thomas Pasley] to protect and take care of such part of the Convoy as were bound to those Islands, it gives me great pleasure to acquaint their Lordships that the Trade from England which came under their Convoy are arrived safe: not more than two or three Vessels missing. By these Ships and the December Packet I have received from their Lordships the several Letters and Orders named on the other side which I beg you to acquaint them shall be exactly Complied with.

I am likewise to desire You will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners, that a set of Adventurers belonging to these Islands encouraged by an opinion they have obtained from the Attorney General; and some other Lawyers, vizt "That all His Majesty's Subjects have a legal right during the present Rebellion; to make Capture of any Vessels belonging to the Rebels, where ever they can meet with them; and otherwise to distress and annoy them, in any manner they can," and have therefore fitted out a Number of Armed Vessels (Consisting of small Pilot Boats; Schooners and Sloops) and without Commission or any Lawful Authority from the Crown have caused them to proceed to Sea, in order to Cruize and make Captures: They have already taken several Vessels upon the High Seas and sent them into the different Islands to be Condemned as Prize, and it seems expect to receive One Half the Proceeds by Sentence of the Court of Admiralty: and to obtain the other Half from the King's Bounty; this certainly appeared to me the most Extraordinary Step I had ever before heard of; and I cannot but imagine that a Vessel without Commission Cruizing on the High Seas and making Captures there, is Actually Guilty of Piracy: I therefore wrote to Mr Thomas Warner the Kings Attorney General, and desired He might prosecute the perpetrators and Abettors as Pirates; this He has peremptorily refused doing, and strongly asserts the propriety and Lawfulness of their proceedings; I also wrote to the Commander in Chief of these Islands (for the time being) to put a Stop to this mode of sending Armed Vessels without Commission to Cruize and make Captures on the High Seas, 'till the King's pleasure could be known; but had no better Success than in the former application. I have since received a formal Complaint from the Governor of Martinique, that one of these Vessels without Commission; had taken a Vessel bound to, and belonging to Martinique;

and carried her into Dominique; on receiving this Complaint, I immediately wrote to the Respective Governors of the English Islands to acquaint them thereof and requested they would use their utmost Endeavours to put an immediate Stop to the aforegoing Practices; and have also given Orders to the Kings Ships under my Command to make Capture of any of the above described Armed Vessels, not having Commission which they can meet with Cruizing on the High Seas, for the purpose of taking Prizes; and have likewise directed Captain [John] Chapman in the Shark to Lie in St Johns Road, and prevent any more of them Sailing from thence: I must likewise observe to their Lordships that these Vessels obtain Collusive papers from the Custom House's at the different Islands; and are cleared out in Ballast for places they never intend to go near; and that officers belonging to the Customs are concern'd in some of them as Owners; but these and some other matters of Consequence, I shall more fully explain to their Lordships in a few Days by a more safe opportunity.

I am likewise to acquaint their Lordships that the several Hired Transports named in the inclosed List; ² having provisions and Stores on board for the use of the King's Army and Navy employed in America, instead of making the best of their way to New York &ca as they were ordered; have deviated therefrom, and put into this Island; and the greater part of them without any apparent Necessity: As the King's Service might be very much retarded and hurt by such delays I have thought it necessary to appoint an Officer to take Charge and Command of as many of the Transports as are fit to proceed on their Voyage, and conduct them to New York: and have accordingly put Lieutenant Hugh Cloberry Christian (from the Shark) on Board the Albion Transport, and directed him to Execute that Service. I have likewise ordered the Albion and Hungerford Transports to take on board the remaining Troops belonging to the 8th and 47th Regiments: and carry them to New York, to be disposed of as the General or Commanding Officer of the King's Forces at that place may direct, The other Transports I intend sending under Convoy of the King's Ships belonging to Lord Howe's Squadron (two of which the Roebuck and Pearl are now here preparing for Careen) when they return back. I am Sir [&c.]

P. S. I have appointed Mr James Gambier, Lieutenant of the Shark in the Room of Lieutt Christian appointed by me to Conduct the Transport Vessels to New York. —

Orders received

1.	Order Dated —	17th October		1776 Pr the Beaver
1	do	19

Letters received.

1.	Letter Dated	28th October		1776 Pr the Beaver
2	do	14th Novemr
1	do	28th
1	do	4th Decemr		1776 Pr the Packet

[Endorsed] Recd 6 May Dupl Rd 26 Apl