Number 23.
Sir

Enclosed herewith I transmit an Account of Officers promoted by me in consequence of their Lordships permission for that purpose,² to Vacancies occasioned by the Resignation of Captain [Alexander] Scott; Changes for Duty, allowed for the most Part, in compliance with the Requests of the Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham and Commodore Sir Peter Parker, when they moved from the different Ships wherein They were before respectively embarked; Appointments I have made to Vacancies caused by Death, or Dismission by Sentence of a Court Martial; and several temporary Nominations in place of Officers in different Stations, who by the strictest Inquiry respecting the Justness of their Representations of Inability, were deemed incapable by their ill State of Health to perform their Duty in this Country. The said Representations and Reports thereon, under the Hands of the Physician of the Fleet or Surgeons of most Consideration being also herewith enclosed.

It is further incumbent on me to submit my Motives for some extraordinary Appointments, which the peculiar Circumstances of the Case have induced. Amongst these, I am particularly to note two Supernumerary Officers, acting as additional Lieutenants in each of the Ships with, the Commander of Divisions ordered on separate Service: The Duties in Boat-Service; For Night-Guards, and on Detachment; Besides the ordinary Duties of the Ships in similar Situations, being so various and incessant, that a suitable Provision could not have been otherwise made for those purposes. These Extra Officers having no Assignment of Pay correspondent to their Stations and Trust specified in their Appointments, Their Lordships Directions will probably extend to that Consideration if they shall be pleased in any Shape to approve of their Continuance in those Capacities.

The other extraordinary Appointments regard a temporary Master Shipwright, Assistant and Boatswain to direct the Works in the Yard it was necessary to establish here for the Repair and Refitting of the Cruising Ships, and for rendering such Assistance in the constructing of Boats as was wanted for the Service of the Army. A further extraordinary Expence in the purchase and fitting of some small Armed Vessels of Force, will soon become requisite for the same occasion.

The Pay their Lordships may be pleased to grant to the Master Shipwright, Assistant and Boatswain of the Yard, is submitted as in t[he] former Instance. They trust for Recommendation therein, to their meritorious Services testified in the Works perfected under their Inspection and Assistance.

Of the small Armed Vessels of Force above-mentioned, only One, a Gally carrying a Thirty two Pounder in the Bow taken in the North River by the Phoenix, has yet been received into the Service, by the Name of the Dependence. The Command thereof is given to Mr [James] Clark, a Mate of the Phoenix, who besides other Instances of Merit, distinguished himself in a very particular Manner last Summer, whilst the small Squadron under Captain Parker (ordered there for the first time) was up the North River. This Officer undertook to bring down Intelligence to me of the State of the Ships, by all the Enemy's Works of which they were then in possession on both Sides of the River, with the Advantage of several Guard Boats to obstruct all su{:h Attempts; and executed it with Success, tho' not without being discovered, pursued and attacked. On that Foundation I have Hope of their Lordships Indulgence, that his Appointment may be approved; with the Rank of Lieutenant in the Navy.

An Inspector of the Victualling Craft, and Commissary of Prisoners, were necessary to be appointed for the time being; as well as aDeputy Agent Victualler for the due Care and Distribution of the Provisions sent to Rhode Island for the Use of the Ships under the Orders of the Commodore Sir Peter Parker; and a Captain of the Port: The last, for providing Pilots on sudden Occasions, and the Arrangement of the Transports at the Wharfs and in different Coves along the Coast of the New York and Long Island Shores during the Winter Season in which they would otherwise be liable to considerable Injury from the Floating Ice. An Allowance of four Shillings P Day has been made to the former, and of five to each of the three last.

I am with great Consideration, Sir [&c.]