It being this day determined to form a plan for intercepting the Jamaica Fleet that will Sail from that Island for Great Britain about the 26th day of .July next. Resolved

That this Committee will Order such of the Continental Frigates and Cruizers as can conveniently be spared or appointed for this service to Randevouz at Abacoa One of the Bahama Islands near to New Providence on or before the 25th day of July next.

That as it is uncertain what number or which of the ships or Cruizers may be so Ordered, those that arrive at the Said Station are to wait until the 28th day of July, each employing themselves in taking on board wood Water &c if wanted and to be got until that day when the several Commanders are to meet and producing their Commissions to each other the Senior Officer is to be deemed Commodore and may hoist a broad Pennant during the continuance of this service. The Commodore and every Commander are then to pay due obedience to the following Instructions exerting themselves in their respective Stations to execute them and to accomplish what this Committee have in veiw.

The grand Object of this expedition being to intercept the Jamaica fleet that will be departing from that Island about the Time the Commodore assumes his Command, he is to hold a Council of war assisted by all the Commanders and determine the following points.

First, where is the best Cruizing Ground.

Second, How to station the Squadron over that ground so that the enemies fleet cannot pass by unobserved.

Third, fix Signals for discovering the Enemy, their Numbers force and Number of the Convoy, how they bear, distance &c

Fourth, fix Signals for knowing each Other generally, & each ship in particular with all other necessary & proper Signals for the well governing & managing the fleet during the Cruize and in time of Action.

Fifth, each Commander to be supplied with a Copy of these orders Copies of the Proceedings of the Council of War Signals &c and Copies of such other orders as the Commodore & council may think proper to be given to each captain in addition to these Instructions which orders are to have the same object in veiw and are to be calculated for the more effectual Accomplishment of it. The Commodore or Council of war are empowered to order or do any thing they may think necessary or essential to enable the Squadron to perform the intended service, whether pointed out by the Committee or not. The Commodore must call on each Captain for any intelligence he may have gained respecting our enemies before he arrived at the Randevouz and particularly respecting the Jamaica fleet, the force and number of Ships of war intended as Convoy to that fleet, and proper advantage must be made of any intelligence so gained. These things done and the sooner they are accomplished the better, the Squadron must weigh and sail under the Signals and Orders of the Commodore to the Appointed Station which we suppose will be near the Havannah and as there will be some time to wait for the Jamaica fleet geting that length such time cannot be better spent, than in repeating the Signals agreed on constantly in order that they may become familiar to every one, and whenever they appear to be misunderstood to any Ship or Ships an explanation should immediately take place. The men should be constantly exercised at the Guns, and infinite pains taken on board every Ship to sweeten the Air, and keep not only the ship clean but the Men so in their Cloathing and Persons. During this Cruize there is little doubt but Prizes will be taken by the Squadron before the Jamaica fleet appears and such may be sent into Georgia or Carolina, but in doing this care must be taken that no ship is much weakened by sending away their men in such Prizes. Should they be of little value it may probably be best to burn them and encourage the seamen bound on board to enter our Service by offering them Share of Prize Money to be taken, Pay and allowance equal to those already engaged and assurance of good treatment. It may not be amiss for the Commodore to send One of the small Cruizers into the Havannah with a Polite Letter to the Governor asking leave for the Ships of war belonging to the United states of America to send in their Prizes there until convenient to bring them away or for sale if that will be permitted. When the main object of this enterprize appears the Jamaica Fleet, That, it must be the business of the Commodore to keep the Frigates together until he finds out the strength of the Convoy and if it be such as he judges he can cope with, with a tolerable prospect of success, He is to make the proper disposition for Attacking to the best advantage and engage their ships of war whilst all the smaller vessels are employed in attacking and taking the Merchantmen. It must be remembered that the enemy generally send home for Convoy such of their Ships of war as have been long in the West Indies. They are frequently foul and ill manned which are circumstances favourable for engaging them, even if they should appear of superior force. If you can but make Prizes of the Convoy or any part of them, we think it will then be in the power of the Squadron to take any number of the Merchantmen and such as cannot be manned and brought into Port may be sunk or Burned. Should the Convoy consist of such or so many Ships as it would be folly or rashness to engage, the Squadron in that case had best to seperate and hover after the fleet, for as we have little doubt but most of our ships will outsail theirs, being cleaner you may in this manner pick up a vast many of their Merchant ships altho protected by Superior force, and for this purpose every Ship or Cruizer may follow the fleet as long and as far as the Commander shall think prudent, but the Squadron is not to seperate until the Commodore shall give Orders or make signals for that purpose. If the Squadron seperate in this manner each Commander will return into the first safe Port in the States after he has performed his Cruize and rendered his Country all the services he can for that voyage, each giving us immediate notice of his Arrival and preparing again the Vessel he commands for further service against he receives fresh Orders. On the Contrary if the Squadron are successful in taking a number of Prizes it will be best to bring them into the first safe Port or Ports in these states delivering the Prizes to the Agents, and each Ship to be got ready for further Services immediately. If the fleet arrive any where in the neighbour hood of Congress we can and will transmit fresh Orders ー if too distant the Commodore must call a Council of war of all the Commanders with him and any enterprize or expedition planned by that Council, that has for its object the service of the United states of America, to distress or disable the enemies of these states or to Capture their ships of war or Merchantmen will meet our Approbation & if executed with vigour will merit the praise of all America. Our ships should never be Idle. The Navy is in its infancy and a few brilliant strokes at this Era would give it a Credit and importance that would induce seamen from all parts to seek the employ for nothing is more evident than that America has the means and must in time become the first Maritime power in the world. The several commanders employed to execute this Plan now laid down will have an opportunity to open the first Ideas of the importance of our Navy and a glorious chance of immortalizing their own names besides inriching all the brave Fellows under their command. To them then under Heaven we look for that success which is the Object of our wishes. ー