Whereas the four New England Governments are in open an avowed Rebellion against his Majesty, and they have been daring enough to make Seizures of several of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels, and to send the Crews to Prison, and have also have fired upon killed and wounded many of the Kings Subjects serving on board his Majesty's Ships; And whereas there is undoubted Intelligence of their fortifying their Sea Ports, and of their determination to cut off and destroy his Majesty's Subjects serving in his Fleet and Army whenever it is in their Power.

And whereas I have caused the Symmetry Transport and Spitfire Sloop to be armed and fitted in the best manner the Situation of our Affairs would admit in order to proceed along the Coast, and lay waste burn and destroy such Seaport Towns as are accessible to his Majesty's Ships; And whereas from your having been employed many years on the Survey of the Coast to the Eastward of this Harbour, you cannot but be qualified to carry on this Service from your knowledge of all the Harbours, Bays, Creeks, Shoals, and having full confidence in your integrity, Loyalty and Naval Experience, and in particular for your late spirited and judicious Conduct at Falmouth, I have thought proper that you should command on this Expedition: You are therefore hereby required and directed to take the Symmetry and Spitfire under your Command together with his Majesty's Schooner Halifax, and proceed with them as soon as possible to Cape Anne Harbour, that Town having fired in the month of August last upon his Majesty's Sloop Falcon, wounded her People and taken many Prisoners; you are to burn destroy and lay waste the said Town together with all Vessels and Craft in the Harbour that cannot with Ease be brought away. Having performed this Service you are to take the advantage of Wind and Weather, or any other favorable Circumstances, to fall upon and destroy any other Towns or places within the Limits aforesaid, and all Vessels or Craft to seize and destroy.

My Design is to chastize Marblehead, Salem, Newbury Port, Cape Anne Harbour, Portsmouth, Ipswich, Saco, Falmouth in Casco Bay, and particularly Mechias where the Margueritta was taken, the Officer commanding her killed, and the People made Prisoners, and where the Diligent Schooner was seized and the Officers and Crew carried Prisoners up the Country, and where preparations I am informed are now making to invade the Province of Nova Scotia.

You are to go to all or to as many of the above named Places as you can, and make the most vigorous Efforts to bum the Towns, and destroy the Shipping in the Harbours. And as the Number of Marines you carry in the Vessels are too few to land and maintain any Post, you are to be careful not to risque their Lives or the Lives of any of your People by attempting where there is not great probability of Success, but to content yourself with falling upon the Rebels, doing what you can with Expedition and coming away before they can assemble to cut off your Retreat, and never risque your Ships aground or where you cannot put to Sea at all times of Tide, Wind permitting.

You are to bestow your whole attention to annoying the Rebels and the Security of your own Vessels; to observe in all your operations the strictest discipline, not to suffer plundering upon any Account, as I will make an Example of whoever shall presume to be guilty of it.

Whenever you can distinguish the persons or property of those who have taken no part in the rebellion and have given proofs of their Attachment to the Constituti[on] by refusing to concur in the unwarrantable measures that have been adopted to subvert it, you are to protect and defend them to the utmost of your power.

I leave entirely to your own discretion where to go and when to return, relying upon your Zeal for his Majesty's Service and the good of your Country for the steady and effectual Execution of these Orders.

Given under my Hand on board his Majs Ship Preston at Boston the 6. of October 1775

By Command of the Admiral
G. Gefferina.