Sir

In consequence of a Demand from the Contractor for supplying the Army at Boston on his Agents here (Messrs Gibson Donaldson & Co) with a Quantity of Pork, And they finding it dangerous to Answer the same made Application to His Excellency the Earl of Dunmore to fall on a Method of having it safely and secretly procured; And that in consideration of the rebellious State of the Country, And having a Consultation with his Lordship have fallen on a Plan of seizing a Brigantine loaded with Pork and cleared out for Antigua, and send Mr. Crawley in Charge with her to Boston ー The Master of her having proper Instructions on that head, And hope You will approve my Conduct herein, As the Committee have positively threatned and forbid the Contractor at Norfolk to supply any of his Majesty's Ships with more Provisions than what the said Ships can consume within themselves, as by that means they prevent any being carried to the Fleet.

I take this Opportunity of acquainting You with the arrival of his Majesty's Sloop Otter the 10th Instant, as also the Arundle Schooner, And am honoured with your Order of 21st. of May and Letter of the same and 22d ー Also the Dispatches; Captains [Edward] Thornborough and [Francis] Parry's I have not as yet had an Opportunity of sending, but shall embrace One that will soon offer, for His Excellency the Earl of Dunmore has thought proper to apply to me to send two Vessels that had formerly been seized and condemned in the Court of Admiralty, A Sloop by Lieutenant [Henry] Colins And the Sally Schooner by me (and of which my former Letters informed You) to St Augustine to bring Troops, And that in their way there, they shall deliver the dispatches.

Agreeable to the part of your Letter of the 21st of May I had ordered Lieutenant Colins to prepare for his Station, But thought it prudent to heave the Schooner down here under the Protection of his Majesty's Ships, And which she is doing alongside the Otter.

I beg leave to acquaint You that on the 7th Instant the Governor was abliged with his Family to leave Williamsburgh and come Onboard the Fowey for Safety; as has some other of the Inhabitants; And that his Lordship has thought it proper to give the most speedy Accounts of the same to the King, and has applied to me to dispatch the Magdalen on that Service, which I shall do and inclosed transmit You a Copy of his Lordship's Letter.

From the hostile Appearance of the Country I cannot think it prudent to leave the Station until I have You[r] further Order, or relieved by another Ship, which I hope will be soon as the Ship and Boats are in great want of Repairs, and Stores of most kind ー Your Order of the 21st of May requires my proceeding directly to Halifax, when I leave this Province, but as your prior Order directs my raising 100 Men and represented the fleet being in want of Biscuit, shall think it prudent to put into Boston to deliver the Men and Bread as You may please to direct.