1775 ー The Rebellion in America growing more serious, and all hopes of bringing them back to their allegiance, otherwise than by force of arms, being at an end; The Ministry in the beginning of July came to a resolution to send out a considerable reinforcement of Troops & Ships to Boston; In consequence of which I was appointed to command The Roebuck, a new Ship lately built at Chatham carrying 44 Guns. I sailed from England about the Midle of September, and after stopping a few days at Guernsey, a week at Fayal (one of the Western Islands, which in a great measure recoverd me out of a dangerous fever), I arrived at Halifax in Nova Scotia, in order to land Comodore Arbuthnot (who was appointed commander in chief in that Port and Commissioner of the Dock Yard there) on the 31st of October. I should from thence have proceeded imediately to Boston, but as it was well known that a large body of the Rebels had marched into Canada, and a probability that if they did not succeed there they might attempt to destroy the Dock Yard at Halifax, Mr Arbuthnot, who had also a Commission to command the Ships in the Harbour, thought proper to detain me, as well as the Somerset Captain Le cras for the better security of the Place; and it was certainly most necessary as at that time there were not above 300 Land forces in the Garrison.