Sir,

I think it proper to acquaint you, that in consequence of it's having been signified to me, that one of His Majesty's Ships of War would be stationed in the Downs, & another in Five fathom Channel, to protect & assist the Officers of the Customs in searching for Arms & Ammunition which may be secretly & clandestinely received on board Ships bound from the Port of London to No America, after such Ships have passed Gravesend, orders have been given to the Commissioners of the Customs to station two or three Cutters for visiting & searching all Ships bound to North America in their passage from the River to the Downs; & that in Case the Officers of such Cutters shall stand in need of the assistance of His Majesty's Ships of War, that they do, upon coming in sight of such Ships, hoist a Custom-House Jack at the Masthead. I am &ca