It having been represented that the King's Subjects in North America, in Rebellion against His Majts Government, have found means of preventing His Majts Fleet & Army from being supplied with such Provisions & Stores as are necessary for their Subsistence & may be procured in several of the Colonies; You are hereby required & directed, in pursuance of His Majts Pleasure signified to Us by the Earl of Dartmouth one of His Principal Secretaries of State, in his Letter of the 12th Instant, to send, from time to time, such of the Transports, as can be spared from other Service, to the several Ports in those Colonies in North America which are in Arms against the King, under Convoy of one or more of His Majts Ships as the Case shall require, with directions to the Commanders of such Ships to demand of the Inhabitants of the Maritime Towns that they do furnish, at a reasonable Price, such supplies of Provisions & other Necessaries as may be procured there, for the use of His Majts Fleet & Army, and, in Case of refusal to comply with so just & reasonable a demand, to proceed hostilely against such Towns as in open Rebellion. Given &c 14th Sepr 1775.