Treasury Chamber Octr 19th 1775
Sir
Herein you will receive Directions for proper Signals to enable you to know any of his Majesty's Vessels belonging to the Squadron in America which you may happen to fall in with on the Coast of America. You are to take care to keep such Signals as private as possible and when you quit his Majesty's Service as a Storeship or Transport; You are to deliver up the Paper directing the Signals to the Admiral or Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet in America. Proper Orders are sent to his Maiesty's Ships on that Station and by a strict Observance of their Rules you will perfectly distinguish your Friends from any Foes. You are to take Care not to go into Boston or any other Port in America until you shall meet with some of his Majesty's Ships who can conduct you in, direct you to the Place where the Army is and assure you that it is a Port of Safety,2 I am, Sir [&c.]
John Robinson
1. Intercepted Letters, Papers CC, 51, II, 157, NA; copy in Red Book, XIII, 37-1, Md. Arch. Robinson was Secretary of the British Treasury. Foster was master of the ship Jenny.
2. The Jenny; which sailed from London late in October, was taken in Massachusetts Bay around December 8, 1775, by John Manley in Washington's armed schooner Lee. Before the boarding officer reached the Jenny, Captain Foster threw his papers overboard and many were lost. The Robinson letter was among the few saved.
