I pray you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships that on my arrival at this place the 1st Instant I found Commodore Le Cras in the Somerset under Orders to proceed to England when I came here, who I have detained as well as the Roebuck, which will I hope merit their Lordships approbation, I presume Captain Spry an Engineer at this place may have had orders from the General to set about securing this Yard because nothing had been done of consequence but within a fortnight. It is an unpleasant situation to defend because it is commanded by Hills, every way towards the Land which rises with a tolerable quick asscent but very regular for 600 Yards in the front of the Yard.

Captain Spry is raising a platform round the Wall within for Men to fire over besides two redoubts one at each end in front to scower the Curtain. We shall likewise lose no time in strengthening the N:E & S:W: sides of the Yard the latter having nothing but a few trifling pallisades lately put up to keep the Seamen from getting out of the Yard which at low water for a considerable way is but 6 Inches deep towards the Harbour, the other is overlooked by a steep Hill within forty Yards those we shall raise and put a platform also besides at each of those Extremeties are the Somerset and Roebuck moored with springs on their Cables, to prevent any impression on those places from succeeding, and likewise for scowering the aforesaid Hill upon the whole as soon as the Yard is completed, if those Gentry do not bring Cannon which I do not think they can we shall be able to give them a warm reception.