The Cerberus anchored in Nantasket Road; and, as this Ship fell in with the missing Ordnance Transport, it may not be improper to insert so much of Captain Symons Account as relates to her, especially as it will serve to shew the Condition of the Cerberus from one Months Cruise on the Coast so early as November, as all the other cruizing Vessels suffered in proportion and much more when the Frost set in.

The General having again expressed his Apprehensions for the Safety of the Vessels expected with Stores, Provisions and Forage from all Parts, and acquainted the Admiral that it had been reported one Ship had the day before with Difficulty escaped from two Privateers out of Marblehead, and therefore proposed for Frigates to be at Marblehead and Cape Anne, thinking they would there be more serviceable than Cruizers, and further informed the Admiral, that he had intelligence of three armed Vessels being fitted out from Plymouth,

The Hinchinbrook chased a Schooner into Cape Anne Harbour and fired 40 Shot at her. A Transport had been attacked in the Bay about two days ago, and Captain Parker ordered the Raven to slip and run out to her assistance; The Empress of Russia armed Transport did the same, and both were so brisk that they arrived time enough to save the Transport, but the Privateer got off. The Master of the Transport had the Precaution to cut his jeers, Topsail Halliards &c. The Raven returned to Nantasket.²

The Fowey and Francis Transport with Stores from Halifax came in last night, and by the Fowey the Admiral received Advice from Commodore Le Cras of his Proceedings at Halifax, until the Arrival of Commissioner Arbuthnot, who superseded him in the Command, and at first had consented to his sailing for England according to the Admirals Directions, but the next day gave him an Order to remain. The Commissioner himself also by Letter, notifying his Arrival at Halifax on the 1st of November, acquainted the Admiral that finding the Garrison there exceeding weak, and that the Governor had assured him it had only 126 Men fit for Duty, and that a Report prevailed of a large Body of Rebels being marched up the Country (their destination unknown), he had thought fit to detain the Somerset and Roebuck until he had the Admirals Commands concerning them. Mr Arbuthnot inclosed Copies of the Orders he had found necessary to give, and of the Regulations he had made for the better Security of the Yard; and that the Savage was just arrived from Newfoundland in eleven days, and had brought a Letter from Rear Admiral [Robert] Duff for the Admiral, which he had indosed; that Captain [Hugh] Bromedge had raised 84 Volunteers, Eighteen of whom, that came in the Savage, he had put on board the Fowey, and the rest were on board the Amity's Providence Transport which parted Company with the Savage three Nights after they left St John's Harbour and was not then arrived: and that he had been obliged to supply the Fowey with Match from the Somerset and Roebuck.