[Extract]

Sir  On the 3d Instant his Majesty's Ship Scarborough anchored here from Spithead and Captain [Andrew] Barkley delivered to me your Letter of the 14th October, acknowledging the Receipt of my Letters of the 31st of August, 3d of September, and Duplicate of the 8th of August . . .

Also your letter of the 20th of October inclosing a printed Copy of the Kings Order in Counsil prohibiting the Exportation of Gunpowder Arms Ammunition &c from Great Britain, with their Lordship's Directions for me to take the most effectual Methods for preventing the Importation thereof into any part of North America, which I shall punctually obey.

His Majesty's Ship Asia arrived the 5th and the Boyne the 9th By Captain [George] Vandeput I received Duplicates of your letters in the Scarborough and their Lordships Orders to take the Asia, Boyne, Somerset and Scarborough under my Command, as they arrive, and employ them in such manner as I shall judge best for his Majesty's Service; To hire two Marblehead Schooners; to hasten the Hind to the Leeward Islands without appointing a Captain to her; and containing their Lordships Orders about the Marines, borne as Supernumeraries in the different ships, in Case the Service should require their being landed . . . I beg you will be pleased to assure their Lordships, that I shall attentively observe all their Orders to me, And in every Event according to the best of my Judgment endeavour to act for the good of his Majestys Service entrusted to my Care. . . .

Upon the Arrival of the considerable Reinforcements their Lordships have been pleased to send me, I have entirely altered the former Disposition of the Squadron. The large Ships with a Sloop and a few Schooners will I think be sufficient for the Service of this Harbour until the Spring; And in the mean time what Ships or Vessels can be spared will be doing considerable Service by being spread along the Coast to the Eastward, at places either notorious for smugling, or where Arms and Ammunition are most ligelyto be thrown in during the Winter. In this idea I have order the Gaspee Brig, lately returned from protecting the Fisheries in the Bay of Chaleur and Gaspee, with the Halifax Schooner to be stationed from Cape Elizabeth on one side of Casco Bay to Passamaquody harbour, and have given their Commanders Directions to take every opportunity of Winds and Weather to move suddenly fro place to place, without their Intentions being previously made known to any person, by which means they will in the Course of this Season visit the greater part of the Harbours within the Limits of their Stations; and although they may not be successful in seizures, yet I apprehend the Knowledge of their being on the Coast may prevent considerable Importations of smuggled Goods and Arms and Ammunition. I have also sent the Canceaux armed Ship to lie at Piscataqua, and the Lively shall sail the first opportunity to Salem, where on Account of the considerable Commerce of that port, the presence of a Kings Ship, particularly at this Juncture, is highly necessary.

As the Tartar has been a long time off the Ground I have ventured on this occasion to spare her to go to Halifax, as well to guard the Arsenal, and assist in case of Accidents from fire or otherwise, as also that she may be cleaned and fitted early in the Spring to be ready to act upon any Emergency. If there should be no pressing occasion for her Service this way, I intend to station her in the Gulph and River St Laurence; She sailed accordingly from Boston last Monday [December 12], and, as the Weather has been Moderate and the Wind fair, I expect she is arrived at Halifax. Since the Swan has been under Orders to repair to Boston Captain [James] Ayscough has made several Seizures, which have detained him at New York 'till this time, and he has just informed me that he is quite ready to depart and will sail for Boston with the first fair Wind.²

The Kingsfisher is arrived at New York.³

The Hope Schooner went Yesterday to her Anchors after being repaired and sheathed. The great difficulty is procuring sheathing Board from the Sons of Liberty and the bad Weather have occasioned unavoidable delays in her repairing; however as she is now fit for a little longer service, I shall not send her to England directly, but keep her with me at Boston ready to depart with Dispatches upon any sudden occasion, till when she will assist in guarding this Harbour. . . .

As I do not consider the Magdalen of sufficient force to examine the great number of Vessels that Navigate in the Delaware, I intend to send the Scarborough there, but she is come from England so badly manned and is in other respects so unfit to sail immediately, that it will be some days longer before I shall get her to sea.

I have heard nothing of the Somerset or Hind. The Boyne parted with the former in a gale of Wind off the Western Islands.

I transmit Copies of two Letters from Captn [William] Maltby of his Majesty's Ship Glasgow, who had the misfortune in returning from Halifax to run upon Cohasset Rocks in Boston Bay last Friday Morning the 10th instant [sic!, Saturday morning] before Day light; although it was generally imagined impossible to save the Ship, I have the pleasure to acquaint you that through the speedy and great assistance she received from the Squadron, we last night got her up to Boston. I am exceedingly concerned that this Accident has happened to a dean Ship, compleatly stored and victualled, on account of the great Loss to the Crown in Stores and the Expence of Repairs, and of our being deprived of the Service of a good Ship. I shall immediately cause her to be surveyed to know the damage sustained, and have her repaired and fitted again with all possible dispatch.