By the Senegal the Admiral received a Letter from Commissioner Arbuthnot, dated 30th November 1775, ² relating that two armed Schooners from Marblehead had been in Canso Road, and forbid all the Masters of Vessels there to carry Lumber or any other Supplies to the West Indies or any other of the Dominions of Great Britain or to Boston: that these Schooners had only taken one Vessel laden with 40 Tubs of Butter, and came from the Island of St Johns, where they had not done the smallest damage except making Prisoner of the Lieutt Governor, on pretence of his enlisting Volunteers for the Royal Army and Militia: that afterwards they put into Barrington Harbour, took a Brigantine with Fish and then steered to the Westward:... that he had directed the Senegal to Victual and Store for six Months, and then proceed to the Bay of Fundy and cruize as long as the Season would admit, but that on hearing the aforegoing Account of the Rebel Schooners he had altered her destination.

By another Letter dated 8th December, the Commissioner informed the Admiral, that the Governor had sent an Officer to him (who had come in three days from Annapolis [Royal]) to let him know that the People there were under the greatest Apprehensions of being attacked as soon as the Merlin should leave that Place, and that he had therefore sent a Schooner with six months provisions to that Sloop, and Orders for her to cruize as long as she could and to winter at Annapolis.

The Admiral, who had long ago ordered both the Senegal and Merlin to winter in the Bay of Fundy where they had been left by the Tartar expressly for the Security of the Trade in the Bay and the Western Coast of Nova Scotia, was surprized and not altogether satisfied with this irregular innovation upon his Orders: And the Senegal going so soon to Halifax for Provisions was what he had not intended, as he well knew how much provision those Sloops had on board, and had taken care to send a Transport on purpose with a farther Proportion for four Months, in order that they might not be obliged to quit their Station during the Winter. However, as contrary to his Expectation, no Frigates or Sloops were arrived from England, and he had Intelligence that several Vessels were expected at Liverpool in Nova Scotia with Arms and Ammunition from Barcelona, and knew Liverpool to be a Place not much frequented by Men of War, he imagined the Senegal, as she was quite ready, would be the properest Vessel to send there, and therefore did not order her back to Annapolis.