[Admiralty Office] 16th December 1775
Sir
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having previous to Rear Admiral Shuldham's Departure for North America settled private Signals for the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships there to know each other by in case of meeting And their Lordships having since the said Rear Admirals Departure received from Vice Admiral Graves a Copy of Signals which he had settled for the like purpose, I am commanded by their Lordships to send you herewith Copies of both the said Signals for your Information and Guidance, and am to signify their direction to you to keep them as secret as possible, and on no account to communicate them to any Person whatever unless to the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships under your Command who you are to furnish with Copies of them, or the Commanders of such of His Majestys Ships which you may fall in with on the Coast of North America who may not already have received them, giving them the like Caution. I am &c
Geo. Jackson D:S:
Commodore Sir Peter Parker, Town
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/550, 422-23.