Bristol at Spithead 18 Decbr 1775
Sir
On Saturday Evening before I left Town, I received the following Orders, Instructions &c. viz Order from Their Lordships Dated the 15th instant to Direct any Captain of my Squadron to receive Mr. Molesworth, the Deputy Paymaster, together with His Cash, Servants, and Baggage &c Order of the same Date, to Direct Captain Morris to receive on Board the Bristol, Earl [Charles] Cornwallis with His Attendants &c Your Letter of the 16th instt, with the private Signals of the Admirals Graves and Shuldham ー Copy of a Letter from Lord George Germain to Earl Cornwallis Dated the 6th instt ー Copy of a Letter from Lord George Germain to the Major General who will Command &c Their Lordships Instructions to me Dated the 14th instant. List of Transports, List of Ships under my Command ー Order of the 16th instt, Empowering me to call and Assemble Courts-Martial in Foreign P[a]rts, until I shall receive Orders from Rear Admiral Shuldham, to put Myself under His Command-Orders of the 16th instant, about appointing Officers to Act, in Cases of Death or Dismission by a Court Martial ー Your Letter of the 16th instt, with Seven Press Warrants Directed to the Captains of the following Ships, Viz Bristol
Actaeon, Boreas, Solebay, Sphynx, Deal Castle, Thunder Bomb, and this Morning I received Your Letter of the 17th instant, signifying Their Lordships Directions to me, to Order the Captain of One of the Frigates of my Squadron to remain at Cork 'til the Arrival of the Army Victuallers, the Carcass Bomb Vessel, Friendship armed Vessel, Sybilla Storeship, and Pigot Hospital Ship, and to take Them under His Convoy, and follow me without a Moments Loss of Time to such Rendezvous as I shall Appoint for that Purpose. I am Sir [&c.]