Whitehall 4th January 1776.
My Lords,
It is the King's Intentions that every Effort should be made to send Relief to Quebec as early as possible.
For this purpose three Ships of 180 Tons each, have been contracted for to carry Provisions; and I am commanded to signify to Your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure that one fifty Gun Ship, two Frigates, and a Sloop of War be forthwith prepared to accompany those Victuallers, and to be ready to sail by the middle of February.
It is also His Majesty's Pleasure that Your Lordships do direct two large Vessels to be taken up to serve as Transports, each of sufficient tonnage to contain Provisions for Six Months for three Hundred Men, & also Accomodation for about Ten Commissioned Officers of His Majesty's Land Forces, and One Hundred and Eighty Eight Non Commissioned Officers and private Men, with half the Baggage, Camp Necessaries, and Women, belonging to a complete Battalion, and that these two Transports have each a Lieutenant on board, as also that a Pilot, well acquainted with the Navigation of the Gulf & River St Lawrence (if such can be procured) be put on board each of the said Ships, as well as on board the Ships of War.
It is His Majesty's Pleasure that the 29th Regiment, now lying in Chatham Barracks, should be embarked on board the different ships of which the above Fleet will consist, to be distributed in the manner described in the inclosed Paper, & that such part of the Battalion as is to be put on board the 50 Gun Ship, and on board the Transports and Victuallers, be embarked at the Nore, and that such part as is intended for the two Frigates and the Sloop of War, be conveyed to Plymouth on board a Vessel to be provided by Your Lordships for that purpose. I am, &ca.
[Enclosure]
Disposition of a Regiment consisting of 677 on the Establishment (Officers and Contingent Men included) intended to be embarked for the Relief of Quebec early in the Spring, in the following Ships, to sail from England the 15th or 20th of February.
|
Commissioned |
Non Commissioned |
|
Officers |
Officers & private |
One fifty Gun Ship |
4 |
74 |
One Frigate |
3 |
27 |
One Do |
2 |
27 |
One Sloop |
1 |
18 |
One East India Ship |
10 |
188 |
One Do |
7 & the Surgeon's Mate |
188 |
Three Victuallers, 2 each |
6 each 30 |
90 |
Total |
34 Includg Surgeon's Mate |
612 |
The above numbers, with the Colonel, who is a Major General, & the 30 Contingent Men, make up the Establishment, vizt 677. ー