[Admiralty Office] 9th Janry 1776.
Sr
My Lord George Germaine having transmitted to my Lords Commrs of the Admiralty a return He had received from Major General [William] Howe of the Transports in His Majts Service at Boston by which it appears the greatest part of the said Ships are deficient in the Compliments of Men which by the Charter Parties with the Owners they are required to have; And the General observing that sixty five of the Men wanting to complete the Transports have entered or been pressed into His Majesty's Ships on that Station: I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you therewith & to signify their direction to you, if it shall be found that Men have entered or been pressed as aforementioned to cause such Men to be returned to the Transports to which they properly belong, and in future, Order the Captain's of His Majts Ships or Vessels under your Command, not to receive any Seamen belonging to the Transports or other Vessels in the King's Pay, and on no Account to suffer any such Men to be impressed into the Service. I am &c
Geo. Jackson DS
(By the Milford)
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/550, 522-23.
