My Lord

I wrote to your Lordship the 28th of July by the Brig John, Hugh Kennedy Master, and am now to acknowledge the Honor of your Letter July 20th. I am entirely of your Lordships Opinion that the Ships stationed at Virginia cannot prevent the Rebels receiving supplies of Ammunition and Smuggled Goods; there is no Station that has a number of Ships and Vessels equal to that duty, and this deficiency can only be supplied from England, from whence we are in hourly Expectation of the most interesting Accounts and of considerable Reinforcements.

As these cannot I think be far off your Lordship may rely upon seeing as many Vessels arrive within your Excellency's Government as can be appropriated to it.

I cannot order Captain Montagu's Tender to be purchased, but if she is a swift Sailing Vessel would recommend her to the Captains on the Stations who certainly can make it answer to them, as Ten p.Cent is allowed to the Proprietors out of all Seizures over and above their shares.

I am My Lord [&c.]