You are hereby required and directed to proceed, with the Kitty Transport, in his Majesty's Sloop under your Command to Cape Fear in North Carolina, And upon your arrival to facilitate an Interview as soon as possible between Captain [William Glanville] Evelyn and Governor [Josiah] Martin, Captain Evelyn being directed to gain all possible Intelligence of the Situation of the Kings Affairs in that Province. This done, Capt. Evelyn returned, and you having also obtained from Governor Martin every necessary information relative to the Entrance of Ships into Cape Fear River, you are to cruize off Cape Fear in the most likely Tract to fall in with a Fleet of Transports (containing 5 Regiments) expected from England; and you are to remain cruizing and anchoring occasionally on the Coast, by which ever means you can best preserve your Station until the Arrival of the said Transports or until you are relieved, keeping the Kitty Transport with you if it shall be found unsafe or inexpedient to leave her at Cape Fear.

And whereas Major General [Henry] Clinton is appointed to command his Majesty's Forces to the Southward, you are upon the Arrival of the Transports with the Troops aforementioned to direct them into Cape Fear River, or go with them to Virginia, which shall be found most expedient upon your consulting with Governor Martin, in case you shall not have received particular Instructions on that head from Major General Clinton, whom you are most heartily to co-operate with and assit to the utmost of your power in all things for the Kings Service.

You are also to give every possible Assistance to the Army in general in their Operations against the Rebels.

And whereas there is great want of skilful Pilots in the Fleet, you are to retain as many for any part of the Coast of North America from Halifax to the Southward as far as Cape Florida as you can procure, bearing them on a List for Victuals only.

And as a small good going Sloop or Schooner may be extremely useful to cruize for the Transports, to put Pilots on board them, you are to seize the first suitable one you can and employ her on that Service.

For all other Orders I refer you to my general and additional Orders and Instructions which are herewith delivered.

Given under my Hand on board his Majs Ship Preston at
Boston the 12th January 1776.

To Capt: Linzee
of his Majs Sloop Falcon