Sir./ I have received your Four Letters; dated the 5th October 1775, Three of them, Answers to those of mine, from Janry to July 1775, and am happy, their Lordships, approve of my Proceedings ー The Fourth, respecting the Ships, under my Command, not being supply'd, with Fresh Beef, more than One Day, in each Week, agreeable to the Contractors Contract, except in cases of urgent Necessi;Y1 beg leave, to acquaint their Lordships, that they never have, unless when their Captains, have represented to me, of their People being Sickly, & the Snrgeons, of Opinion, that Fresh Meat, twice a Week, would contribute to their Recovery ー I then have order'd them, to be supply'd with it, for a Month, which has never happen'd but twice, since I releev'd Sir George Rodney, excepting the Pallas, who I order'd it, during the time she was here, (which was about Six Weeks) her People, being much afflicted, with the Scurvey.

I beg leave to Inclose you, the Duplicate of a Letter, which I wrote you, by a Merchant Ship, the 22d of last December, which I hope, you have received, in the Latter part, of which, I beg'd you'd inform their Lordships, of the Maidstones, having sent, into this Port, a North American Sloop, Since which, she has sent in, a Schooner & two Sloops, from Cape Nichola, Loaden with French produce, and bound to the Rebellious Colonies

The Squirrel, has likewise sent in, two Sloops, one from Cape Nichola, with French produce, the other from Turks Islands, with Salt, both bound to the Rebelious Colonies.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the 4th instant, I received a Letter, from the Collector & Comptroller of His Majestys Customs at Kingston, demanding these Vessels, to be Deliver'd into their Custody, to be proceeded against as Smuglers ー In answer, to which I acquainted them, that they were Seized in pursuance of the Kings pleasure, signi[fied] to me by their Lordships, not as Smuglers, but as belonging, to People, in actual Rebellion; against His Majesty & his Authority therefore, I should detain them, 'till their Lordships Pleasure, was known ー But as I thought, they had done, no more, than their Duty, as Officers of the Customs, by applying to me, they were exceedingly welcome, to transmit my Letter, to the Commissioners of the Customs, to take off any Imputation; which they might lay on them, which hope, will meet, with their Lordships Approbation.

I beg leave, to acquaint their Lordships, that agreeable to their directions, signified to me, in your Letter of the 6th Sept I order'd the People, who were sent in, in the North American Vessels, to be put onboard the Antelope, as I judged it unsafe, to continue them in their Vessels, and order'd Captain [William] Judd not to permit them, to go ou [t] of the Ship, without my Orders, the 16th instant I was Served, with two Writs of Habeas Corpus Commanding the Appearance, of two, of the Masters ² of those Vessels, before the Chief Justice and to assign, a reason, for the Caption of their Vessels, & detention of the People, which I answer'd by complying with the Writs, communicating their Lordships orders, on which, the Chief Justice, order'd them, both to be Discharged. And as I was apprehensive, my refuseing to comply with these Writs, might Occaision great Disturbances, here, I acquiessed, with the Chief Justices Decission, & have order'd Captain Judd, to Discharge them. Inclosed, for their Lordships information, are attested Copies of the Habeas Corpus Writs, with the Affidavits & Petitions, for their being granted I likewise, beg leave to Inclose their Lordships, a Letter, I received from His Majestys Attorney General, respecting these Writs, wherein he says, he is very confident, that the Calm, we here enjoy, would instantly have become a Storm, had I not comply'd with them. ³ I hope therefore, their Lordships, will approve of my Conduct in this Affair.

I likewise beg leave to inclose, the Opinion of the Attorney General, respecting the Detention of these Vessels, ⁴ and am to acquaint their Lordships, that only one of them can be proceeded against, in the Court of Admiralty ー the others; agreeable to their directions, I shall detain; 'till further orders; As the Gentlemen of the Law, seem to be much; at a loss, in regard; to the proceeding[s] against these Vessels, if there's any; late Act of Parliament, or Proclamation, should be glad to have it, by the first Opportunity.

I further beg leave, to acquaint their Lordships, that the 10th instant, the French Frigate Saild from here, & with regard to the expence, incurred by her Heaving down, I order'd the Storekeeper, to charge for the Workman Ship, the Kings Pay, & for what Stores, he had Supplyed (which has been very trifling) to take a Conditional Bill, for such Value, to be paid for the same as the Commissioners of the Navy, should [pass] thereon ー and by this Oppertunity, have wrote to the Navy Board, & Inclosed them, a Copy of my order, for that purpose ー I have the Pleasure, to acquaint their Lordships, that the Count was exceedingly Pleased, with the Assistance, which I gave him, in Careening and fitting his Ship for Sea, & very well satisfied, with the Manner, in which, I had order'd, the Expence, attending the same to be Settled  I further beg leave, to acquaint their Lordships, that the 19th inst the Contractor, compleated the Careening Wharf, &c that, I have order'd; the Storekeeper to pay him, the Remainder; of what is due to him, for the above Work, amounting to the Sum of £1051-17-2 Currency, & have likewise; wrote to the Navy Board; & transmitted them, a Copy of my Order, to the Storekeeper, for Payment of the same.

In my Letter; of the 24th December I acquainted their Lordships, with the private Intelligence, I have gained from Hispaniola, with respect; to the Warlike preparations; making there, & have it now, from undoubted authority, that they have; a Reinforcement of 3000 Troops, already arrived, & the same Number; Dayly expected, that they are Mounting all their Guns, in the Different Forts, furnishing; their Magazines, with Shot and Powder With regard; to the Dissposition; of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels under my Command, I beg leave; to acquaint their Lordships, that the Squirrel, and Maidstone, are still on their Cruize, and Antelope, at Port Royal ー The Florida; Surveying Sloop, arrived the 15th instant, from Pensacola, & has brought me Letters, from Captain Davey, of the Diligence, & Mr Gould, the Surveyior  Captain Davey, informs me, that he, shall be again; fit for the Sea, by the end of November, & shall then proceed, into the Mississippi, in Pursuance of my orders ー Mr Gould, acquaints me, that he has survey'd; as far as Cape Florida; for particulars, I refer you, to his Letter, which I inclose  The Ferret Sloop, was spoke, the 22nd of last August, off the Ravanna, since that, she has never been heard of, and as, on the 26th of the same Month, there was a violent Hurricane, I think, it is more than probable, she was lossed in it  I've order'd the Florida, to be Careen'd as fast, as possible, after which, I shall employ her in the best manner, for His Majestys Service, 'till 'tis time, for her to return to the Surveyior  I am, with great Respect Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] Recd 20 Mar