Sir I take this opportunity by the Sandwich pacquet, which Lord William Campble sends home express, to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of the Arrival of His Majesty's Ship Syren under my Command off Cape Fear, on the 4th Inst after a most disagreable passage of seven Weeks, and four days from Plymouth Sound, and found my stay must be two or three days there to procure Pilots, thought it most prudent to run the Ship within the barr, for her more security; as it is an open Road, and very much exposed to Southerly and Easterly winds, which prevail much, and occasion such a heavy swell, as no Anchors could have held her. And on the 10th sail'd from Cape Fear, for Charles town, with four Pilots on board, on the 12th Anchored off the Barr, and made the Signal, but had no Answer. it being thick heavy Weather could not see any thing of our Ships; the next Morning sent the pinnace with the first Lieutenant, Mann'd and Armed, into the Harbour, but finding neither the Tamer or Cherokee there went on board a Spanish Snow, that then lay at Anchor in Rebellion Road, who informed Lieutenant Pennington that they had left that place about eight or ten days before; Mr Pennington had two Shots fired at him from the Fort, which fell short of the boat, and as he was returning on board, saw a small Schooner at Anchor without the Barr, in the Channel he was to go, and being informed she was looking out for him was on his Guard, as soon as she saw the boat she got under way, and stood towards him, and hail'd Mr Pennington and ordered him, to go before him into Charles town, but on Mr Pennington's answering him he fired two Shott at the boat, on which the people were ordered to lay their Oars across and fire; and after an Engagement of Ten minutes (supposing to have kill'd their Captain) she bore away for our boat, which gave chase but could not come up with her, our boat return'd having received no damage. The Schooner mounted Six Swivels, and some Musquetoons, and had between Twenty and Thirty hands. ー

As I was sure the Ships could not be gone to the Northward as Captain [John] Stanhope of His Majesty's Sloop Raven who had that day Anchored off Charles town barr, from Boston, bound to Georgia, and myself from Cape Fear must have fallen in with them; thought most probable they were gone to Port Royal: on the 14th I got under way; the 15th at four OClock in the evening, having nearly run the length, of Port Royal saw a Sail to the Southward, which we chased, at 8 spoke her which proved to be the Polly Schooner belonging to the Tamer, who informed me that Lord William Campble in the Cherokee, and the Tamer, were at Anchor about eight leagues to the S W of us; we then stood for them, and very luckely fell in with them (it being thick fogg and heavy rain) about 2 oClock in the Morning, and Anchor'd about five leagues off the Land, that evening sent his Lordship's pacquet on board to him, intending to have gone to Port Royal, as I was very short of Water, but as [there] was no Pilot for that place to be got out of any of the Ships, and none would come off to us, and the place being Fortified, thought it most prudent to go into Sevanah for Water, and having got on board about twenty Tuns, shall proceed off Cape Fear as soon as possible. ー

On my arrival at Cape Fear, I found the Ships short of all stores, and the Cruizer very much worm eaten, and as she had no boat fitt for service, on an application from Captain [Francis] Parry, Supplied him with the spare boat; The Tamer is so bad that she is not fitt for Sea, her bottom much worm eaten, main Yard gone, and in great want of all stores, and short of Provisions; The Raven very sickly having had a passage of seven weeks from Boston. ー

I am sorry to acquaint their Lordships of the death of Lieutenant Pennington, who was shot in a Duell with Lieutenant Cumming of the Marines; Mr Cumming is now under Confinement on board. ー

During our passage from England had very bad weather, in general found the Ship answer to our expectations. ー I am Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] Read 4 Mar 5 Mar Own rect