Sir

His Majesty's Army at Boston being in great Want of Rice, and no Vessel with the Article of provisions on board having been met with by the Kings Ships, General [William] Howe proposed and it was determined to send a Detachment from the Army in two Transports, under the protection of one of the Men of War, to Georgia, where it was hoped Sir James Wright supported by such a Force would contrive to load the Transports with Rice and other Provisions. General Howe accordingly embarked 175 Marines and Soldiers on board the Symmetry and Whitby Transports under the Command of Major [James] Grant of the 40th Regiment; and I appointed the Scarborough to go with them, and gave Captain [Andrew] Barkley his Orders on the 26th of last Month "to proceed with the Transports to Savannah in Georgia and there give every Aid and Countenance in his power towards procuring provisions for his Majs Army at Boston, for payment of which Major Grant carried Cash and Bills of Exchange; The Transports being laden to return with them to Boston, and if possible early in March." With the Scarborough I sent the Hinchinbrook Schooner, which I had ordered to be sheathed for a Southern Station, and directed Captain Barkley on his Arrival at Savannah to send Lieut. [Alexander] Ellis, with the Secretary of States Dispatches for the Governors of East and West Florida, to St Augustine and Pensacola, and to order him to return again to St Augustine and releive the St. Lawrence Schooner, whom Captain Barkley is to take under his Command and employ as he finds best for the Kings Service. I have further instructed Captain Barkley that as the Principal Object of his attention is to procure a speedy Supply of Provisions for the Garrison at Boston every precaution must be observed to secure what may be obtained, and therefore, if found necessary, he may order the Tamer and Cruizer Sloops to proceed in Company with him and the Transports to Boston. With these Orders and Instructions, in addition to those in consequence of their Lordships Orders, Captain Barkley sailed the Beginning of January.

It being found necessary, in Order to comply with his Majesty's Instructions to Major General [William] Howe, to send a General Officer to take the Command of the Troops expected to arrive on the Coast of North Carolina from Ireland, General Howe applied to me for one of his Majesty's Ships to receive Major General [Henry] Clinton on board and proceed with him to the Southward. At that time the Lively and Mercury were the only small Ships I had at Boston: The Lively foul, the Iron work on her Rudder and Stern Post in great Want of Repair, her Guns, Cables, Anchors and other heavy Stores out, waiting when the Frost would allow of the Smiths working and the Ship to be hawled onshore and Graved; the Mercury also in great Want of cleaning, but in other respects wanted only compleating with Stores and provisions to be fit for Service. I therefore ordered Captain [Alexander] Graeme to receive Major General Clinton, his Officers and Servants, and to accomodate them in the best manner the Ship wouid allow, while the Kings Service required their being on board: To proceed with him to New York, afterwds to Virginia, or to any other Port where it shall be found expedient for his Majs Service to go. I have also instructed Captain Graeme that as the Success of the Expedition will in great measure depend upon the punctual and ready Assistance given by his Majesty's Ships, he is to grant every Aid in his Power of Men, Boats and Stores, without regard to any distinction of Service, to Major General Clinton and to all other his Majs Land Officers in their intended Operations against the Rebels. The Glasgow Packet, Three Sisters and Kitty Transport being appointed to carry military Stores with General Clinton, I ordered Captain Graeme to take them under his Convoy.

Upon further Consultations of Generals Howe and ClinJon, it was agreed to send a Sloop of War with a Land Officer on board immediately to North Carolina. I appointed the Falcon, General Howe named Captain Evelyn of the King's own Regiment; and on the 12th inst I gave Captain Linzee his Orders to proceed forthwith to Cape Fear and land Captain Evelyn, who is directed to gain all possible Intelligence of the Situation of Affairs in that Province and return again on board the Falcon. This done, and Captain Linzee having also obtained of Governor [Josiah] Martin every necessary information relative to the entering of Ships into Cape Fear River, he is directed to cruize in the most likely Tract to fall in with the Fleet of Transports expected on that coast; upon their Arrival to convoy them into Cape Fear River or to Virginia, which shall be thought best upon consulting with Governor Martin, in case Major General Clinton shall not have previously determined their destination.

I have ordered the Captains of his Maj's Ships Scarborough and Mercury, and Falcon Sloop, and indeed most of the other Cruizers to get as many skilful Pilots as possible for any part of the Coast of America from Cape Florida to Nova Scotia to be distributed as the Kings Ships may require.

The Mercury and Falcon were ready for sailing early in January, but a severe Frost prevented the Transports being so alert, as they had many things to bring from the Shore. In the mean time, as I could not so soon quit the Station, I gave Rear Admiral Shuldham an Order dated the 15th instant to take all his Majestys Ships and Vessels to the Southward of Boston under his Command and to give their Captains such Orders as he might think proper for his Majs Service. At the same time I furnished him with attested Copies of the general and particular Orders each Ship and Vessel was then under: And that his Majesty's Service might not be delayed, by the intended Change of the Chief Commander, I included the Mercury and Falcon then in Boston Harbour in the Number of those stationed to the Southward; that Admiral Shuldham might avail himself of the opportunity they afforded to send his Orders to that Part of the Squadron put under his Command.

The Falcon sailed the 19th instant and the Mercury the next day.

I have ordered the provisions remaining in the Trident to be delivered to the Richmond and Friendship Victuallers: The unserviceable Stores of the Squadron to be put on board the Trident; that Ship to return forthwith to Deptford, and to sail from Boston in Company with the Preston.

I inclose a Copy of a Letter from Lieut. [William] Hunter brought to me the 23d instant from the Lines. As Lieut. Hunter represents himself and Officers to be Prisoners, I conclude the Gaspee Brig is in the Rebels Possession.

It being impossible to provide Rum for the Squadron agreewble to Mr [Robert] Grants Contract with the Commissioners of the Victualing, his Agent at Boston requested a Transport might be allowed to go to some Port of the West Indies for Rum; I therefore ordered Lieut. Parry to send the Union to Antigua, where the Agent informs me, Messrs Reid and King, Correspondents to the Contractors, will immediately load her for the Fleet. The Union accordingly sailed the beginning of this Month, and I hope will return again in the Middle or latter end of March.

The Hope Brig is perhaps one of the best fitted and appointed Vessels of her Size in the Kings Service. She mounts eight 4 Pounders, and six 3 Pounders besides Swivels; I have given her a Corporal and nine Marines to compleat her 50 Men. Lieut. [George] Dawson sailed this day by my Orders to cruize against the Rebels within the Bay of Boston *. And as soon as the Brig goes exceeding well, I hope she will soon do Execution with the Enemies Privateers

The Lively has been graved and refitted, and only waits for the Iron work of her Rudder being done to take in her provisions and proceed to Sea. I am &c

Note *That is from Cape Anne to Cape Cod.