(A Copy)

Sir, I had the honour to receive your Letter of the 24th December last the 1st Instant by Captain Otta, who came Passenger from Barbadoes in a Tender belonging to the Squadron under my Command, which then happened to be waiting the arrival of the Packet from England to bring my dispatches from thence; He also brought me Letters from Captain [B.C.] Payne and Lieutenant [Henry] Chads, with Copy of your Instructions to those Gentlemen. ² They are not yet arrived at Antigua, but I find are purchasing at Barbadoes what provisions &c. they can meet with; Captain Payne says He expects He shall be able to purchase there some hundred barrels of Beef, and about one hundred Puncheons of Rum, and when he gets the same on board will immediately proceed to join me at this place. ー The moment I received your Letter, I sent an Express to the Contractors for Victualing the Navy on this Station; and directed them to buy up all the Provisions they can lay their Hands on, for the use of His Majesty, out of which I will spare for the use of the ー Kings Troops at Boston as much as possible can be done without distressing the Squadron under by Command; but I am Sorry to find there is very little to be purchased at this Island beside Flour, of that at present there is plenty, and if Captain Payne thinks a further Supply of that Specie wanting (besides what the Victualers here have on board) I will order purchase thereof.

The Victualing Transports from England for the Port of Boston (named in the within List) have by Stress of Weather been forced into this Island, some of them in very bad Condition. The two which wanted least repairs I have got refitted, and dispatch them forthwith to you, under Convoy of the Viper Sloop, Captain Samuel Graves, who has been also blown off the Coast of America and is just now refitted. I hope they will arrive safe and afford present relief till the others can be got ready and sent after them. at present having no Ship belonging to this Station at hand I could not send a stronger Convoy with them, therefore should not think it prudent to risque more of the Victualers with the Viper, had they been ready for Sea.

His Majesty's Ship Experiment of 50 Guns, Commanded by Captain Robert Keeleris at this Port, having likewise been blown off from the American Coast, with both her lower Masts Sprung. I am using all possible dispatch to refit her, and hope to effect it in about three Weeks, When I shall Order Captain Keeler to take the remaining Victualing Transports &c. under his care and protection, and Convoy them to Boston: I am Sorry to acquaint you the live Stock which were put on board these Vessels for the refreshment of the Troops are mostly dead on the Passage, a few Hogs only excepted and the Vegetables such as Potatoes &c. were all rotten and became a Nuisance on board. ー therefore have been Surveyed, Condemned and thrown over board. I must further acquaint you that four Companies of the 55th Regiment came in here about three Weeks since in the Enterprize Transport, she having lost all her Masts. I have got the Troops accomodated in the Barracks on this Island, during their Stay and have Victualed them with the remains of the Provisions they brought out in the Transport; as said Transport has received so such damage, I do not mean to keep them here till she can be repaired, but divide them among the different Victualers, and send them under Convoy of the Experiment, whose Captain will take on board a part of them.

Believe [me] Sir, it gives me much concern to perceive by your Letter the Kings Army at Boston, arc likely to encounter such Strong necessities, and I sincerely wish it lay in my power to remove all their difficulties, but this at present is a very bad place to get assistance at, of the kind you need, however as these Victualers are well filled with the most necessary Species of Provisions, I hope they will arrive safe and prevent the Troops immediate Wants, and flatter myself the Remaining Victualers with what we can otherwise purchase here to put on board your Transports will arrive in a short time and afford a more ample Relief to the Army. ー Should you hereafter have any Commands in this Country, that I can execute, be assured I shall take great pleasure in performing them. I most ardently wish you Success, and have the honour to be Sir [&c.]

P.S. Your Transport, the Diana was not arrived at Barbadoes the 30th January, the time Captain Payne and Lieutenant Chads wrote me from thence.

His Excellency Major General Howe
Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in America.