Sir

In a Letter dated the 19th of December, and sent by the Sloop Phoenix from Salem, I acquainted you with the Arrival of his Majesty's Ship Somerset on that day from Plymouth. This Ship with the Boyne and Asia are now moored before the Town of Boston, and I have the pleasure to say their Companies are in general very healthy; The Somerset was so leaky at Sea that two Hand Pumps were continually at Work, and it is the constant Employment at present of one hand pump to Keep her free.

In consequence of a Letter from Governor [John] Wentworth of New Hampshire, which I received by Express on Friday Evening the 16th December, a Copy of which (Marked A) is inclosed. I ordered the Canceaux and Scarborough to sail immediately for Piscataqua, And as the Governor had represented the Custom House and Province Treasuries to be in Danger I put a Subaltern Officer and twenty Marines on board the Canceaux who sailed that Night, and the Scarborough on Sunday Morning, though the Weather was very severe. I gave Captain [Andrew] Barkley Orders to afford the Governor, upon his requisition, every aid and assistance in his power, and to do his utmost to protect the Kings Servants and Stores with his Majesty's Ships under his Command.

On the 24th following I received Letters from the Governor, Captain Barkley, and Lieut. [Henry] Mowat, Copies of the two first (marked B and C) are inclosed. You will perceive by those Letters that the sudden and unexpected appearance of the King's Ships in the River prevented a great Number of Cannon being carried off, and all further riotous proceedings at Portsmouth.

I transmit a copy of a Letter from Governor Wentworth (marked D).² I declined complying with his Excellency's Request for the Sloop of War and the Marines therein mentioned, and acquainted him that having a great extent of Coast to guard I could not conveniently spare so large a part of his Majesty's Squadron to be at one place, more especially as I was of opinion the Scarborough and Canceaux were fully capable of protecting the Treasuries, and of affording Refuge to his Majesty's Servants should they at any time consider themselves to be in Danger.

On the 18th instant I received a Letter from Captain [James] Wallace of his Majesty's Ship Rose with a Copy of his Letter to Governor [Joseph] Wanton on the riotous behaviour of the Mob at Rhode Island. Copies of both Letters (marked E. F.) are in closed³  Though I was highly pleased with the Spirit Captain Wallace shewed on that occasion, I could not avoid expressing to him my satisfaction that the Mob declined putting their tarring and feathering Scheme into execution being apprehensive his waiting so long for their Approach was not strictly justifiable, and may have been attended with fatal Consequences.

General [Thomas] Gage having requested that the Supernumerary Marines on board the Squadron might be landed at Boston to be disciplined this Winter in a manner to enable them to act on Shore with the rest of the Kings Troops, and it being our opinion that whilst they are on shore they should be on the same footing with the rest of the Soldiers in regard to their pay and provisions, as they are all employed on the same Service; I have in Compliance with his requisition disembarked all the Supernumerary Marines and ordered them to be discharged from their respective Ships; And by desire of Major [John] Pitcairne have also lent them three subaltern Officers and three Serjeants, part of the Complement of the Ships lately arrived from England . . .

On the 20th of December I received by express from Captain Wallace an account that the William and Ann Ordnance Transport from Plymouth, laden with five hundred Barrels of Gunpowder, bound to New York, had put into Rhode Island the 19th in great Distress, her Rudder lost, and her Mainmast disabled;as the powder is consigned to the Commanding Officer of Artillery in America for the use of the Army, the General and Colonel [Samuel] Cleaveland have given directions concerning it; In the meantime the Transport is assisted and protected by the Rose, who by being at Rhode Island has most certainly prevented that powder from being seized and carried to Providence.

The Halifax Schooner is so very leaky and out of Repair, and is in such continual want of patching to make her swim, that she is totally unfit for any Service but to be at Anchor, which I have directed her to do this Winter, and in the Spring intend to have her surveyed; she is a very bad low Vessel, and so extremely wet and uncomfortable to the Sea men that no consideration will keep them belonging to her.

The Hope is in very little better Condition, and must go to England when the Season will allow me to venture her, therefore as there is an absolute necessity for good armed Schooners capable of performing real Service to the Crown, and one is at this time particularly wanted to guard one of the Channels at Rhode Island to prevent the unlawful Importation of Gunpowder Arms and Ammunition &c which from very good Intelligence I am told will be attempted in large Quantities at that place I have taken upon me to purchase the Diana Schooner of 120 Tons, about eight Months old, so exceedingly well built that she is allowed to be the best Vessel of the Kind that has been yet in the Kings Service, her first cost is £750 Sterling and as I have thought it best for his Majesty's Service that she should be an established armed Schooner, I have directed the necessary alterations to be made in her Hull, and for her to be fitted in all respects like other Vessels of her Class; She will have the St Lawrence's Guns. On this Occasion I have appointed Lieut. Thomas Graves of his Majesty's Ship Lively to command the Diana Schooner, and Mr William Lechmere of the Preston to be Lieutenant of the Lively. The Diana will soon be ready for Sea, and I shall send her to Rhode Island.

As I am extreemly desirous of carrying on the King's Service with all possible frugality, I shall defer taking up the two Schooners their Lordships have directed me to hire for guarding this Harbour until the Weather being less severe than at present will admit of Vessels navigating: The Schooners then will be of great use, but at present only an unnecessary Charge.

In consequence of their Lordships permission Signified to me in your Letter of the 14th of October to purchase a small Sloop to supply the place of the late Jupiter employed on the Survey under the direction of Captain [Samuel] Holland, I caused the Sloop Spinckes [Sphynx] of 46 Tons Burthen to be purchased for two hundred and twenty pounds Sterling and delivered to Lieut. Mowat of the Canceaux for the above Service. I am sorry I am obliged to add that after having fitted and stored her properly for the Service she was intended, in going round to Piscataqua after Canceaux, she ran ashore about Cape Anne; I have sent a Sloop with a Number of hands to endeavour to save the Vessel, if that shall be impossible, to bring away the Stores.

I omitted in a former Letter to acquaint you that a Vessel being to depart from this Harbour in Ballast to New York, I procured her to go to Piscatagua and take in Captain Holland, his Instruments Servants and Baggage, and carry them to Perth Amboy, as he desired, for £50 Sterling, instead of hiring a Ship on purpose, which must otherwise have been done at a much greater Expence.

The Weather has been lately so severe that we have not been able to get the Glasgow cleared for the Carpenters, neither is it possible till that is done and she is hawl'd ashore to ascertain the damage she has received; In the mean time her Sails and Rigging and all her other Stores are put in some Store house on Noddle's Island; which I have caused to be hired at the rate of £40 per Annum for that purpose, and which shall be discharged when ever the Glasgow can receive her Stores again.

The Lively got round to Salem the 30th of December. The Swan arrived here from New York the 18th and sailed again for Rhode Island the 6th instant. The Hope Schooner sailed for the same place on Christmas Day.

On the 24th of December I received your Letter of the 2d of November concerning the Sloop John David Fenton Master, and in obedience to their Lordships Directions I have given strict Orders to endeavour to intercept the said Sloop which I find upon Inquiry is, as well as the Master well known.

I have lately heard from the Captains of all his Majesty's Ships to the Southward of Boston, and think it proper to transmit a Copy of the Tamers Defects for their Lordships Information. I transmit also the State and Condition and Disposition of his Majesty's Squadron under my Command,⁴ with the State of the Hospital. I am &c