By Clark Gayton Esqr Rear Admiral of the Red; & Commander in Chief; of His Majestys Ships & Vessels Employed, & to be Employed, at & about Jamaica, & in the Gulph of Mexico, from the River Mississippi, to Cape Florida ー

Whereas I have received Intelligence, from Cape Francois, in the Island of Hispaniola, which I think of such Importance, to this Island; that the earliest Oppertunity should be embraced of communicateing it, to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

And as I have no Ship or Vessel, under my Command, that I can send with this Intelligence, I have given directions to the Naval Storekeeper, to Purchase a Schooner, for this Service & have order'd her, to be Mann'd out of His Majestys Ship Antelope.

And by Virtue, of the Power & Authority; unto me given, I do hereby nominate & appoint you, to Act, as Lieutenant & Commander of the said Schooner, Willing; & requireing you, to repair forthwith, onboard of her, and there take upon you, the Charge, & Command, as Acting Lieutenant & Commander, in her accordingly, Strictly Chargeing, & Commanding, all the Officers, & Company; of the said Schooner, to behave themselves Jointly & Severally in their Respective Employments, with all due Respect, & Obedience, unto you their said Acting Lieutenant & Commander, and you likewise to observe & execute the General Printed Instructions, as well, as all such orders, & directions; as you may receive from time to time, from me, or any other your Superior Officer for His Majestys Service, Hereof nor you, nor any of you; may fail as you will answer the contrary at your Peril

You will use all possible Dispatch, in getting His Majestys Schooner, under your Command ready for proceeding with the Express and in order to facilitate the same; I have given directions; to the Officers of the Yard, & the Captain of His Majestys Ship Antelope, to give you every Assistance

I have likewise given directions to the Storekeeper to take an exact Account of the Schooners Furniture & Stores in order to their being Deliverd into your Charge, and to the respective Officers, to Supply you with what Stores, may be wanting to fit you, for a Voyage to England, for all which, as well as what Provisions may be requisite to compleat you, for three Months of all Species, at whole allowance, for your Complement of Twenty Men, you are to give proper Receipts, & charge yourself therewith; taking care; that the utmost Frugality; is observed in the expenditure of the Stores, as you are to be accountable for all, that may be unnessarily expended

And when you have put these Orders into execution, & are fitted for a Passage to England, you are to inform me thereof immediately, for which this shall be your Order.

Given under my Hand Onboard His Majs Ship Antelope, in Port Royal Harbour Jamaica this 14 Febry 1776

To Mr Francis L'Montais Acting Lieutenant of His Majestys Ship Antelope Hereby Appointed to Act as Lieutenant and Commander of His Majestys Schooner Lady Keith
By Command of the Admiral Wm Whytth