Copy
Sir,

I was last night favored with your letter of the 31st of May by the Kingfisher, respecting the Contents of a Paper of Intelligence received from Captain Feilding therewith enclosed.

As you have not mentioned any other Circumstances of the Case in your Letter besides the day the Enemy's Ships are said to have escaped from Boston, and the time the Diamond arrived at Rhode Island, I am unable to form any Opinion of the Course & probable Destination of the Rebels, since their Departure from Boston. But as· some Transports have been employed to collect Forage at the different Ports in the Bay of Fundy as ex­ pressed in the Return enclosed, and I have not been informed that they have yet sailed from thence; for Halifax or this Port; I think it advisable that the Flora (now on her passage to Rhode Island) should be immediately dispatched to the Station of the three Frigates You had ordered to Sea under Capt Jacobs. That being joined by one of those Frigates, or by the Mermaid and Ambuscade or either of them, Capt Brisbane should forthwith Repair to the Bay of Fundy; And taking the Transports under Convoy if still in that Bay, or otherwise proceeding to Halifax to make further Enquiry concerning them, to conduct them (in case he meets them) to this Port.

Having performed that Service he will be to return to you at Rhode Island, [or] elsewhere to proceed as you may direct; if he [does] not receive any contrary Instructions on his arrival here as aforesaid.

If he should not fall in with either of the several Ships of the Squadron before mentioned [in] six days after his Arrival off of the East End of Georges Bank, I would then have him repair for Intelligence of the Trans­ports to Halifax. He is on. his arrival there, to communicate the Information of the Escape of the Continental Armed-Ships from Boston, to the Senior Captain of the Ships of War at that Port, and to the Lieutenant Governor, and Commander of the Land Forces [in] the Province: And afterwards to conduct himself for the purpose of his present appointment, as [the] Service may require.

You will however be pleased to observe, that these General Ideas, occuring upon such knowledge of the Enemy's Motions as I have yet only received, are not meant to preclude you from making any Change in the Appointments which you see reason, upon more perfect Information [of] the Enemy's Intentions, in your Discretion to direct. I have the honor to be, Sir, [&c.]

The Commodore Sir Peter Parker
[Endorsed] 8th June 1777 Copy of a Letter to Sir Peter Parker. No. 3, In Lord Howe's No 31