Number 33.
Sir

With this You will receive the Duplicates of my Dispatches sent in the Halifax Packet that sailed for England the 14th Instant.

By the St Albans, which arrived the 17th with the Remainder of the Convoy Captain [Richard] Onslow had in Charge, the Favorite Transport excepted, I had the Honor to receive the Commands of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty signified in your several Letters of the 11th and 12th of April. Information has since been brought by the Master of a Vessel lately released from Boston, that the Favorite was taken and carried into that Harbor. Captain Onslow's Report respecting his Separation from the Transport is enclosed herewith.

The Main-Yard of the St Albans being decayed and broke in the Slings, and the Crew of the Ship very sickly, it is doubtful whether she can be made ready in time to attend the next Movement of the Army. Captain Onslow, when about One Hundred and Fifty Leagues from this Port, fell in on his Passage from England, with two Armed Ships of the Rebels of Thirty-two or Thirty-six Guns each; supposed to be a part of the Number that put to Sea from Boston the 21st past. They stood off to the Southward upon Appearance of his Intention to chase. He h[ad] Sight also, at different times, of five small Vessels, judged to be a further Part of the same Armament. But, attending to the Principal Object of his Appointment the safe Conduct of the Trans­ ports, he steered after th[ese] Cruizers only for the Purpose of forcing them from t[he] Station they appeared to have taken; Tho' the Advantage they had of the St Albans in Sailing did not promise much Success, if it had been expedient to continue the Chace. — They will be probably met with again, if they keep the same Station, by the Raisonable, after the Term of Captain Fitzherbert's appointed Cruize is expired; Or by Captain Parker who sailed the 15th from Chesepeak Bay to clean the Phoenix at Halifax, A Measure made necessary at this unseasonable Time, by the Damage the Cables received consequent of the Injury the Ship suffered in her False-Keel forward, when on Service in the North River last Summer, whereby she was disabled from continuing upon the River Service for which she was intended.

By the Scarborough, escorting some Transports with Provisions and Necessaries for the Army, and a Proportion of Naval Stores wanted from Halifax at this Port, I received Advice from Captain Pownall of his Arrival at Quebec the 6th of last Month. He had sent his Dispatches to Halifax, by Lieutenant [George] Scott, who then commanded the Gaspee. — But this Brig appearing on Examination incapable of being made further serviceable without a considerable Repair, had been left at Halifax. And from the Report made of her Defects, I have not deemed it advisable to direct any fresh Expence to be incurred on that Account.

I send herewith Copies of Captain Pownoll's Letter, and of the most necessary papers referred to therein, for their Lordships more particular Information. But as it appears that the Matter in Dispute respecting the Subordination of the Officers of the Fleet to the Authority of the General, taken Notice of in the last Paragraph of Captain Pownoll's Letter, was finally so adjusted that Captain Lutwidge accepted the Command of the Armed Vessels to be employed on the Lakes, and had proceeded to get them in Forwardness for immediate Service; I do not think it necessary to trouble their Lordships at this time with a Detail of some Length, which is not requisite for any present purpose.

The Tartar was met by Lieutenant Scott so far advanced up the River St Laurence, that he reckoned Captain Ommanney arrived with the Convoy at Quebec the next Day.

It was supposed the Northern Army would be in Readiness to move from St Johns to cross Lake Champlain the Beginning of this Month. I do not therefore yet see Cause to make any Alteration in the purport of my Letter to Captain Pearson of the 10th of April, with respect to the General Conduct of the Naval Services in the St Laurence.

The Diligent Armed Brig having been lately lost in the Bay of Fundy whilst attending upon the Transports sent to bring Forage from thence for the Army, She will be replaced by the Cabot, an American Armed Brig carrying fourteen Four-pounders, which I ordered to be purchased from the Captors at an estimated Value stated in the enclosed Report, upon Sir George Collier's Representation of her Fitness to be so employed. — And Lieutenant [Edmund] Dod having been acquitted of all Misconduct upon Inquiry at a Court Martial into the Cause of the Loss of the Diligent, I have moved him with the Crew of that Brig, into the Cabot; To form the Complement of the last, established in Proportion to her Force, according to the Return annexed.

I have added thereto, the Particulars of the Intelligence obtained from Mr [Edward] Parry, Agent to the Contractors for supplying Masts for the Service of the Navy from Piscataqua, and lately released on Exchange from the Restraint he has been under several Months with the Rebels. Sir George Collier, to whom the Intelligence was first given, has ordered the Milford off of Kenebec River, to attempt the Seizure of the French Ships named in the Paper of Intelligence, said to be loading, and expected soon to sail from thence for Europe.² And as Six other Frigates are at this Time upon the New England Coasts, I have Reason to hope the foreign Ships may be intercepted in their Attempts to put to Sea: These being the only Precautions that the State of the War will at present admit of being adopted for the purpose, on those Coasts.

By the Scarborough I have the first Account of the State of the Hunter, which had wintered at the Island of St Johns. Lieutenant [George] Keppel will be ordered hereby the earliest Opportunity, to take up his Commission for the Swift.

The Repairs immediately necessary for the Bute being completed, she sails this Morning for Jamaica. I wrote by that Conveyance to Vice Admiral Gayton, to the same purport as to Vice Admiral Young by the Camel, regarding the Appointment of a Time and fixed Longitude at which the Trade from Jamaica should attempt to pass the Parallel of Bermuda on their passage to Europe: That I may calculate for strengthening the Convoies, at least until they have passed the usual Limits of the Rebel Cruizers off these Coasts, according to Circumstances with respect to the impending Operations on this Continent.

With reference to their Lordships Commands expressed in a second Letter of the 12th of April, that I should explain the Motives for the Deviation from the general Method of victualling the Troops in Transports, consequent of a Representation from the Victualling Board; I am to inform You, that my Orders to the Principal Agent of the Transports thereon, were dated the 4th and 5th of August, regarding a part of the Guards, and the Hessian Troops which arrived under Convoy of Commodore Hotham

It was intended that the Movement of the Army which afterwards took place from Staten Island to Long Island, should have been executed very soon after the Arrival of the said Reinforcement. In which View it was proposed not to disembark those Corps, until the Descent was made on Long Island. But as those Troops would then continue (which actually­ happened for some time) upon the Sea-Victualling, which the Rest of the Army, besides other local Gratificat[ions,] were at whole Allowance, which caused some Discontent amongst the Foreign Troops, the Change in the Sea Victualling was made at the General's Desire.

The Duration of the Extra Victualling being expressed "until further Order," had Reference to the uncertain Time those Troops (daily expected to be sent on Service) would remain embarked. It was however found expedient to land them first for their Refreshment on Staten Island; When they became entitled to the full Proportion of Victualling, similar to the Rest of the Army.

A subsequent Order of the 18th of August for Extra Victualling in Species and Quantity, proceeded from the Necessity for providing the Soldier with the Quality of Provision most portable, and best adapted for his Use upon a March. Similar Deviations were necessary for the Seamen attending in the Flat-Boats: Tho' the just Adherence to Rule and Usage, where the Nature of the Case would admit, has never been out of Memory upon any Occasion.

I am, with great Consideration, Sir, [&c.]

[Endorsed] 29 June 1777 New York Lord Visct Howe      R 22 Augt
(11 Inclosures)