Sir

Please to acquaint their Lordships that Yesterday arrived here from New York His Majesty's Ship Camel, the Honble Captain [William Clement] Finch; by whom I received their Lordships Orders to take her under my Command and send her Home with the Convoy; accordingly have Directed him to take charge of the one that Sails the first of August, in company with His Majesty's Sloops Druid and Weazle; Inclosed also is Copy of Intelligence sent me by Lord Howe of the American Privateers got out of Boston on the 21st of May; at present we have no Intelligence of their being in these Seas and I hope by their Sailing so late and the Wind being so long Southerly that they have not been able to intercept the Homeward bound Convoys of May and June.

I must also beg leave to inclose to their Lordships that part of Lord Howe's Letter concerning His displacing the Officers I had appointed to the vacancies that happened in the American Squadron that fitted here fast Year. I look'd upon it that all Ships that came on this Station for that purpose were as much under my Command as any others, for without their being so, they could in no shape be fitted; as all Orders respecting that Service to them must come from me; for which reason on their arrival, I gave them all Orders to put themselves under my Command, therefore must naturally suppose that if they were under me in one Instance they were in all others 'till their Departure to execute Lord Howes Orders; which if I had thought it for the good of his Majesty's Service I might have contradicted, and employed them as I thought proper; it is an over act of Power of my Lord Howes that I hope their Lordships will redress. Mr [Thomas] Windsor who I had appointed to the Command of the Falcon his Lordship has sent back in the Camel, as also the Boatswain; The Purser of her stays with his Lordship; the Gunner of the Flora who was moved out of the Beaver into her, is also returned; but the Surgeon of the Mermaid stays with his Lord­ ship. They were all fair Vacancies, no made ones nor was it right for the Ships to go from hence without being properly appointed; It was very natural to suppose that on the sudden change of climates Vacancies would happen, and if a Number of them come here this Season in all probability will again, there fore hope what I did will meet their Lordships approbation and that they will confirm Mr Windsor.

The Oliver Cromwell I had some thoughts of purchasing before to make a Man of War Sloop of; she will make a very fine one and carry 16 Six Pounders. I shall now do it, and appoint Mr Windsor to the Command of her, and propose sending her with the Convoy after the bad Weather Months are over, if any is required, for Guns we cannot get, and those in Her are by no means fit to remain; in every other Circumstance she will want very little; I propose having her Survey'd very soon and Valued, of which I shall acquaint their Lordships by the next opportunity.

I must further acquaint their Lordships that about three Weeks ago His Majesty's Armed Brig Endeavour (Lieutt Tinsley) fell in off this Island with two American Sloops, the one of 12 Guns; and the other of 10, in both about 160 Men, who Engaged her off and on for three Hours, but she beat them off with the loss only of one Man, and five slightly wounded, they appeared to be much damaged and made Sail from her.

The Endeavour being very small and not a very good Sailer have ordered her to be sold and turn'd Lieutenant Tinsley with his People and Ordnance Stores into the Mosketo a Rebel Privateer of 14 Guns lately taken by the Ariadne, having thrown her Guns overboard in the Chace; She will carry (very well) Ten 4 Pounders, is quite new and Built for the purpose of a Privateer and is quite compleat, I have ordered her to be Survey'd and Valued; and named the Endeavour, the Account of which will send by the next opportunity, and shall order the Naval Officer here to draw on the Navy Board for the appraised Value of them both.

I have the Pleasure to acquaint their Lordships that the sloop that was converted into a Brig and called the Pelicanis now at Sea, and I am in­formed answers beyond Expectation.²

I hope their Lordships will approve of what I have done herein, and am Sir [&c.]

No 1

Intelligence received from Captain Fielding of the Diamond

Received Intelligence from Two English Passengers going out in the Sloop Betsey, and Job Prince, Master of the said Sloop, that they Sailed in Company from Boston with the Rebel Fleet Commanded by Manly the 21st of May, which Consisted of the following Vessels, Vizt the Boston of 36 Guns, Hancock of 32 Guns, One Ship of 20 Guns, with Two Brigs, Two Schooners, and Two Sloops, and were to be Joined Off Cape Ann by the following Vessels from Marblehead and Salem, Vizt, the Tartar of 20 Guns, Four Brigs, Two Schooners, Two Sloops, the whole of the Brigs &c. mounting from 10 to 16 Guns, except One Sloop of 8 Guns.

The Brigs, Schooners, and Sloops, are Privateers and are hired to remain with the Continental Ships for Twenty five days and then to Cruize Separately.

No 2

The Nomination you have been pleased to make to Vacant Offices in the Ships of the Squadron under my Command, lately touching at Antigua being inconsistent with the Authority annexed to my Appointment, it became incumbent on me to displace the Officers upon their arrival, and as I am to presume that their presence may be necessary in the Ships to which they properly belong, Lieutenant Windsor and such of the other officers who are prepared to profit by the opportunity have been directed to take their passage in the Camel, to receive your Commands for their further proceedings, in consequence I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]

Howe 

[Endorsed] Antigoa 23 July 1777 V. Ad: Young Rd 5 Octr 2 Inclo: 10 Octr Own rect take care before you do ref Lre of the 8 July last respecting those appointments. Approve [purchase of Oliver Cromwell & Mosketo] N Bd to dispose of it. leave her [Oliver Cromwell] out of Admty list as Sixth Rate.