Whitehall, 24 July 1775
Sir,
All the Arms and Ammunition, Cloathing and Accoutrements that can be Ship'd in the Jacob Captain Brown for Quebec, being now on board, as also all the Arms and Ammunition on board the Maria, Captain Dodsworth for Virginia, I am directed by Lord Dartmouth to request that orders may be given for those Store Ships to proceed on their Voyage without delay.ー
If the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should think fit to appoint a Convoy for these Store Ships, there needs no other particular Instructions to the Masters than to deliver the Stores on board to the respective Governors of Quebec and Virginia or to their orders; but it is presumed the Captain of His Majesty's Ship that shall be appointed to Convoy the Virginia Store Ship will continue her under his Protection untill the Stores She has on board are safely delivered; and in case the situation of Affairs in Virginia may make it unsafe for their being delivered there, it is wished that She may then proceed under the same Convoy to Boston & deliver them to Genl [Thomas] Gage.
I am &ca
J. Pownall
1. PRO, Colonial Office, Class 5/121, LC Transcript.