Whitehall 28th July 1775
My Lords,
Having received Advices not only that a great part of His Majesty's Subjects in the Southern Colonies have traiterously assembled in Arms against the King's Government, but that they have menaced Destruction to His Majesty's Servants there, who have no place of safety to resort to; and also that Boats full of armed men have been fitted out from the Province of South Carolina, which cruize and commit hostilities on the Coasts of that & the neighbouring Province of Georgia; I am Commanded by The King to Signify to your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure that one of His Majestys Ships of War now fitting out for North America, of a proper size for the Navigation of those Seas, be forthwith dispatched directly to the coast of Carolina & Georgia; And that the Commander do receive from your Lordships such Instructions as are proposed to be given to the Commanders of the different separate Squadrons under the command of Vice Admiral [Samuel] Graves, by my Letter to your Lordships of the 21st Instant.
I am &ca
Dartmouth
1. PRO, Colonial Office, Class 5/121, LC Transcript.