Sir.
Agreable to your orders we sail'd from St Christophers on the first of August, and the same day were joined by the Cygnet and her Convoy from Grenada; which when they had all received Orders made our Number by my List to consist of 127 sail.
We gott under Weigh in the forenoon and bore up to join the Grenada fleet but brought too within sight of the Ships in Basse Terre Road; They were as usual very dilatory in getting under weigh; and there were some that did not shew any Signs of moving when we made sail; which was just Time enough to avoid making the Night Signal & full 8 hours after we first made the Signal for the Ships to weigh; After we were thro' the Passage I Steer'd N.N.W. in hopes of Joining the Tortola Fleet off Anagada but was Surpris'd in the Morning to find that the Convoy some few excepted had kept their Wind the whole Night, and at day Light were as far to Windward as we could well discern. I made the Signal for them to come under my Stern, but very few paid any Attention to it; upon which I lay too and made the Signal for all Masters of Merchantmen which brought down a few more, I continued laying too 'till towards Evening, when finding I should lose much the greater Part of the Fleet, if I persever'd in Standing to the Westward, I made sail upon a Wind; the next day by dint of Powder and shot we made a Shift to Collect 125 Sail. We have now 104 in sight which with the Ships bound to Quebec New York Newfoundland and the Coast of Africa that have parted Company will nearly make up the Number we originally had.
We have detained two Sloops the Particulars of which Capt Truscott2 (as he is furnish'd with duplicates for that Purpose) will be able to give you a fuller Account than a Letter will admitt of. I am Sir [&c.]
Camel Latitude 39°. .56"
Longitude 52°. .40"
August 31st — 1777.
[Endorsed] (No 1) In V. Adml Young's letter of 27 Octr 1777
