Romney St Johns 9th Septr 1777.
Sir,
By His Majesty's Ship Squirrel, who will sail with the first Wind, with the early Trade bound to Spain and Portugal under her Convoy, and will call at Lisbon, I take this opportunity of acquainting you that His Majesty's Ship Vestal arrived here the 26th Ulto having seen all her Convoy in safety, and is since gone on a Cruize.
On the 3rd Inst Lieutenant [Mark] Robinson Commanding the Canada Schooner, who has been long in a bad State of Health, wrote to me and requested my permission to go on Half pay, and having been Surveyed by three Surgeons who have given it as their opinions that it is absolutely necessary he should return to his Native Clime as the only means of his recovery, I have given him leave to go Home, and have appointed Mr John Gardiner Midshipman of the Romney to Act as Lieutenant and to Command the said Schooner, until their Lordships pleasure is known, which I hope they will be pleased to approve.
Lieutenant [Cheney H.] Garrett Commanding the Bonavista Armed Sloop returned from his Cruize yesterday having taken a large Sloop from South Carolina bound to Saint Peters, loaded principally with Rice.
Inclosed I transmit you Lieut Robinson's Letter and the Surgeons Report, and am Sir [&c.]
[Endorsed] Recd 7 Nov Read do
