Garland off Quebec 10 Septr 1777
(Copy)
My Lord
General Sir Guy Carleton, as well as myself thinking the detention of His Majesty's Ship Triton in the River any longer unnecessary, I have this day dispatched her on a Cruize agreeable to your Lordship's Order t0 me of the 10th of April last &c, a Copy of Captain Lutwidge's order I herewith inclose, as also a Copy of a late Survey on the Magdalen Schooner which is found totally unfit for Service and not worth repairing and as I have no directions from your Lordship what you would please to have done in regard to her, I am much at a loss how to act in this Case for the best, and much for the good of the Service, but as it appears to me that her being continued in her present Situation will be injurious to it, I think it best to put her out of Commission and send Lieut Lee with her people round to the Southward in the Andrew, an Armed Ordnance Transport which will sail for New York about the latter end of this Month with a Number of Rebel Prisoners which she brings round at the request of General Sir Guy Carleton; from thence she is to proceed to England, unless it should be found necessary to detain her at York, or to order her upon any other Service, she being contracted for by the Master General of the Ordnance for one Year certain.
The Merchants of Canada, having presented a Memorial to General Sir Guy Carleton, and another to me, requesting two Ships of force to be appointed as a Convoy to their Fur Trade to England I herewith inclose you a Copy of the Memorial inclosed to me by His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton, also a Copy of his Letter to me on the occasion; on the receipt of which, I waited on his Excellency and consulted with him what number of King's Ships he judged would be necessary to remain in the River St Lawrence the ensuing Winter, when he was of opinion, with me, that it would be necessary, that some one of His Majesty's Ships should be left at Quebec to receive the remainder of the Seamen which must necessarily be employed upon the Lakes, till the Winter sets in, After having His Excellency's opinion on this head, I wrote him and the Merchants an answer relative to appointing a Convoy, a Copy of which I herewith also inclose; and propose leaving the Viper Sloop for the purpose abovementioned all which I hope will meet with Your Lordship's approbation.
The Progress of General Burgoyne's Army seems now very doubtful, and I much fear that without the speedy assistance of some part of the Southern Army that our Northern one is in great danger but Captain Lutwidge who has just left Ticonderoga will be much abler to give you more particular Accounts of the progress and present Situation. I have the honor [&c.]
[Endorsed] (3.) In the Lords of the Admty's of 4th Decr 1777.