Sir 

For their Lordships information I beg leave to acquaint you I arrived here the 25^th Ins^t: having parted Company with two Transports (I called at Cork for.) on the 4^th Ins^t: in a hard gale of Wind. they are not yet arrived. nor is the Martin with her Convoy.¹ 

By² a Vessell I spoke with from Trinity bound to Bilboa on the 17^th Ins^t: I had just time to write a few Lines to Lord Sandwich acquainting his Lordship that on the 10^th Ins^t: in Latitude 48°: 35' [N] Long^td: 33°: 54' [W] I fell in with Rear Admiral Parker,³ and Six Sail of Vice Admiral Byrons⁴ Squadron, four of which were disabled as follows. The Royal Oak's⁵ Foremast Sprung, Grafton's⁶ Main Mast Sprung, Sultan's⁷ Main Mast Sprung and had a Jury Topmast, The Bedford's⁸ Main Mast was also sprung, the Fame,⁹ and Conqueror¹⁰ were the only two of this part of that Squadron that had not received damage. I was likewise informed that the Albion¹¹ had lost her Main Mast and all her Topmasts, and was in the Night of the Gale seen to Fire several Guns in Distress, but at a time when it was not in the power of the Squadron to give her any assistance; The gale which seperated this Squadron was on the 4^th Ins^t: since which they could give no account of M^r Byron, nor had they seen any thing of the Albion [since] the Night she Fired her Guns in distress. 

On my Arrival here I found the Surprize,¹² Romney,¹³ and Proteus,¹⁴ with the Postillion,¹⁵ and Bonavista¹⁶ [armed] Vessels, I am sorry to inform their Lordships that the¹⁷ Surprize in her Passage from Ireland lost her Main Mast; but this misfortune Captain Linzee had recovered before my Arrival by taking the Main Mast out of the Proteus. that Ship being rendered useless, as their Lordships will see by the inclosed report of a Survey taken on her.¹⁸ The Postillion is also, so bad as to make it exceedingly hazardous sending her to Sea. And it is with great concern I acquaint their Lordships that on the 16th of last Month as Captain Frederick¹⁹ of His Majestys Sloop Spy was going in quest of some small Privateers (who had been comitting great depredations on the several Harbours about S^t: Maries²⁰ and Placentia Bay) unfortunately got upon the Rocks off Cape Race in a Thick Fog, and is totally lost. but (with great difficulty) her Crew were all saved. In this situation I am greatly distressed how to perform the services required of me, as also for Ships to Convoy the Trade bound to Market unless their Lordships will be pleased to send me a reinforcement to my Squadron. 

By²¹ the inclosed Letters²² their Lordships will see how exceedingly the Harbours to the Southward have been Alarm’d by the small American Privateers. . . .I am Sir [&c.]