Sir

I had the Honor of your Excellency's Letter of yesterday, and beg leave, in answer, to represent to you that The Act of Parliament allowing no Supplies of Provisions or Fuel, to be brought for the Inhabitants of Boston but such as are cleared at Marblehead, and Stores for the Use of Government only in Vessels Commissioned by or in the immediate pay of the King;² My orders to the Captains of the King's Ships under my Command are consonant to these Regulations, and nothing is permitted to pass in or out but as the Law directs; except by License under My hand and Seal which has always readily been granted when the King's Service would suffer by too strictly following the Letter of the Law; and I am greatly chagrined to find that in doing our Duty afloat We have occasioned any embarrassments in Your Excellency's Military Department. However I cannot help thinking this Might have been avoided by the Contractor's acquainting your Excellency, at an early period, that he expected this Vessel to arrive from New York; Your Excellency may be assured that I have great satisfaction in facilitating rather than impeding the Entrance of Supplies for the Army, where the Act is defective or not sufficiently explicit; And whenever Your Excellency is pleased to send Me the Names of Vessels bringing Provisions or Stores for the Army, I shall not only chearfully grant them permission to enter, but direct them to have any assistance the Squadron can afford.

The Passes your Excellency has Now desired for the Sloops Sunna [Susannah] and Speedwell will be delivered upon Mr. Loyd's application for them to My Secretary. I have the Honor to be with great respect and regard Sir [&c.]