Sir,

I have the Honor to inclose to Your Excellency a Copy of some late Orders which the Earl of Rochford has, by His Majesty's Command, transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Your Excellency will do right to make a fair & confidential Communication of the Substance of them to The Prince of Orange & the Dutch Ministers, who cannot be surprized that, at this Conjuncture, when Our American Colonies have entered into an Association not to trade with Great Britain, Great Britain should be particularly attentive to their Counterband, &, excluded from their Trade, should take especial Care that they carried none on with Foreign States. For this Purpose the Force will be increased on the respective Stations, & such Ships sent to the Leeward Islands & Elsewhere as are best adapted to the Nature of the Service they are to be employed upon.

[Enclosure]

Janry 26th 1775.

My Lords.

Intelligence having been received that a very illicit Trade has of late been carried on from St Eustatia and other Dutch Settlements to His Majesty's Colonies in America, I am commanded to signify to your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure that you give Orders to Vice Admiral Parry to be particularly attentive to that Object & that He should direct the Commanders of the Ships & Vessels under his Command, in their respective Stations, to intercept & seize any British or Foreign Ships which may be found carrying on an illicit Trade, & which may have on board prohibited goods & Merchandize, or warlike Stores, destined to His Majesty's Colonies in America; And that the said Commanders be further directed to behave with the necessary Moderation & Prudence in the Execution of their Commission.

I am &c.

Rochford.