[No.] 203

Sir In addition to the memorandums with which I have troubled you, to be communicated to His Majesty's Ministers; I must beg you will represent the necessity of sending out for this service, as early as possible, a Battalion consisting, at least, of three hundred seamen, it being to be wished that the expensive expedient, to which we have been obliged to have recourse this year, of detaining transports on account of their seamen, might be avoided in future, even if it should be in our power to use it; but as there may not be a number sufficient of those ships in the river to furnish us as before, we should in that case be at a loss to man our Vessels again, and it seems most probable that we shall have the same, if not a greater, occation for them next spring, At last it must be necessary to be provided against all which may happen. I find it impossible to remain here.

I wish you a very good Voyage and safe arrival in England, and hope nothing may prevent my having the pleasure of seeing you here again next Campaign. I am &c