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My Lord

I have great pleasure in acquainting your Lordship, that I am now in this port with all the Transports &ca, and such Ships of the Squadron as I chose to bring in with me. I have, at the Instance of General Clinton, (who thinks the Success We have had of so great Importance, that it ought to be communicated as soon as possible to Administration, and in which Sentiments I concur) sent the Mercury to England with General Clinton's Dispatches and mine. I have the Honor to transmit to your Lordship, a Copy of my Letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, a List of the Rebel Privateers at Providence, the State and Condition of this Squadron, and where each Ship is stationed; And also an Account of the Brig taken by the Experiment. The 2d Instant I fell in with the Carysfort off Block Island, and the 4th gave Orders to Captain Fanshawe [Robert Fanshaw] to cruise for one Month off Fisher's Island, for the purpose of blocking up New London, and protecting the Transports &ca, and then to govern himself by Orders which he has received from your Lordship. The 3d Instant at three o'Clock in the Morning, Block Island NW four Leagues, the Cerberus spoke with the Diamond and Ambuscade. The latter came in here Yesterday Evening, and informs me, that two Days ago the Diamond was forced to Sea by a NW wind, not being able to weather Gay-Head; The enclosed Letter from Captain Macartney will give your Lordship an Account of a Skirmish at Nashown Island between the Diamond's and Ambuscade's people and the Inhabitants. The 6th at nine in the Morning a Cartel-Sloop named the Diamond came into the Fleet. An Adjutant [Benjamin] Stelle brought a Letter from Mr Nicholas Cooke to Captain Furneaux, which, with the List of Prisoners, that he says sailed from Rhode Island in her; a Letter from Adjutant Stelle to me, and a Copy of One from Captain Furneaux to Mr Cooke, I now transmit to your Lordship. The Adjutant only delivered six Men; the rest, he says, landed on Long-Island, to avoid being pressed by the King's Ships. The Sloop had been out above three Weeks, and I am credibly informed that Mr Stelles gave Intelligence of us, two or three different times; I shall therefore detain him for his unwarrantable Behavior, 'till I hear from your Lordship.

In coming down the Sound, the Asia struck twice on a Rock off Fisher's Island, and makes twelve Inches Water an Hour. I have a Letter of Yesterday's Date from Captain Macartney, desiring a Court Martial on his Boatswain for Drunkenness and Neglect of Duty; which I shall order to be held as soon as possible. I have the Honor to be, My Lord [&c.]

P.S. The Mercury sailed this Morning.
[Endorsed] No 4 In Lord Howe's Letter of the 18 Decr 1776