Sr

The King having been pleased by his Order in Council of the 16th of June 1775 to order my Lords Commrs of the Admty to issue out such Warrants as they should find requisite for pressing so many Seamen, Seafaring Men & Persons whose occupations & callings are to work in Vessels & Boats upon Rivers in His Majestys Dominions in North America as should from time to time be necessary for Manning His Majts Ships & Vessels employed in those parts; I am commanded to send Your Lordship herewith 40 blank Press Warrants (prepared in consequence thereof & signed by my Lords) for Captains & Commanders of His Majts Ships & Vessels  And also 20 of another sort for Lieutenants commanding Schooners & Armed Vessels in order that your Lordship may cause the same to be filled up & delivered occasionally to such Captains, Commanders & Lieutenants not before furnished with them or Armed Vessels as may not have received them before or as you may appoint to Vacancies that may happen in the Squadron, all which Warrants your Ldsp will please to observe are to continue in force 'til the 31st Day of December 1776 unless duly countermanded before that time; And I am commanded by their Lordships to Signify their directs of the said Warrants to be filled up & delivered from time to time to such Captains Commrs and Lieutenants (not already furnished therewith) as you in your discretion shall judge necessary for completing the Complements of such of your Ships as are deficient  And also to fill up & deliver in like manner from time to time such of the others to the Captains & Commanders of His Majts Ships & Vessels &c who may be sent out to you, or who may be appointed to Vacancies as aforesaid; sending their Lordships a List of their Names and the dates of the Warrants that Entries may be made accordingly in the Books of this Office giving these Officers such Instructions as your Lordship shall judge proper for carryg them into Execution &c

And as it is more difficult, at this distance to settle Instructions for the Conduct of the Officers who may be employed to carry the above Warrants into execution than upon the spot where the particular circumstances of the Trade of His Majestys Subjects in the present critical situation of Affairs must be so much better understood; I have it further in command from their Lordships to send you herewith printed Copies of the Instructions which have been usually given with Press Warrants issued here at home, and to signify their directions to you to prepare & issue Instructions with the several press Warrants which you may deliver as aforesaid as nearly conformable to the Printed ones abovementioned as the circumstances of the Trade of His Majts Subjects the nature of the Service and the particular situation of Affairs, in North America may in your Opinion render necessary & proper, taking care to avoid giving any sort of distress to the Trade & Commerce legally carried on by His Majts Subjects in those parts, but what may be absolutely necessary for the keeping your Squadron properly Mannd &c

Vice Adml Graves ー Boston
By the Viper ー see Comr Gambier's Letter of 25 June.