Lord Sandwich apprehends that your Majesty wishes that General Burgoyne should go to Canada with as little delay as possible, if he goes in the Apollo, as she must take a convoy with her, some time must be lost in her passage; and as she is still at Plymouth & not quite ready for sea, it does not seem probable that she will be able to sail from Spithead before the end of the month.

The Ariadne a copper bottomed ship of twenty guns tho' under sailing orders to join L. Howe, cannot go to sea with this wind; and an express is just now gone for her to remain where she is, till farther order; in case your Majesty should think it more adviseable that she should take the General on board than-that he should wait for the Apollo, she will have nothing to detain her a moment from sailing, except contrary winds; & being a fast sailing ship & no convoy tacked to her, will certainly arrive at her destination long before the Apollo.

Admiralty March 18. 1777