Whereas we intend that His Majesty's Armed Vessel the Lyon shall proceed to Davis's Streights for the protection of the British Whale Fishers who may be employed in those parts during the approaching fishing Season, and that she shall afterwards proceed into Baffin's Bay for the purpose of making Discoveries; You are, therefore hereby required & directed to use the utmost dispatch in falling down in her to Longreach, and in taking in her Guns & Gunner's Stores at that place agreable to former Orders, and then proceed to the Nore; and, so soon as her Complement shall be completed from the Conquistador, for which we have given Orders to Commodore [George] Mackenzie, you are to put to sea with the very first Opportunity of Wind and Weather, and make the best of your way to the South End of Disco Island, in the abovemention'd Streights, where the Whale Fishers usually resort at the beginning of the Season, and there make enquiry amongst them if th~y haveheard of any arm'd, or other, American Ships in those parts belonging to the Inhabitants of His Majesty's Colonies now in Rebellion, and, if they have, you are to proceed in quest of them, and use your best endeavours to take or destroy them; You are afterwards to proceed to the North West part of the said Island, where the abovemention'd Fishers usually resort during the latter part of the Season, and make enquiry, and proceed in like manner; And, having so done, or not hearing of any American Vessels in those parts, you are at liberty, and are hereby required & directed to proceed up Baffin's Bay and explore the Coasts thereof, as far as in your judgement the same can be done without apparent Risque; taking care to leave the abovemention'd Bay so timely as to secure your return to England in the fall of the Year; and to return accordingly to the Nore, from whence you are to send Us an Account of your arrival and proceedings.

You are carefully to observe the true situation of such parts of the abovemention'd Coasts as you may discover, both in Latitude & Longitude, the Variation of the Needle; bearings of the Headlands; Height, Direction & Course of the Tides & Currents; Depths & Soundings of the Sea, Shoals, Rocks &c.; And to employ Mr Lane, Master of the Vessel you command (who has an Allowance for that purpose) in surveying, making Charts and taking Views of, the several Bays, Harbours, and different parts of the Coast which you may visit, and in making such notations thereon as may be useful to Geography and Navigation. Given &c. the 14th May 1776. By &c. P .S. I. PRO, Admiralty 2/101, 88-90. Sandwich Palmerston C. Spencer