(Copy)
You are hereby required and directed to proceed with His Majesty's
Ship under your Command, andCruize between the West end of Long Is
land and Cape Henlopen, at .such distances from the Shore, as from the
information you. may receive and your own Judgment may be most likely to
intercept the Ships and Vesse1s belonging to His Majesty's Rebellious Sub
jects. ' ' ;
:, As soon as you arrive at your Station You are to call in at New York,
and deliver to Captain [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] the Dispatches you will herewith
receive, with whom you will confer and obtain from him such intelligence as
he may think necessary to communicate to you for His Majesty's
Service: You are then to proceed to the River Delaware and deliver to
Captain Hamond the Packets directed for him, which you will .also receive
herewith, and after having obtained from him such information as may be
conducive to the Service you are employed on, You areto repair to your Sta
tion without loss of time.
You are at your discretion to put into either of those places as you shall
judge it necessary for His Majesty's Service for the purpose of Obtaining In
telligence or otherwise According as Circumstances may require.
You are to Take, Sink, Burn or Destroy all Ame.rican Armed Vessels
belonging to, or fitted out from any of the Colonies in Rebellion against His
Majesty, to detain a~d seize all Vessels belonging to, or Trading with the
aforesaid Colonies and send thein to Halifax to be proceeded against accord-
ing to Law, and for your furtliei-Guidance, I refer you to the late Act of
Parliament, and the General Code of Orders and Instructions you have al
ready received.
You are to continue upon this Service as long as your Provisions shall
last, and then join me for further Orders.
Given under my hand on board His Majesty's Ship Chatham in Halifax
Harbour 27th April 1776. M Shuldham By Command of the Admiral KBragge
