Whereas we have received advice that the three Rebel Privatiers (described on the other side hereof) which lately sailed from France, came round the West of Ireland&, between the 19th & 23d Instant, took Fifteen sail of Merchant Ships off the Mull of Cantire, some of which they had sunk, & sent others to America & to the French Ports of Nantes or Port L'Oriont, and that it was supposed they would themselves proceed off those Ports, in order to take their Men again on board; You are hereby required & directed to take the Ceres Sloop under your command, if she is in Plymouth Sound (whose Captain will be directed to follow your Orders), and proceed together, or, if she is not there, proceed without her, up St George's Channel (taking her, however, with you in case you meet her at Sea), and use your utmost endeavours to take, or destroy, any of the Rebel Privatiers or Ships belonging to the Rebellious Colonies which you may meet with.

You are to send to Dublin for any intelligence you can procure of the Rebel Privatiers abovementioned or any others that may infest those parts, & proceed in quest of them; or, if you receive no intelligence of them there, proceed as far as the Mull of Cantire, making the like enquiries for information at Campbeltown and proceeding, as before directed, in pursuit of, & using your best endeavours to take or destroy, any Privatiers you may hear of in that Neighbourhood; But, not receiveing any Well grounded information of their being any Privatiers in those parts, you are to return round the West Coast of Ireland to Plymo Sound & wait for further Order; sending to our Secretary, for our information, an Account of your arrival & proceed­ ings. Given &c 28th June 1777.

Capt Allen —Albion — Plymo.
p Express at 10 pm.
By &c PS