[Extract]
My Lord,

I have the honor to send your Lordship herewith Duplicates of my two Letters of the 20th and of two others of the 23d of last month.

In one of those of the last mentioned Dates, I acknowledged the Receipt of your several Letters, of the 18th & 29th June, 3d 5th & 9th July number'd 32 to 36 inclusive; And having since received the directions of my Lords Commrs of the Admty upon the subject matter thereof, I avail myself of the opportunity afforded by the Maidstone to communicate them to you.

Their Lordships have transmitted to Lord George Germain a Copy of the Circular sent by yourself and Sir Willm Howe to the Governors of the several Islands in the West Indies, to restrain the granting Licences to Vessels, to navigate in the American Seas, by which His Majs Rebellious Subjects have been enabled to obtain supplies of many Articles of Sub­sistence, which, without those Licences, they could not have received, and have desir'd his Lordship to lay the same before His Majs, that such di­rections may be given thereon, as His Majs shall think fit.

I have by their Lordships directions inform'd the Navy Board of what Captain Onslow has represented, respecting the Misconduct of the Masters of the Transports who sail'd under his Convoy, that such Notice may be taken thereof, before they Pay for the hire of those Ships, as may deter other Masters from being guilty of like Practices.

Their Lordships are pleased to approve of your having order'd the Cabot Brig to be purchas'd of the Captors, to supply the place of the Diligent Armed Brig, which had been lost in the Bay of Fundy; and of your Lordships appointment of Lieut Dod to command her; And they have given the necessary Orders to the Navy Board, respecting her being paid for, and for the Establishment of her Complement agreable to the Papers You have transmitted on these two heads. . . .

With respect to the Court Martial, held to enquire into the loss of the Tryal Armed Schooner;² My Lords direct me to acquaint your Lord­ship, that it seems to have been the general practice in Trials of that kind for the Court to examine upon Oath such of the Officers or Crews of Ships in that predicament, as it has been judged proper to call upon to give Evidence touching the loss of such Ships or the Conduct of the Officers and Company upon the Occasion; And that as Lieut [John] Brown and Mr [Leonard] Mosey the Master of the Schooner above mentioned were dismissed from His Majs Service by Sentence of the Court Martial, their Lordships do not conceive themselves to be authorized to restore them to the rank they held without the Sanction of His Majesty's Order in council:

My Lords are given to understand that a Memorial either has been, or is to be presented to His Majs on behalf of Lieutenant Brown, and I am authorized to say that the favorable representation your Lordship has made of Mr Brown's Services, will when the Memorial comes in reference, weigh greatly with them, in making such a Report thereupon as they flatter themselves may induce His Majesty to restore not only him but Mr Mosey also to their former Rank.

My Lords are of Opinion with your Lordship that it will be necessary upon the removal of Sir Peter Parker, to have the same Number of Com­manders of Divisions continued; and therefore approve of your giving an Order to Captain Griffith to wear a distinguishing Pendant, for which they will direct the Navy Board to cause him to be paid the usual Extra Allow­ance of Ten Shillings a Day, but they cannot consent to his having an equal Establishment with Mr Hotham, as from the Number of Captains now in commission Senior to Captain Griffiths, many Inconveniences must arise if it should be found expedient to send any more Ships of the Line to reinforce your Lordship. . . .