N^o: 20.
My Lord

I have had the honour to receive Your Lordship's Two Circular Letters of the 7. and 12. June. The Latter contains a Copy of His Majesty's Speech to Both Houses of Parliament at the Close of the Session on the 6^th June.

That of the 7. June incloses a Copy of Your Lordship's Letter to Gov^r. Burt of the same date, with the opinion of the King's Attorney and Sollicitor General relative to the Capture of the Sloop May belonging to the Rebellious Colonies by an Armed Ves­sel called the Reprisal belonging to Antigua. I never thought myself authorized to grant Commissions to private Ships of War; and as well before as since I have strictly adhered to this Opinion; but now I have to shew Your Lordship's directions and Or­ders upon that Subject. The Lords of the Admiralty have sent me a warrant to cause Commissions to be granted upon the application of the Owners of Trading Vessels fitted out here. I shall ever be very cautious  how I grant such  Commissions. I have no great opinion of many of the Traders and Seafaring people of the West Indies; and I wish such Commissions be not often much abused.

I have also the honour of Your Lordship's Letter N^o. 8. dated the 9^th. August, with your kind approbation of my Securing the Crew of the Musquito Privateer taken by Capt. Pringle.¹—Capt. Pringle had then never joined the Admiral, but certainly there were Ships enough which went from hence in the June Convoy to have dispersed these prisoners among them. But by a Letter I since received from Vice Admiral Young, He seemed to be waiting for Instructions upon the Pirate Act;² However He promised to give Orders to My Nephew Capt. Drummond (to whom He has given a Command, and who was expected here to take down our Ships) to take off as many prisoners, as he could put on board the Ships. But the Wind has blown so strong Southerly, that Drummond does not appear; The Ships are to sail tomorrow under the Convoy of the Fly Sloop, Capt. Garner, by Order of Capt. Pringle, They being both here. There are but Five Vessels from this Island for different Ports. Capt. Pringle refuses to give or­ ders for taking any of the Prisoners, having no Orders from the Admiral. I am ex­ tremely concerned about it, because these men would be ofless Expence to Govern­ ment, when landed in England than they can be here; and perhaps there will be no other Convoy bound home from the West Indies these many months.

We have lately heared from Martinico, that upon the Arrival of a Vessel from Old France, an Embargo was immediately laid on all Ships & Provisions in the French Islands. We are at a Loss to conjecture what this may lead to, Though there is no Ac­count of any Number of French Men of War in the West Indies as yet.

I have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship a Copy of an Insolent Letter I re­ceived from the Commanders of the Rebel Privateers at Martinico; and the Copy of my Letter to the Governor of Martinico,³ in answer to His, of which I have already sent Your Lordship a Copy; In my Letter to the french Governor I have inserted a Mes­sage to the Rebel Commanders, which I have desired His Excellency to send them. Every Thing is very quiet here, and the weather has been very favorable for some months, which gives a good prospect of plenty of the Island provisions; but Foreign Provisions are very scarce for the want of the Arrival of Convoys from England & Ire­land. I have the honour to be [&c.]