N^o. 1
Sir

The last dispatch I forwarded you, to be communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; was dated the 24^th: August;¹ and sent by Captain Everett of His Majesty's Armed Brigantine Badger to Jamaica; in Expectation of his getting there in time to save the Packet for England, that had left these Islands only a few days before Captain Everett's arrival; a Duplicate of which I shall also transmit you by this opportunity.

I have the pleasure to inform their Lordships the prosecutions which had been carried on by the Owners of the Non Commissioned Armed Sloop called the Ham­mond; against me, and Captain Dumaresq; are now withdrawn;² and that matter fi­nally accommodated; by a Communication of Lord George Germains Letters, which have given hopes to the Owners of the other Non Commissioned Armed Vessels, that had taken sundry American Vessels; (Condemned as Droit of the Admiralty, but the proceeds to remain in the hands of the Captors 'till his Majesty's farther pleasure was known) that the King will be graciously pleased to give up the proceeds of the whole to the Owners & Crew of such Armed Vessels, as had made Capture of them; they have therefore Voluntarily made a Subscription to pay the Owners of the Hammond, such Expences as they had been at, in fitting out &c, of that Vessel, on Condition of satisfaction being entered up in the different Offices, belonging to the Courts of Law here for the Verdicts obtained against me and Captain Dumaresq, which has been complied with; and the whole contest dropped.³

Captain Robinson of His Majesty's Ship Proteus arrived here from Quebec the 14^th In­stant; and I have ordered him to be assisted by His Majesty's Sloop the Beaver's Prize, and to take under Convoy the Trade from these Islands, to Great Britain, and Ireland; with which they are to Sail from S^t: Christophers the 4^th: November; & as complaint has been made to me that it has lately become a practice, for several of the Merchant Vessels, to put to Sea so very badly fitted; it is impossible they can proceed the Voyage, without having their wants supplied at Sea, by the Kings Ships appointed to Convoy them; which assis­tance the Masters of said Vessels rely on; and thereby occasion great delay in prosecuting the Voyage; and as such practices must prove very prejudicial to His Majesty's Service, by occasioning a needless Expence of Naval Stores; sent out at Great Expence for the nec­essary Supply of the Kings Ships. I have therefore thought it proper (as it may also prove of particular benefit to the Underwriters) to direct Captain Colpoys (who sees the Trade as far as Latitude 30^o N^o:) to take the Captains of the Proteus, and Beaver's Prize, to his as­sistance; and go on board all the Merchant Vessels that have applied for Convoy, and strictly to examine & Inspect into their State and Condition and see they are fitted in a proper manner to proceed to Europe at this Season of the Year; and if it should appear to them any of the Merchant Vessels are not so: they are directed to report the same to me, and transmit a Duplicate of such report to the Admiralty board; and not to give any Sailing In­structions to such Merchant Vessels as they judge unfit to proceed the Voyage:

I flatter myself their Lordships will approve of my giving these Orders and di­rections (and continuing the same hereafter) to the Kings Ships that may be sent to convoy the homeward bound Trade from these Islands. I am [&c.]