Sir,

Please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that Captain Chapman in His Majestys Sloop Shark arrived at English Harbour the 13^th Novem^r. last and left Captain Parry in the Lynx Sloop off this Island, to proceed with such part of the Trade that came under their Convoy and were bound to S^t. Kitts and Jamaica; those bound to Barbados, Dominica and Antigua; were all seen safe to their respective Ports, Captain Vincent of His Majestys Ship Yarmouth likewise arrived here the 22^d Novem^r. having left the Speke Ordnance Storeship (that came under his Convoy.) delivering her Ordnance Stores at Dominica. By these Ships I have received from their Lordships the several Letters and Orders named on the other side;¹ all which shall be exactly complied with except making a post Ship of the Beavers prize (late the Oliver Cromwell) for which purpose she was too small; as their Lordships will perceive by my former Letters Dated the 24^th July & 24^th August last;² and I had therefore purchased her for a Sloop of War; & given the Command to M^r. John Auriol Drummond 1^st. Lieutenant of the Portland; and sent her to England to get proper Guns, and strengthen the Convoy that sailed from S^t. Christopher the 4^th November last; which I flatter myself their Lordships will be pleased to approve.

Captain Chapman on his Arrival here made Complaint that several of his Ships Company were Mutinous and disobedient to his Orders, and he had been obliged to Confine the Master, Boatswain, Carpenter and a Midshipman, as principals who had stirred up the Ships Company to such behaviour, and has requested that a Court Martial may be held on the aforenamed Officers, and an Enquiry made into his own Conduct; however as the Ships of the Squadron are most of them at Sea on different Cruizing Stations, it was not in my power immediately to grant his Request; but I shall endeavor to get a sufficient Number of the Ships here about the middle of January, to perform that Service; and will by the first Opportunity afterwards acquaint their Lordships with the result of said Enquiry, in the mean time I shall lend the Seamen belonging to the Shark to such of the King's Cruizing Ships as are short of Complement and keep the Sloop in English Harbour till the first Convoy goes to Eng land from these Islands, and then appoint her to perform that Service—

I am sorry to acquaint their Lordships that Capt Truscott of His Majestys Sloop Grasshopper had the misfortune to get on the Warrington Rock coming into S^t. Johns Road Antigua, the Evening of the Decem^{r: 3} on her return from the Island Barbuda, where he had carried Governor Burt Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, who was directed to go to that Island by His Majestys Secretary of State to make Enquiry concerning a Spanish Merchant Vessel wrecked near the said Island and Complaint was made to His Majestys Minister that great Embezzlement of the Cargo had been made by the Inhabitants; however by assistance of the Boats belonging to His Majestys Ship Portland who then happened to be lying in the Road; she was got off without much damage; but as it was necessary to heave her down in order to have her bottom examined; and judged not safe to send her up to English Harbour for that purpose, I ordered it to be done at S^t. Johns; she has now been hove out both Sides and the necessary repairs done, and I hope will be ready to proceed on a Cruize about the middle of next Week—

The October Packet is arrived at Antigua and has brought me from their Lordships the several Letters &c^a. named in the otherside but as she will sail almost immediately I cannot by this Opportunity return proper answers to them and I must beg of you to acquaint their Lordships the same shall be done by the earliest opportunity; likewise that I shall permit Captain Jones to return to England as soon as he can, and mean to appoint M^r. Robert Boyle Nicholas 1^st. Lieu^nt of the Portland to the Vacancy; as the Beaver cannot be conveniently spared from the Station,—I shall write their Lordships more fully by the next safe Conveyance and am [&c.]

P.S. I must farther intreat you will mention to their Lordships that from the bad Sailing of the Shark & Lynx Sloops several of the Trading Vessels from Ireland, which came under their Convoy would certainly have been taken off the French Islands (Martinica & Guadaloupe) and carried in there, by some American Privateers, that came out for that purpose; had I not sent the Ariadne Frigate to strengthen the convoy; and she had the good fortune to fall timely in with the Trade and drove off the Privateers that were waiting to intercept them.

J. Y