Sir,

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that this comes by the Lynx Capt^n. Parry,¹ who with the Lord Amherst sail from hence tomorrow Morning for Bluefields and from thence with the Trade the 20^th: Ins^t. to the Downs, agreeable to their Lordships directions; My having had information of a Rebel Frigate and 2 Privateers being off Cape Antonio² to intercept the Convoy has induced me to send His Majesty's Ship Æolus Captain Atkins³ (who is quite clean from the Wharf) to cruize off that Cape and join the Convoy there, with which he is to continue until1 they are 120 leagues past the Gulph,⁴ which I hope will meet their Lordships approbation, Capt^n. Atkins sailed Yesterday Morning to put my Orders in execution—I am sorry to inform their Lordships that since Privateers have been allowed to be fitted out here We have lost a great Number of Men by desertion, they meeting with so much encouragement from the owners of the Vessels that 'tis with the greatest difficulty I can Keep the Fleet under my Command compleatly manned but I do as well as I can without distressing the Trade.

In answer to their Lordships Letter of 9^th: Sep^r: inclosing a Paper transmitted to them by Lord Weymouth containing complaints against Capt^n. Bateman⁵ and Captain Lloyd,⁶ I beg leave to acquaint them that agreeable to their directions I have enquired into the Facts relative to the Two Spanish Brigs and Capt^n. Bateman⁵ refers me to his Letter dated 28^th: May last which he sent me on his arrival from that Cruize and which Letter is enclosed for their Lordships information[;]⁷ in regard to the complaint against Captain Lloyd as he is at present at Pensacola I must beg leave to refer their Lordships to the several Letters I received from him, and which were transmitted to their Lordships the 5^th: August last.⁸

Since my last to their Lordships (a duplicate of which is enclosed) I have received an other complaint from the Governor of Hispaniola against two Frigates for Burning an American Sloop on their Coast,⁹ One of which Frigates I understand is the Winchelsea, Captain Bateman having informed me of the transaction previous to the Receipt of the French Governors Letter, I beg leave to enclose Captain Batemans Letter, a Copy of the Complaint and a Copy of my Orders when he went on that Cruize,¹⁰ the latter I doubt not will be sufficient to satisfy their Lordships that my orders were not deficient.—

I have intercepted a Letter from Mess^rs: Fitches Merchants in Kingston enclosing a Bill of Exchange to a Rebel in America which I forwarded to the Lieu^t Governor of this Island¹¹ that the Kings Attorney General's opinion might be taken thereon, and I now beg leave to enclose to their Lordships the intercepted Letter and the Attorney Generals opinion on it.—¹²

In regard to the disposition of the Squadron—His Majesty's Ships Winchelsea & Stork continue at the careening Wharf but will be very soon ready for Sea: The Southampton is ready for Sea and waiting to Convoy the two Ships to Pensacola that are expected from England in the next Convoy: The Atalanta is still at Pensacola, the Hornet is getting ready for Sea when she is to proceed to Pensacola to relieve the Atalanta, whom I shall order to proceed to England with the Convoy as directed by their Lordships:

The Lowestoffe, Glasgow & Badger are on a Cruize the Diligence at Turk Island: The Two Floridas Sloops¹³ are on their Station. The Porpoise and Racehorse at the North side to collect the Trade & convoy them to Bluefields: The Porcupine is at the Bay of Honduras—The Glasgow has been at Sea 14 Weeks I have expected her to return for sometime past, The last Account I had of her was, by a prize she sent in, that she was in chase of a large Ship supposed to be an American Frigate, I am therefore at a loss to determine what is become of her.—

Inclosed I send the State and Condition of His Majesty's Ships in Port together with the List of Officers made and removed since the 25^th: Octob^r last;¹⁴ The whole Number of Prizes taken to this day is 219 Sail. I am with great respect Sir, [&c.]

Antelope Port Royal
Harbor Jamaica 14^th:
January 1778