Copy,
My Lord,

In consequence of His Majesty's Orders signified to me by Lord George Germain last October, to repair to this place immediately, and to take on me the Charge of the Government (in the Absence of the Governor)¹ by Virtue of my Commission as Lieutenant Governor, I embarked from England last December and arrived here the 20^th: Instant.

I am happy to find that many of the Inhabitants of these Islands are by their Principles loyal and Dutiful Subjects,at the same time I must acknowledge there are some who are not so well inclined, and who I fear do carry on a clandestine Trade with the Americans and amongst other Things do supply them with the very neces- sary Article of Salt, from some of the other Islands of the Bahamas, and which is not in my Power to prevent, as there is not any Naval Force within this Government.

I must therefore beg leave to make my Application to your Lordship to send some Naval Force, not only to protect these Islands against the American Privateers, but also to prevent the above pernicious Trade.

I think it necessary to acquaint your Lordship that there are not fourteen feet Water on the Bar of the Harbour of Providence at low Water, and that the common Tides rise between two and three Feet. I have the honour to be [&c.]