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Sir,

I beg leave to inform You that I wrote Admiral Gayton by His Majesty's Ship Southampton, acquainting him that the Convoy would not be ready to Sail on the 15 Inst. agreeble to his Order and that Manchack in the Province of West Florida was invaded by a party of Rebels

I was sent for in Council and it was the Governor and Councils Opinion that the Atalanta should remain here till further certain accounts should arrive of the force and intention of the Rebels and that the Hound should proceed up the Mississippi to Manchack and since that time the Merchants and Masters of Ships have made application to me by Petition bearing date the 23^d. Ins^t. to remain with His Majesty's Ship under my Command till the 15^th: April next, that the late arrivals of their Ships & Vessels renders it impossible to sail before that time I have complied with their Request but have Ordered the Masters of the Vessels who intend taking the benefit of the Convoy to deliver me in writing the time their Ships will be ready, by which means flatter myself I shall be able to sail early in April. They are putting the Garrison into a better State of defence and erecting new Batteries an Officer and fifty Men belonging to the Atalanta are employed cutting Pickets, and I have taken the Old Florida Sloop which was condemned to tow them over, I shall give the Province every assistance in my Power while His Majesty's Ship remains here, and before my departure am hopeful the Sylph will be arrived from the Mississippi

I have this moment received two Letters from the Merchants in Orleans requesting that I should remain 'till the 10^th: April next, that their property to be sent from that place in the Ship Live Oak¹ will amount to upwards of Forty thousand Pounds Sterling the State and Condition of His Majesty's Ship under my Command is enclosed in Cap^tn. Nunns Letter to You I am [&c.]

P:S: Capt^n: Nunn sailed for the Mississippi the 22^d: Ins^t: an Embargo was laid on the Shipping the 20^th:—Since writing the above an express has arrived from Orleans to M^r. Stephenson the Contractor who brings an Account that the Sylph arrived there the 18^th. or 19^th: that the Governor of Orleans allows the Rebels to keep the Colours flying before his door and assists them in selling His Maj^e. Subjects property—You will be better informed by Captain Nunn and Captain Ferguson by the first opportunity if any thing should transpire necessary for your information, I shall acquaint You by every opportunity while I remain here.