Sir

The R^t Honorable the Lords Comm^rs. of the Admiralty having by their order of the 23^d. past directed us to propose and transmit to them for their approbation a proper plan for forming an Establishment for a Naval Yard at Rhode Island, New York, Philadelphia, or such other place as upon a consultation with Lord Howe shall be agreed upon for refitting the Ships under his Lordships command in North America, in addition to the Port of Hallifax, and having informed us that theyjudged it expedient that a Commissioner of the Navy with proper Assistants should go over in the first Ships for N^o America to form such Establishment We desire you will acquaint their Lordships that correspondent with their Intentions we have revised the several Establishments that have heretofore been settled for different Foreign Yards, & are of opinion that in order to carry on this Service it will be proper to appoint the following officers to act under the direction of a Commissioner. Viz^t.

A Master Attendant
Master Shipwright
Clerk of the Checque & Clerk of the Survey in one.
Storekeeper.

With the same Salary of £200 ⅌ Annum to each and allowances of Clerks, & H^o. Rent as are now made to the Officers of the Yard at Hallifax. Two Officers in the first mentioned Stations are acting at New York by orders from Vice Adm^l. Lord Visc^t. Howe with an Allowance of 5s ⅌ day in addition to their pay as master &Carpenter of the Eagle, and a Naval Officer and Storekeeper attends the Fleet under their Lordships appointment.

With respect to Artificers we send inclosed for their Lordships information the Establishment of the Yard at Hallifax, which we have communicated to Capt^n. LeCras,¹ and in the present uncertain state of this undertaking, we cannot propose to their Lordships what N^o. of Artificers and Workmen may be necessary to carry it into execution, as it must depend in a great measure upon the situation of the place fixed upon, and many circumstances that may arise upon the spot, therefore we would propose giving this Establishment to him for his guidance, and to recommend him to govern himself thereby according to the best of his discretion consistently with the tenor of his Instructions, which will be very full and explicit, and the nature of the Service.

But as it will be necessary that a certain N^o. of the following Classes of artificers should be sent out from hence, in order to begin the Establishment we would propose that the N^o. expressed against each Class should be procured from such of his Maj^ts. Yards here from whence they can be spared with least inconvenience; under the usual encouragement given to Artificers serving in the Foreign Yards. Viz^t.

which N^o. we must depend upon increasing hereafter by the best means that offer, as the present State of the Workmen in his Maj^ts. Yards at home does not admit of our drafting a further N^o. from thence without distressing the Service.

We have ordered proper Careening Geer to be provided, together with such Materials & Stores as appear to be necessary for the use of a Foreign Yard, in order for their being dispatched by the first oppertunity, & shall recommend it to Capt^n: Le Cras to let us know as soon after his arrival as possible whether it will be necessary to send on a Hulk or whatever else may appear to him to be proper for carrying on the Service with the most convenience & dispatch. We are &^ct.