Chatham in Halifax Harbour the
20th May 1776.
Sir
I am to inform you His Majesty's Sloop Savage arrived here the 17th Instant with dispatches from New York, bringing under Convoy the Ship Lady Gage and two other Vessels taken at that place by His Majesty's Ships.
I herewith transmit to you Copies of Captain Parker's Letter, and the several Articles of Intelligence with which it was accompanied.
Their Lordships having by Mr [George] Jackson's Letter of the 29th February signified to me their directions that I should purchase a Ship at Boston recommended by Lieutenant [Henry] Mowat to be established as a Sloop in His Majesty's Service, which Vessel having been destroyed at the Evacuation of that place by the King's forces, and as the Lady Gage appears to be in every respect proper for that purpose, it is my intention to purchase and establish her as a Sloop of War.
You will also receive by this Conveyance a List of such Vessels as have been Seized or Taken by His Majesty's Ships as have come to my knowledge, since my last Account. Their Lordships will observe among them a Schooner which was laden with Gunpowder, Arms, and other Military Stores, taken by the Cerberus, and Diligent Brig, the Cargo of which Vessel appears to have cost Twenty seven thousand Livers at Cape Francois, and the additional number of Ships which will in future be employed upon the American Coast must necessarily render the Rebels obtaining Supplies of these, and other Articles, still more difficult and precarious. I am Sir [&c.]