Dear Sir

It was not untill yesterday that I received any certain account of your arrival in America, in which I beg leave to congratulate you.

The circumstances of the Fleet and Army to the Northward has been such, that it has not been in Admiral Shuldhams power, to send me a force Sufficient to authorize me, to make any attempt on Philadelphia; I therefore no sooner heard of your intended expedition against Charles Town, than I immediately quited the River Delaware, to the Liverpool (which I have left cruizing off there) with an intention of joining you with the Roebuck; but calling into Virginia in my way, I found Lord Dunmore and his Fleet in so much danger from the Enemy, who were bringing down cannon to all the points of the River, and were preparing fire-rafts to destroy the Ships, that I found myself under the necessity of attempting to move them before the enemy began their attack. This I assure you was no easy task, as they consisted of near 100 sail of Vessels, many of them with valuable Cargoes, and the most part without Seamen, which I was obliged to Supply out of the Kings Ships, However we made Shift to get here without the loss of a Single Vessel, except those we destroyed for want of materials to Navigate them with.

We have taken possession of this Island which is about three or four Miles in length and one in breadth, Seperated from the Main ½ a mile, except on one place (which is that where Lord Dunmore has his Camp) that is not above the reach of Musquet Shot, However this part is defended by the Guns from the Ships. The Island lyes at the Mouth of Pianketank River, forms a safe and commodious Harbour for any number of Ships, and as it is centrical to all the Rivers; I think it is the best rendezvous of any in Virginia for the fleet; The Island is certainly much too large for us to defend in our present weak situation, if the enemy should make any Serious attack upon us, but if we had a body of 200 Troops more, I do not think it would be in the power of the Rebels to dispossess us, and I confess now that we are here, I am very desirous of keeping it; As I dont know a better place in Virginia for the head Quarters of a fleet and an army.

You will certainly conceive, sir, from what I have related to you that Ihave not only had my hands full by this movement, but that I am unlikely to get clear of this incumberance for some time, as I have been obliged to Land my Marines and assist in the necessary Fortifications for the defence of the Island; Notwithstanding if the Pilot Boat I sent to the Liverpool a fortnight ago had been lucky enough to have found her and, brought her hither, I flatter myself you should have seen me before this time: I have Sent to her again and if she should drop in while I think I can be of any use to you, It will afford me infinate satisfaction to have an opportunity of joining you; Attended, however, with some distress at leaving the River Delaware again open to the enemy.

I have the Fowey with me here, the Otter is cruizing at the Capes, and I apprehend the Glasgow is gone to Halifax to refit, as she has never joined me, but was on her way to do it, when she fell in with, and thrashed the Rebel Fleet off Block Island.

Governor Eden of Maryland has got leave of the Committee of Safety to quit Annapolis, and has written to me, to desire I will send a man of War to receive him on board and bring him down to the Fleet, which I Intenddoing as Soon as I can spare one from the Service they are now imediately employed on.

I have nothing by way of News to Send you, I conclude that you must have heard that the Rebels have been well drubed by General Carolton at Quebec, and that they have raised the Seige ー We are told by the News Papers, Ten thousand Men are arrived in Transports at New York, but nothing particular about them.

Just before I left the Delaware I run up to reconnoiter the River and to fill fresh water, the Liverpool was with me ー The Row Galleys thought proper to pay me a visit, about a dozen miles below the pass they have fortified, where the River is so very narrow, and so rapid, that they had every advantage that situation could give them: However they fired away Seven Tons of Powder at us, without doing us the least mischief, except the loss of one Man in the Roebuck; I endeavoured to draw them into a Wider part of the River, but they knew their advantage and declined the challenge: Report Says they recd much damage, but those are Secrets they most religiously hide from the Publick.

A Schooner came in yesterday and brought me an account that, the Garrison of Saint Augustine were Starving for want of Provisions; I have therefore put on board of my Tender a small Supply for them, least they should not have received any from another quarter.

If you can send us any small Guns, Cohorns or Howitzers, they will be of the utmost use to us.

I pray, most devoutly, for Success to attend his Majesty's Forces in the hands of my friend [Henry] Clinton and yourself, and most anxiously hoping that I may Soon hear you have reduced the Pride of (what the Americans call the Carolinians) the Rice Birds. I have the honor to be Sir [&c.]

To Commodore Sir Peter Parker
commander in chief, &ca &ca on bd his Ms Ship the Bristol So Carolina