(A Copy) General No 14.

By James Young Esqre  Vice Admiral of the Red, and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed at Barbadoes, the Leeward Islands, &c.

Whereas I have received Intelligence that it is become a practice among the American People trading to and from the French, Dutch, and Danish Islands in these Seas, since the Commencement of the late prohibiting Act of Parliament, to alter the Registers of their Vessels, and by a Collusive change of property to obtain French, Dutch and Danish Papers, thinking thereby to elude the penalties of said Act of Parliament, tho they still carry on the same trade as heretofore, and continue to be entirely Navigatd with British Subjects.

You are therefore hereby required and directed, to Examine all Vessels you may fall in with answering the foregoing description and should you find on a Strict and diligent Search that the Papers of such Vessels have been obtained since the Commencement of the late prohibiting Act of Parliament; and that they are Navigated mostly or wholly by British Subjects.

You are then strictly directed to take on board His Majesty's Ship under your Command all the British Subjects found on board such Vessels, and enter them for His Majesty's Service and should it appear to You that the Change of property of the Vessel &c. is Collusive and intended to cover the property of the North American Rebels, You are then to Seize said Vessels and send them to this Island to be prosecuted, for which this shall be your Order.

Given under my Hand at English Harbour Antigua
the 24th June 1776.

To The respective Captains and Commanders of His Majesty's Ships Portland, Argo, Seaford, Hind, Hawke and Pomona, and Endeavour Armed Brig. By Command of the Admiral Geo: Lawford.