Honble Gentlemen,

I beg leave to acquaint you, that the Harcourt Transport Under my direction, having had a contagious fever onboard, during her passage from Cork and Burying Several of the Troops, arrived at Cape Fear, very Sickly; ー The Physician to the Army recommending it to Major General Clinton as absolutely necessary, that most part of the Bedding onboard her should be Burnt, in order to prevent the Spreading of the Infection thro' the Army, I have in consequence of an order I received from Sir Peter Parker (a copy of which I herewith Inclose) Seen Three hundred, and Eighteen Beds, Burnt, and have granted a Certificate thereof, to the Master of the said Transport; which You wil please to take notice of.

The Chatham, one of the Transports under my direction, arrived Safe at Cape Fear since my Letter of the 16th May; As has also, the whole fleet that Sailed with us from Cork except the Carcass Bomb.

As Mr. Jones, Carpenter of the Ranger Sloop, has been of infinite Service in attending to the repairs of the flatt bottom Boats, which were much damaged, that with, difficulty they could Swim, owing to the Blowing weather, and a great Surff on the Shore, when the Troops Landed on Long Island, to the Northward of Sullivans Island, And as I also experienced his Attention the Service, in repairing the defects of the HarcourtTransport, in Milford Haven, I therefore most humbly recommend him to your Board as a very deserving good Man; having been many Years Carpenter of the Ranger, and bears an extraordinary good Character from all his Officers.

I also think it necessary to acquaint you that a Mathew Walker, belonging to the Pigot Hospital Ship, and a Pensioner to the Chest at Chatham, deserted to the Rebels from one of the Flatt bottom Boats, under my command, the day the Troops went to make an Attack on Sullivans Island, ー I therefore suppose he is a person undeserving any further Benefit from that Chest.

The Harcourt Transport has been twice aground, getting over the Bar of Charles Town, but has received little, or no damage And the Prince of Piedmont, and Friends Adventure, Army Victuallers, are totally Lost; the former on the Bar, and the latter in Spencers Inlett; ー from the Prince of Piedmont we Saved about half the Provisions, and from the Friends Adventure, the Whole,

I beg leave likewise to acquaint you, that I Lost my Cutter, with all her Materials, in a Gale of wind; from being Sent to a Schooner to Sound, and Recon'oitre & Buoy the Bar of Charlestown, by order of Sir Peter Parker; I am [&c.]

Principal officers & Commrs of His Majs Navy
[Endorsed] Lieut. Tonken Rd 23d Augt