Sir

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that His Majestys Ship Pallas was to have Sail'd the 26th of last Month with near a hundred Sail of the Trade had not an intend'd general Insurrection of the Negroes been discovered, which oblig'd the Governor with the advice of his Council to lay a general Embargo on the Shipping, to establish Martial Law, & to request me, to keep the Ships under my Command in Port for the safety & protection of the Island which I comply'd with.

On the 3d instant he inform'd me that as the Season of the Year was so far advanc'd; it might be attend'd with great loss to the Trade detaining them any longer should a Hurricane happen; and that as the Measures which had been taken prov'd so effectual in suppressing this Rebellion (which I apprehend was to have been General throughout the Island) he had with the advice of his Council taken off the Embargo, but stil thought it necessary to continue Martial Law for some time longer, and requesting that the Atalanta & Racehorse; might not be recall'd from the North Side of the Island, where I had instantly dispatch'd them on the first account of this Rebellion and given their Commanders directions to give every Assistance in their Power to quell the same.

I have therefore order'd, Captain [William] Cornwallis to Sail the 6th inst for Bluefields, to remain their Forty eight Hours to give the Trade time to compleat their Water after being detain'd so long and then to proceed with them into the English Channel agreeable to my former orders. I have order'd the Maidstone to go with him but have desir'd that as soon as ever he judges the Convoy to be in Safety to make her Signal to seperate and have order'd Captain [Alan] Gardner to return with all possible dispatch & join me here as the Governor & Council have request'd me to keep the Ships in Port as much as possible for the safety and protection of the Island, as they are still apprehensive of the Negroes taking the Advantage of their absence to rise.

As the West Florida Sloop is ready to Sail, and I judge it of great concequence her getting on her Station in the Lakes of the Mississippi I have order'd Captain Cornwallis to take her under his Command as she might be of Service in going through the Gulph with the Convoy and then to make her Signal to Seperate to go to Pensacola, all which I hope will meet with their Lordships approbation.

I beg leave to acquaint them that His Majestys Ship Antelope arriv'd the 27th of last Month after having seen the Trade in Safety, she brought in two American Sloops; one with Rice the other with Lumber which is a great acquisition to the Island those Articles being much want'd.²

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that I have given Mr Thomas Lloyd a Commission appointing him Master & Commander of the Atalanta (in the room of Captain Underwood Deceased) and have order'd him to be Borne as a Supernumerary on board the Antelope 'til her arrival I have likewise given Mr Thomas Cadogan the Second Lieutt a Commission for First and have appoint'd Mr Chas Holmes Everitt, Second, and Mr James Cotes to be Lieutenant of the Porcupine Schooner, and Inclosed is a list of Officers Made, with the state & Condition of His Majestys Ships & Vessels under my Command for their Lordships information.

In the latter part of my Letter of the 2d July, I inform'd their Lordships of my having purchas'd a fine Brigg of near 130 Tons Burthen, & that she & the Racehorse were capable of bearing Masters & Commanders, with proper Officers & Eighty Men, submitting it to their Consideration puting them on that Establishment, which I beg leave to say I think would be great use; as the Americans have a Number of Arm'd Vessels superior to those, with their present Complements. I am, with respect Sir [&c.]