My Lord

Being directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty pursuant to the Kings pleasure signified by letter from Lord George Germain, one of His Majesty's principal Secretary's of State, dated the 16th of last August, to inquire into the truth of the Facts there stated, with relation to the Capture of two Transports carried into Boston, as represented in General Howe's Letter of the 7th of the preceding Month; Whereby a Disposition of the Ships of War under your Lordships command transmitted it appears, that His Majesty's Ships the Renown and Milford, and the armed Vessels the Hope and Halifax were then stationed in Boston Bay; And also to inquire into the Reasons which so long operated to prevent the stationing of a small squadron of His Majesty's Ships in the Delaware, as directed by their Lordships Order of the 6th of July 1775; & into the motives which induced the removal of the Roebuck and Liverpool from that River, when at length it had been thought fit to station them there. And being further charged to report to their Lordships for his Majesty's information, the Result of my appointed enquiries in those several respects; I send your Lordship herewith a Copy of the said letter of the 16th of August from the Secretary of State; And am to request you will please to communicate to me, such further lights on those matters in addition to the Copies of your Orders to and Correspondence with the Captains of the Ships before named delivered soon after my Arrival in this port, as you conceive may be conducive to the purpose of the Kings commands signified to their Lordships as in that Letter expressed. I have the Honor [&c.]

To The Rt Honble Lord Shuldham
Vice Admiral of the Blue &ca &ca &ca