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My Lord, I had the honor this day to receive your Lordships Letter desiring to be furnished with the cause of the removal of His Majesty's Ship under my Command and the Liverpool from the River Delaware; In answer thereto I beg leave to lay before your Lordship the following Narrative of my Proceedings concerning that matter.

Having Cruized off that River with the utmost Vigilance until the beginning of May, I received your Lordship's Letter of the 11th April informing me that the force I had required to enable me to put in execution those Orders I had received from Admiral Graves, and renewed by your Lordship the 17th January (Viz:) "To destroy the floating Batteries, and to weigh up or otherwise render useless the Machines sunk in the Channel of the River Delaware to obstruct the Navigation thereof," could not for certain reasons be sent to me, I immediately turned my thoughts to that part of your Lordship's Letter which mentions Sir Peter Parkers request to have the Roebuck with him on his Expedition against Charles Town South Carolina together with Your Lordship's desire that "if I could leave a sufficient Force to prevent the Operations of the Enemy in the Delaware that I would comply with his request," I took the resolution to join Sir Peter Parker and to leave the Liverpool (and Glasgow which I hourly expected to arrive) to Cruize in Delaware Bay to obstruct the Trade, which from intercepted Letters I had reason to think would be laid aside by the Rebels during the summer Months: But as at this time I was short of Water, I thought it necessary to run up the River for the purpose of compleating it, which would also give me an opportunity of reconnotring the Enemy's force, so as to be useful when any attack should be planned against it. Accordingly on the 5th of May, I took the Liverpool with me, sailed up the River as far as Wilmington where I was attacked in a shallow part of the River by thirteen Row Galleys attended by several FireShips and Launches, which in two long Engagements I beat off, and did my utmost to destroy, a particular Account of which (is given in my Journal to the Commander in Chief) and after having fully executed what I had in view, I returned to the Capes the 15th, when I gave Captain Bellew Orders to remain Cruizing (a Copy of which is here enclosed) and stood to the Southward. The same Evening I fell in with a Vessel dispatched to me by His Excellency the Earl of Dunrriore Governor of Virginia by which I received a Letter from His Lordship to acquaint me of having received certain Intelligence that the Rebels intended attacking the Lmes near Norfolk; that they were bringing cannon down and preparing fire rafts to destroy his Fleet, and assembling in large bodies in his Neighbourhood: Therefore earnestly entreated me to return to his Assistance and relief. The saving His Lordship and so valuable a Fleet which consisted upwards of ninety sail of Vessels, many of them with Rich Cargoes onboard, out of the hands of the Rebels appeared to me an immediate object of so much consequence, that I sent my Tender to acquaint Sir Peter with my intentions, and altered my Course for Virginia, flattering myself however that his Lordships apprehensions might be premature.

I arrived the next day off Norfolk when I found my Lord Dunmore's expectations of an Attack not the least abated. Every Circumstance therefore was con

sidered, both as to situation and strength to oppose the Enemy's attack, when it was thought most adviseable to move the Fleet immediately for had we waited until the Enemy had planted Cannon at certain places on the River side (which is not half a mile over) it would scarce have been possible to have got the Vessels down the River and they must inevitably have fallen into the Enemy's hands.

Gwins Island at the Mouth of the Pianketank River being pointed out as a spot containing many advantages, and to be easily def ended against the Rebels was fixed upon as the most proper place to repair to, where with more trouble and difficulty than ever I before experienced I deposited the whole Fleet on the 27th May, and should then have taken my leave of His Lordship, but from the small Pox having broke out in his little Army, together with a bad fever, he was so much reduced in his numbers, that I was obliged to assist with my Ships Company in throwing up some works on the Island for their defence, which I the more readily consented to as I received a Letter from Captain Hudson of the Orpheus, acquainting me that he had joined the Liverpool and had also the Kingsfisher with him off the Delaware, after that time so many new things occured, and the Rebels were so very industrious in raising an Armament against us, that I found it impossible with any degree of propriety to leave his Lordship until the Vessels with him could be fitted so as to proceed to a place of safety, which I used all possible diligence to do, but so many impediments happened in this new scene of a Floating Town, that I was not able to effect it until the beginning of August, having been obliged to go a hundred and twenty Miles up the River Patowmack to get Fresh Water for their Sea Store; when after having set the Otter as Convoy to about Forty Sail to St Augustine, The Fowey to see Governor Eden Twenty Leagues off the land, with Ten Sail bound for England; I left the Capes with his Lordship and the remainder, and arrived here the 13th of August; having directed Captain Montagu to take the Otter under his Command at her return from the Southward, and to continue Cruizing there 'till further Orders. I have the honor to be [&c.]