Admiralty Office, 19th Novr 1776
My Lord
Vice Admiral Sir James Douglas Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships at Portsmouth, having in his Letter of the 17 Instant acquainted Us of the arrival at that Port of His Majesty's Ship the Pallas having onboard the Lieutenant and Twelve Prisoners belonging to an American Armed Vessel called the Independance, which had taken the Ann Merchant Ship from Dominico, which Merc:hant Ship was afterwards re-taken by the Pallas with these Men onboard; We signify the same to your Lordship for His Majesty's Information, and are to desire your Lordship will receive and signify to Us His Majesty's Pleasure how these Prisoners are to be disposed of 2 We are My Lord [&c.]
Sandwich J Buller. H Penton
P.S. We have just received from Captn Cornwallis the enclosed Commission [&] Instructions given to the Person [ca]lling himself Lieut of the above Armed Vessel.3
1. PRO, State Papers, 42/49, 88a.
2. Suffolk replied on December 2: "said Prisoners be kept in safe Custody 'till further Orders," PRO, State Papers, 42/49, 89.
3. Commission of Thomas Truxtun, dated at White Plains, New York, July 16, 1776, and endorsed by Truxtun: "the above is a true coppy of my commission Given by the Honourable Continental Congress," PRO, State Papers, 42/49, 88b.
