Sir

I think it a Duty incumbent on me to represent to their Lordships that an empty Transport called the Tartar, whereof one Bussel is Master, was brought into this Port about five Weeks ago, by a part of the Crew, after She had been taken by a Rebel Privateer, in her way to Cork, from New York.

The Cowardice, & other very bad Behavior of the Master, appeard to every body in such a Light, as to induce me to write to the Attorney General of this Province upon it; who examind the Crew upon Oath; His Opinion resulting from the Examination, I have the Honor to enclose herewith, in the Copy of his Letter to me: (No 1)

The State of this Affair is likewise enclosd in No 2 for their Lordships to determine whether, or not, this Man is deserving to be entrusted again on the Account of Government: His Ship (which it seems is his own Property,) sails from hence for Cork, with the Convoy this goes by, for another Cargo of Provisions for the Army; agreeable to verbal Orders the Master says He receivd from one of the Agents at New York.

I have the Honor of sending this Letter to the Board, by the Transport, Two Brothers, which Lord Howe orderd round here some little Time ago, for an Hospital Ship; with Permission to me to dismiss Her when She was no longer wanted: I have therefore (as the Hospital for Seamen is established upon Governors Island) directed the Master to proceed with Her to Spithead or the Downs immediately & remain there till their Lordships Pleasure is Signifyd to Him.

As I imagine Commissioner Arbuthnot (who as Lieut Governor is better acquainted with Facts) will give their Lordships an Account by this Opportunity of the imbecile Attempt of an inconsiderable Number of New England Banditti, against His Majs Garrison of Fort Cumberland at the extremity of this Province, I shall only acquaint their Lordships that I sent H M Ss Vulture & the Hope & Diligent armd Brigs up the Bay of Fundy, with Orders to co-operate with Colonel Goreham in every Measure for his Majesty's Service; & for the further Defence of the Fort, the Lizard saild from hence shortly after, with all the Rainbows Marines, which together with her own Detachment, She has since landed at Fort Cumberland, on the Requisition of the Commandant, Colonel Goreham.

But as Major Batt in a Sally from the Fort struck such a Panic into the Rebels, that they fled with the greatest Precipitation, (& have thereby left this Province without further Apprehensions of being invaded again, for the Winter,) I have requested General Massey to send an Order to Fort Cumberland for the return of the two Detachments of Marines, which He has complyd with; & as the Harbor of Cumberland is now frozen up, they are to return to this Place by Land.

I am sorry to inform their Lordships that the Union Transport with a considerable Sum of Money on board, & Cloathing for the Troops at Quebec, has not been able to make her Passage, & is gone to New York; the Nottingham India-Man loaden with Provisions likewise for Quebec, is now here, the inclemency of the Weather forcing Her to bear away for this Port; & the Mellish Transport with Cloathing for the Army in Canada, is taken by a Rebel Privateer calld the Alfred & carried into New England; I think it my Duty on this occasion to mention to their Lordships, that very lately when the Millford chacd this Alfred, She made the private Signal to the Milford, which the Admiralty has been pleasd to give to each of His Majestys Ships who were bound to America; the Rebels being in Possession of those Signals, I have given the enclosd ones to each of the Kings Ships upon this Station, a Copy of which, I take the Liberty to send herewith; (No 3) as I likewise have, to Lord Howe at New York.

Capt [John Lewis] Gidoin in the Richmond not being able to get up the River St Lawrence, came in here, about a Month ago; I have received on board the Ship I command, the Treasure (amounting to Eleven Thousand Pounds) which He had for Canada & shall take the earliest Opportunity of sending a Man of War up with it to Quebec (& likewise to convoy the Nottingham to the same Place,) as soon as the Season of the Year will possibly admit of their making the Passage. I am Sir [&c.]

I beg leave to add that the enclosd Intelligence in the Paper markd No 4 I believe authentic, & to be depended upon

[On separate sheet] Paper No 3 mentioned in the inclosed of Sr Geo: Collier of 8th Janry 1777 did not come out of Bd Room wth the others — C : W: