Copy)
Sir

I have the Honour to acquaint You that agreeable to Your Orders I proceeded with the Transports under my Command to the Island of Montserrat, where the Fleet arrived on the 22d Instant [sic] ー light and Contrary Winds, together with inattention (or the very bad Sailing of the Diamond and two of the Briggs) prevented our doing it sooner ー the Hessians I found on my arrival had quitted Montserrat on the 12th of this [sic] Month and that on the same Evening they were cast on Shore at the NE point of Nevis: ー I made the signal to Weigh and arrived in Nevis Road on the Morning following, it was my earnest wish to have Embarked the Troops the same day: but a Variety of delays prevented its being compleated 'till late in the Day following. not finding it possible from the very great Surf and the scarcity of Water to complete the Ships at Nevis: I proceeded to old Road St Christophers;where I found great Difficulty in providing Casks, for those Ships which had-received the Troops: however that difficulty as well as the want of Beds is surmounted, but not without my giving Written Orders to the several Ships to supply those Articles ー I found some of them had more than they had occasion for.

Ensign McDonnells Party being received on Board the Albion agreeable to Your Order at Antigua rendered it impossible that she cou'd taken in any of the Hessians ー The Rachel and Prince William: as you will perceive by the return which I have the Honor to inclose ² were the Ships best Calculated to receive the Troops: for two Reasons: the one the accomodation they could afford, the other its being a means of strengthening very much those Ships, which are in good Order and Commanded by Men, who I much beleive are to be depended upon. ー The Hungerford has received her proportion agreeable to Your Order.

I found in Nevis Road a Brigg called the Royal Scepter, she is Chartered by Government and Laden with Coals. he sailed from Cork on the 24th November last, and says that by Leakes, bad Weather and some other Causes he was constrained to bear up ー I gave him an Order to put himself under my Command and.he now makes part of the Fleet.

The Hungerfords Fore Rigging, proved on our arrival here to be so bad, that they were under the necessity of getting new Shrouds over Head, this caused a delay which has given me some Anxiety; but this Afternoon I am determined to proceed to sea.

It is with Concern that I make mention to You of my real opinion of the Generallity of the Ships. they are ill found and the Albion, Rachel, Prince William and one or two others (excepted) are managed with very little attention: and I much fear, want that degree of Zeal necessary for them to surmount Difficulty's ー however Sir you may depend upon my utmost endeavours and I entertain very Sanguine Hopes of reaching New York with the Fleet.

I found at Nevis ー Mr Harvey a Midshipman belonging to His Majesty's Ship Hope in America who had been taken by the Boston Privateer some Weeks since ー he then Commanded a Prize belonging to the Hope in which he was blown off the Coast ー he applied to me for a Passage to New York, and as the Diamond is a Ship of which I had some Reason to entertain a Doubt I therefore placed him in her as a Passenger only with private Instructions to be attentive to the Conduct of the Master of that Ship

Three Vessels whose Names you will perceive in the return mean to continue with the Transports some distance to the Northward I shall most assuredly shew them every possible attention.

I trust and hope that my Conduct will meet with your approbation ー I have the Honor to be with respect, Sir [&c.]

P. S. 7 oClock in the Evening Saturday the 1st of March; notwithstanding my utmost endeavours to remove every possibility of an excuse, Yet the Hungerford is in such a Condition that she cannot proceed to sea ー her Guns are not Clear, her hold is not Stow'd nor is her Rigging set up ー these omissions I firmly beleive to have been in some degree intentional ー I will be on board her to Morrow and see her prepared - when we certainly will sail. ー