No 3
Sir

I am to desire you will please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I have received your two Letters of the 14th November covering Intelligence from Lord George Germaine's Office: P Extracts of Letters his Lordship had received from Mr George Walker, and Lord Macartney.

In respect to the first That the American Rebels were meditating an Expedition against.the Island of Barbadoes &ca I beg to assure their Lordships they may depend I will do every thing in my power to annoy the Enemy and prevent any Descent being made at that, or any other Island within my Command; however, I apprehend if such an Expedition was ever intended, it is laid aside for the present; and from the late success of the King's Forces about New York, I presume to hope the Rebels cannot soon attempt such an Enterprize; besides I flatter myself the Island of Barbado's is so well provided for Defence, as not to suffer such an Insult.

Lord Macartney's representation, that Grenada and the other Islands within his Government are much exposed to Insults from the Rebels Privateers is certainly true, but not more so than the other Ceded Islands of St Vincents; and Dominica; from whose Governors I have received Similar Complaints, however till the late Reinforcement (of three Sloops of War) arrived on the Station; it was not in my power to afford them more protection and defence than I did: since then I have made such farther disposition of the Squadron under my Command; as appeared to me most likely to give all the Islands on the Station the most equal protection.

I presume, Lord Macartney might easily Supply himself with any Number of Gun Carriages He had occasion for, great plenty of good Timber fit for such uses, growing at all the Ceded Islands. All the Islands except Barbado's (where I was only four days; and in that time received three Expresses to return back) have equal Cause to complain of my not Visiting them, however I presume their Lordships will readily perceive; The Kings Service required my presence and continuance at this place; besides, having so few Ships under my Command; I was obliged to make the Portland as much a Cruizing Ship, as any other on the Station, and only kept with me (to prevent accidents of Fire &ca) the Ship whose turn it was to Careen and Refit.

I have likewise received their Lordships Order of the 19th Octr last with Copies of the Danish Edict; and Dutch Proclamation to prevent carrying any Military or Naval Stores from their West India Islands to any of the Rebellious Colonies in America. I beg to inform their Lordships that well knowing such an illicit Traffick was Constantly carried on, both from the Dutch and Danish Islands (notwithstanding the orders and Directions of their Respective Masters to the Contrary; as well as my repeated representations to their Governors to put a Stop thereto) I have always kept and shall still continue to do so: some of His Majesty's Ships; Cruizing off the Islands St Eustatia, St Martins; St Bartholomew; St Croix and St Thomas; where they have taken (and afterwards condemned as Prize) a great Number of Vessels Trading with produce to and from the American Colonies; but they have not hitherto been able to take any with Military Stores: they being carried in small Armed Vessels like to Virginia Pilot Boats, which Sail much too fast to be catched by any of His Majesty's Ships under my Command.

The Papers inclosed marked No 1 to 9, are some intercepted Letters found on board a Retaken Ship called the Marquis of Rockingham from Bristol to Tortola taken by the Sturdy Beggar Rebel Privateer and Retaken by the Perseus ² and on board a Lumber Ship called the Raven (taken by the Portland) by which their Lordships will perceive intimations are given of a Treaty Concluded between the French Court and the American Rebels and also hints of a Design formed between them to seize some of the West India Islands; how far this Intelligence is to be relied on I know not; But thus far I must take leave to assure their Lordships these Seas now Swarm with American Privateers; and several of them Vessels of Considerable force; which it is probable will do a great deal of Mischief unless I am enabled to send out more Cruizers to annoy them. I therefore hope their Lordships will think it necessary and with all possible Expedition Strongly to reinforce the Squadron under my Command and I must also intreat they will be pleased to Augment the Squadron with such Ships as will sail well, or they will otherwise have but little Chance of taking the Rebels Privateers, which in General sail very fast; and are kept clean by Refitting at the French, Dutch, and Danish Islands; I cannot omit mentioning to their Lordships that all the King's Ships at present under my Command sail very indifferently: But the Hind & Shark sail so exceeding bad that they are not of the least use upon the Station as Cruizers: I therefore intend to send them to lie as Guardships at some of the Principal Islands whilst the Crops are Loading, in order to prevent the Privateers cutting out their Trading Ships, which they appear to apprehend, and afterwards Order them to England with the Convoy; It would likewise be necessary that at least One Ship should be appointed to Convoy the Trade from each of the Islands to the place of General Rendezvous, but this Service their Lordships must perceive I cannot effect, the Islands being more in Number than the Ships employed under my Command.

I hope my Lords Commissioners will pardon my further representing to them; that I am firmly of opinion the Kings Service on this very extensive Station, cannot be effectually carried on (in the present State of matters) with less than fifteen sail of Ships and some of them to be Frigates of 28: and 32 Guns. I am Sir [&c.]