Sir,

Early in January I received your Letter of the 15th of last November, referring to a Copy of your Orders from Captain [Charles] Douglas of the 3d of the same Month; To an Account of the State of the Ships appointed to remain the succeeding Winter under your direction in the St Lawrence; And to an Estimate of the Number of Seamen required to be furnished as therein stated, for serving on the Lakes at the opening of the ensuing Campaign: Which several papers, were, with your said Letter, enclosed.

That the first opportunity may be taken for the Conveyance of the Infantry and Stores that were prevented by bad Weather from entering the St Lawrence at the Close of the Season last Year, Captain Ommanney sails immediately with the Transports in which they are to embark, from this Port. Touching at Halifax to be joined by those which have been there assembled for the same destination, He will proceed to conduct them up the St Lawrence without delay. But as it is probable that some Operations upon a Plan already concerted, will have been commenced prior to the Arrival of the Tartar at Quebec, I have thought fit, that you should continue in the direction of the Maritime Service connected therewith, until further Order. Captain Ommanney will therefore return to be employed according to [his] destination; unless from some unforseen necessity it may be deemed requisite for the Tartar upon application from the General Sir Guy Carleton, to remain any longer time in the St Lawrence than is at present intended.

The Services being eventual, no addition is made to your last Orders from Captain Douglas for rendering every suitable Assistance to advance the progress of the Army wherein your aid and concurrence may be desired. More especially as the general Line of Conduct with respect to your communications with Sir Guy Carleton, has been pointed out for your guidance in the Extract of my Instructions of the 13th of last Ju[ne] which Captain Douglas was directed to leave with his Successor in the Command, when he should quit the Station.

But as in my last Advices from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, it is signified that a number of Supernumerary Seamen sufficient to supply the place of the Men spared from the Ships of War, will be sent out by their Lordships orders early in the Spring; In view to the Employment of the dismantled Frigates at Quebec, on such Cruizing Service as the general purpose of the American Armament may require, and the actual State of the Ships when the Navigation is open, will permit; Your attention will be given to these objects also. Wherefore if, under the several Circumstances beforementioned, You see expedient to proceed yourself, or to appoint (as may be more eligible) either of the other Frigates, or their Commanders temporarily placed in the Garland, for such occasion; You are at liberty to issue the necessary Orders, and otherwise to act therein at your discretion.

For preparing the Frigates with that intent, you are moreover permitted to nominate such qualified persons as you can procure, to the Vacant Posts of Commissioned and inferior Officers in the different Ships, during the absence of those in each Class who have been detached for Service on the Lakes: Taking care to furnish me with proper Lists of the double Appointments so constituted, that the intentions of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for the payment of Wages to those Officers proportioned to the time of their Service in those several Capacities, may be duly complied with.

The Choice of Stations for the Ships which can be employed at Sea, will be best made during the earlier part of the Summer, towards the Southern Entrance of the Gulph of St Lawrence; From Cape Breton to the French Islands of St Peters and Miquelon and West part of the Great Newfoundland Bank gener[ally.] As the State of.the Weather or information of any Armed Vessels fitted by the Kings rebellious Subjects for intercepting the Commerce with the Provinces of Quebec, may induce. The Ships so stationed, will be furnished at the Port of Halifax, with the necessary Supplies of Stores and Provisions they shall need. They may occasionally inspect the State of the Sedentary Fisheries on the Western Side of the Gulph, and the Settlements at the Island of St Johns for the purposes more fully stated in my Instructions to Captain Douglas beforementioned.

Towards the Close of the Season whilst the Navigation of the River is yet practicable, it will be incumbent to provide a safe Convoy for the Trade of the Province Homeward bound. It cannot escape your notice that the Frigate reserved for such occasion, should be of a description the least proper from her present Condition to be employed for Winter Service on these Northern Coasts: Whereby a convenient opportunity will be afforded for the complete Repair and Refitting of the Ship so circumstanced, in Europe.

But if from the nature of the Operations in which your Assistance is required by the General as aforesaid, You find it inexpedient to Order One or more of the Ships of War on such Cruizing Service early in the Summer; It is then my desire, for reducing the very considerable Expence created by the detention of the Transports from which the Seamen are to be drafted conformable to the Generals Estimate, That a suitable distribution of the number of Men to be sent from England for the Frigates in place of those ordered upon the Lakes inay be made amongst the detained Transports; And so many thereof as the General deems it not absolutely improper to release, be sent immediately back to England. The Transports are to be ordered for Deptford. And You will please to inform the Secretary of the Admiralty by the same conveyance, of the several steps which shall have been in that case taken thereon.

You are to cause the Seamen of the Frigates employed upon the Lakes, to be received as they arrive from that Service, and borne on board the Garland or other Frigates in the manner directed by Captain Douglas when he left the Station, with regard to those belonging to the Blonde and Isis. The Seamen of the Transports which Sailed for England before their return from the Lakes, are in general to be received; and such of them as are disinclined [to] enter for the Service on Wages, to be borne in the Frigates on a Supernumerary List for Provisions only, until they can be sent to England. Or, if brought in the Frigates which repair to th[is] Part of the Coast when the Term of their necessary stay in the St Lawrence is expired, they will be equally permitted to return to England, if they desire it. I am therefore to request that you will assure them of my intention therein; and direct a List of their Names or other sufficient Testimony of their late Services to be sent with them, that I may be duly apprised concerning the particular Persons having claim to the promised Indulge[nce.]

Captain Douglas having directed You in his Orders of the 3d of last November, to send t[he] information you have occasion to communicate to me respecting your proceedings, to Halifax, pursuant to the Tenor of my General Letter of the 13th of last June calculated upon the appearances that existed at that time: It is necessary I should now acquaint You; that your future dispatches are to be addressed to me at this Port. I am Sir [&c.]

(A Copy.) Howe
Capt: Pearson, or Senior Officer for the time being St Laurence

[Endorsed] In Lord Howe's Letter No 28