Your Lordship is hereby required and directed to put to Sea in the Ship you command, with the very first opportunity of Wind and Weather, and proceed off Cape Ortegal, and very diligently cruize from thence to Cape Finisterre for the protection of the Trade of His Majesty's Subjects, and to intercept, seize, or destroy any Cruizers or other Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of No America, which you may be able to come up with. 

Your Lordship is to continue upori the above Station for the space of one month, after you arrive upon it, and then to return to Spithead, and remain there until further Order. Given &c the 2d January 1777.

Rt Honble Lord Mulgrave ² ー Ardent ー Spithead.

By &c
P S.