Sir

My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. having transmitted to the Earl of Suffolk the Case of Nine American Prisoners brought to Portsmo by Captain [Stair] Douglas of His Majesty's Ship Squirrel (which case came inclosed in your Letter of the 30th past) and desired to receive His Majesty's Pleasure respecting the said Prisoners, and his Lordship, having, in return signified the Kings Pleasure, that the said Prisoners be detained in safe Custody, as was directed with regard to the Men brought home in the Pallas, excepting only in this instance Peter Burk, the Negro, who, it is His Majesty's Pleasure, shall be set at liberty; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to cause Peter Burk, the Negro to be set at liberty and the other Eight Prisoners beforementioned to be removed into the Barfleur, and there kept in safe custody until further Orders accordingly, as was directed by my Letter of the 3d of December last with respect to the Prisoners brought to Portsmouth in the Pallas. I am &c