Sir

In a Letter from Sierre Leona Dated 30th January 1776 I beg you to acquaint their Lordships that I had Taken the St Johns Sloop into the Service to enable me to execute that part of my orders relative to seizing American Vessels belonging to particular provinces & prevent their carrying Arms & Amunition to the rebels, I had reciev'd information of some that were hiding up the rivers, one of which, a Schooner the St John, seized, and I carried her to Jamaica. The Difficulty of corresponding and the length of time it takes to recieve an Answer from England upon the Coast made it impossible for me to recieve Authourity from the Admiralty, as I do not doubt their Lordships would have thought it upon my representation a Necessary Measure.

The Present rebellion and the information their Lordships had recieved of the rebels-being supplyed with Powder and Arms from Africa makes it a very particular case and there hath I believe always been a Vessel Stationed in time of War upon the Weather part of the Coast of Africa How far this Vessell hath succeeded doth not lay with me, she seized one Vessel which could not have done without her; and I did not think I could very well Answer leaving the Coast with American Vessels upon it after recieving their Lordships Orders to seize them.

I understand the Officer I put in to Command the St John is Arrived in England, I have taken the Liberty of sending to you for their Lordships inspection the scheeme of the Complement of Men she was to bare, also the report of the Survey and the Value of the Officers who were upon the Survey s~t upon her in case any Accident should happen the Vessel belongs to the proprietors of Bents Island and the persons who are there on the part of the proprietors did not chuse to make any agreement for the Hire or to Value her.

I conclude all Vessels in Government Service are paid according to their Tonnage. What I did was entfrely for the Good of the Service and I hope will meet with their Lordships Approbation. I could recieve no Share in any thing she might take nor was I any way Interested taking her into the Service I am [&c.]