By &c

Whereas we intend that His Majesty's Ship under your command together with the Sylph Sloop now on her passage to Spithead shall convoy the Trade bound from thence to the West India Islands; You are hereby required and directed to take the said Sloop under your command (her Commander being directed to obey your Orders) and so soon as the Wind shall have been fair to bring the Trade from the Downes for the Space of 48 Hours after the 5th instant, if the Sylph shall have joined you, if not, as soon afterwards as she does, make enquiry for, and take under your Convoy all Ships and Vessels bound to the Leeward Islands and Jamaica, and make the best of your way with them to the Island of Barbadoes, and having seen the Trade bound to that, & the neighbouring Islands, safe into Carlisle Bay, you are, in case you should not find Vice Admiral Young, or any part of his Squadron there, to leave the Sylph Sloop in that Bay, with Orders to her Captain to take under Convoy such Ships as are bound to the neighbouring Islands, and having seen them in safely thither, to make the best of his way to join Vice Admiral Young wherever he may learn he is; But in case you find Vice Admiral Young, or any of His Squadron in Carlisle Bay, you are to leave the Trade bound to the Islands in that neighbourhood, to his, or their care, and take the Sylph with you as far as Antigua, leaving her there, under Orders to join Vice Admiral Young as above directed.

You are then to proceed to the Island of St Christopher's, where you are to leave the Trade bound to that Island, and then proceed with the remainder of your convoy to Port Royal, in the Island of Jamaica, where on your arrival, you are to put yourself under the command of Vice Admiral Gayton, and follow his Orders for your further proceedings.

And Whereas the West India Merchants of London did at a general Meeting on the 1st of October last/ Resolve that they would discourage the further employment of any Persons, who having the Conduct of Vessels shall seperate from their respective Convoys, or otherwise willfully disobey the Orders received from the Commanders thereof, We send you herewith a Copy of the said Resolution and require and direct you to take all possible Care on your part, not to seperate from the Ships & Vessels which shall put themselves under your Convoy, and to give such Orders and Instructions to their Masters, as you conceive may be most likely to prevent their seperation from you; And in case any of them do loose Company with you, or disobey your Orders, you are to transmit to our Secretary a List of their Names, with the Circumstances attending such sepera:tion, or disobedience, that the Merchants may have full Information thereof. Given &c the 4th February 1777.

Capt Atkins, Aeolus, Spithead
By &c  PS.