By &c

Whereas we intend that His Majesty's Ship under your command together with the Cygnet Sloop, now on her passage to Cork, 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 be fair after the 20th Instant if the Cygnet shall have joined you, and if not, as soon afterwards as she does, make enquiry for and take under your Convoy all such Trade bound to the West Indies as may be there, and ready to sail, and putting to Sea make the best of your way, consistent with their Security towards the Places of their destination; And having seen to Barbadoes such part of the said Trade as may be bound to that and 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 Cygnet 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 safety 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 Neighbcmhood to his, or their Care and take the Cygnet 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 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 wilfully 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 and 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 seperating from you, and in case any of them do lose Company with you or disobey your orders, You are to transmit ito our Secretary a List of their Names with the Circumstances attending such seperation or disobedience, that the Merchants may have full information thereof.

It being of great consequence to His Majesty's trading Subjects that the Ships which proceed under your Protection should be conveyed safely to the Ports to which they are respectively destined you are to be particularly careful for their Safety, keeping them together by every means in your power, and on no Account to leave them upon pretence of their not sailing fast enough to keep Company, as we expect that in the course of your passage you accommodate your progress to the worst sailing Ship that may be under your care. Given &c the 14th February 1777.

Captn Garnier, Southampton, Cork.
By &c
PS.