The Cutter Sloop was built at Folkstone bought at Dover from Factor, and paid for by Hynson. She will have a French Captain and Crew on board and will clear out for some French Foreign port Capt Hynson will pretend being a passenger, and will answer to his name. He is a lusty and a black looking Man.
She will sail the first fair wind from Havre after the tenth of this Month in an Evening so as to make Cape Barfleur in a Morning carrying French Colours.
One Ship must be off Cape Barfleur, and another off Alderny, & if it is in nature these Ships should miss such a Cutter Sloop, you had better have Sixty Ships out, than loose her, besides the distance from Portsmouth is so short that there can be no difficulty in having the means at hand to Catch her. Your Ships should be upon their stations the 9th because after the 10th the first wind that she can Sail with, Hynson will most assuredly putt to Sea.
Hynson must not be much marked by respect, but confined, and putt in confinement when on shore till Somebody fetches him to London, He begs I may come to him.
Havre 3d March 1777
N.B.: She shall have fifty or sixty barrels of gunpowder on board
