[Extract]
Lieut Govr Arbuthnot
Sir

I have received your Dispatches of the 31st December & 31 January, by His Majesty's Ships Lizard & Liverpool, and laid them before the King. His Majesty read with great satisfaction the account you give in the former of these Dispatches of the success with which the very proper & spirited Measures taken by yourself, General Massey & Sir George Collier, for the relief of Fort Cumberland was attended, & expressed his approbation of Major Batt's conduct of the party under his Command upon that Occasion.

I agree with you that it is highly probable the Rebels will renew their attempt upon that Fort in the Spring, if they see any likelihood of succeeding, and, therefore, Col: Gorham, or the commanding Officer, cannot be too watchful or attentive, to prevent any surprize, and to the laying in sufficient Supplies for the Garrison, to enable him to sustain a Siege untill succours can arrive.

The requisition you have made to Sir. George Collier for a number of small Ships of War to be stationed at the several Inlets into the Province will, I doubt not, be complied with by Lord Howe as far as the other important Objects he has to attend to will admit, but I trust the early Operations of His Majesty's Forces will reduce the Rebel power to so low a state that fewer than seven of the King's armed Ships will be found sufficient to protect the Province from any formidable attack, and the Force within it if properly employed cannot fail of giving security against any small Enterprize.