Sir

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith the private Signals for His Majesty's ships in North America by which they may know each other, and their Lordships understanding from Sir Geo: Collier Commander of His Majesty's Ship Rainbow at Hallifax, that the Alfred a rebel Privateer, upon being chased by His Majesty's Ship Milford had made the said Signal, and that he had therefore settled others and sent a Copy of them to Lord Howe at New York. I send you also a Copy thereof for your Information; and it is their Lordships directions that you keep them secret, and on no Account communicate them to any person whatever except the Commandrs of any of His Majesty's Ships you may fall in with who may not already have received them —

It is also their directions that you give Copies of the above Signals to the Commanding Officers of the Ship Sloop, & Arm'd Vessel named in the Margin ² with directions to them to Observe the like injunctions of Secrecy I am [&c.]