Whereas we intend that the ship you command together with His Majestys Sloop Porpoise which may be hourly expected to join you shall proceed forthwith into the River St Lawrence with such Storeships Victuallers & Trade as are assembled at Spithead or shall arrive there before you Sail; You are hereby required and directed to take the said Sloop under your command (Lt [Thomas] Hayne who commands her being directed to obey your Orders) and then making enquiry for & taking under your Convoy all such Storeships Victuallers & Trade as may be ready & where Masters may be Desirous of accompanying You put to Sea with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather & make the best of your way consistent with their security with them into the River St Lawrence & having seen them as far as the Isle of Bic you are to direct Lt Hayne to proceed on to Quebec with the Ships & Vessels going thither, and upon his arrival there to deliver the inclosed Pacquet to the Senior Officer for the time being of His. Majs Ships & Vessels in the abovementioned River & follow his Orders for his further proceedings and you are to make the best of your way in the Ship you command to New York (calling however at some convenient Port in your way to recruit your Wood & Water if you find it necessary) where you are to deliver to Vice Adml Ld Visct Howe the Pacquet you will also receive herewith addressed to him, and putting yourself under his Lordships command follow his Orders for your further proceedings

In case the Silver Eel Transport laden with Cloathing & Stores for the Army in Canada arrives at Spithead (to which place she is ordered from the River Thames) before you sail, you are to take her under your Convoy and to be particularly attentive to her during the Voyage; but if she does not arrive at Spith.ead before you are in other respects ready to proceed you are not to delay your departure upon her account.

And Whereas we have ordered Vice Adml Sr Jas Douglas to cause Forty of the Supernumerary Seamen & Landmen who have been raised for His Majestys Fleet to be put on boanl the Ship you command in order to their being carried to Quebec to be disposed of as the abovementioned Senior Officer shall direct, You are hereby further required and directed to receive the said Supernumeraries on board and to carry them into the River St Lawrence so soon as they shall have been paid two Months Wages advance & also the Bounties to which they may be respectively entitled, for which we have this Day sent orders to the Navy Board; And when you get to the Isle of Bic You are to put them on board the Porpoise or if she cannot conveniently carry the whole to put such as shall remain on board any of the Merchant Ships bound to Quebec to be disposed of on their arrival at that place as the Senior Officer abovementioned shall direct.

You are to bear the said Supernumeraries on a separate List for Wages from the time of their coming into the Service respectively until you shall dispose of them as abovementioned, and for Victuals during their continuance on board; taking care to deliver to them Pay Lists to enable them to receive their Wages accordingly.

You are to be very attentive to the Ships & Vessels which proceed under your Convoy: keeping them together by every means in your power; & on no account leaving them upon pretence of their not sailing fast enough to keep Company with you as we expect that in the course of your Voyage you accomodate your progress to that of the worst sailing Ships amongst them.

You are at the same time to take all possible care to prevent the said Ships & Vessels from seperating from you & to give their Masters respectively such Orders & directions as you judge most conducive to that purpose: And in case (notwithstanding these precautions) any of them shall part Company with you or disobey your Orders you are to transmit to our Secretary a List of their Names with the Circumstances attending such seperation or disobedience that such measures may be taken thereupon as shall be judged necessary. Given &c 9th April 1777

By &c PS