My Lord

Vice Admiral [John] Amherst having in his Letter of the 6th Ultimo, informed my Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty that the Crew of the Hannah, an American Merchant Ship, taken by the Experiment, and brought to Plymouth, were in safe Custody as Prisoners; and as the Master of the American Merchant Vessel taken by the Albion, had been ordered to be set on Shore, and the rest of her Crew ordered on board such of His Majesty's Ship's as were short of Complement, desires to receive their Lordships direction respecting the disposal of the Crew of the Hanah, abovementioned; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you, to order the Master to be set on shore, and the remainder of the Crew to be entered as part of the Complement of the Experiment, or any other Ship in want of them; And to do the like by the Crew of all other American Merchant Vessels that may be taken and brought into Plymouth, which are not fitted out as armed Vessels, but employed for the purpose of Trade only; But the Commanders and Crews of American Privateers, or armed Vessels, are . to be sent to a Magestrate to be committed to the Prison appointed for their reception, agreable to the order you have already received on that Head I am &ca