Sir

Your known Zeal for his Majesty's Service encourages me to make known to you the Condition of the King's Squadron under my Command with respect to men, and to hope for such Assistance as you can afford.

Besides the common losses by Sickness and by Desertions which have lately much prevailed, we have been unfortunate in having a great many good men taken prisoners by the Rebels, and some killed and wounded, which has so reduced our Numbers that I am sometimes under the necessity of manning the Sloops and smaller Vessels from the large Ships; but these have generally so many detached on Harbour Duty, that they can ill afford to be further weakened; and although ever since I have had the honor to command on this Station we have endeavoured by pressing to Keep compleat yet the Ships are still many short of Complement.

I should not have troubled you on this Occasion had we the usual Resources of Merchantships to get Men from, but Commerce on this Coast will very soon be in a manner annihilated, The Congress forbidding what the restraining Acts permit; and I am persuaded you are too well acquainted with the Dispositions of these People to doubt their paying implicit obedience to Congressional Directions; so that there is almost a certainty of our losing men, and little or no prospect of replacing them in the ordinary Method. The Kings Authority is entirely at an End throughout the Continent, except in Canada, Nova Scotia and the Floridas; even Georgia has sent Delegates to the Congress and entered deeply into the Rebellion. The Spirit of Revolt begins also to be discovered in Nova Scotia. It is almost certain that something is planning against that Government, but whether by way of Insult and Depredation or of a more serious Nature is not yet known; however I have sent the Somerset to Halifax for its Security, and hope to effectually prevent any Designs the Rebels may have from taking effect against the King's Yard and Stores.

The Rebels have armed Vessels on the Coast, who at present confine their Operations to stoping Supplies coming to us from the Bay of Fundy, and we have Reports of many Pirates of Force being out; but are only certain of those from Mechias, and from Providence near Rhode Island. I believe by this time not a Ship on the Coast can get supplies, or refreshments of any kind, but what are taken by force or Stratagem, At New York excepted where the Asia is allowed what is sufficient for herself. The New England Contracts are broke up, those to the Southward I suppose will soon fail. Already we have received Supplies from England, and our sole reliance for Provisions must be from thence.

Our situation the approaching winter will be truly critical as the Ships will be exposed to the Insults, and, if frozen up, to the Attacks of the most ungenerous and implacable Enemy; but under all these disadvantages if we can but get Men, and they continue healthy, we shall do tolerably well.

I flatter myself that as your situation enables you to get young healthy fellows, you will be so good to send me as many as can be spared, and if you can add a few Marines, when you return to England, it will be doubly serving us, at a time when his Majs Service requires our utmost Exertions.

I do not exactly know who will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter, having directed Captain Le Cras to send it by the first Sloop or Schooner that could be got ready at Halifax, for at Boston I have not a Vessel of any kind to spare, which makes me wish the Kings Service may admit of your ordering one of your Squadron to bring the men to Boston. It is farther necessary to acquaint you that the Lighthouse at Boston, and those on Thatchers Island, commonly called Cape Ann lights, are destroyed; that no lights will be shewn this Winter, and that all Ships coming this way must beware of false Lights, and also have an Eye on the Conduct of any Pilots they follow or may take on board; an Attempt has been already made to mislead one of the Transports coming to Boston.

I beg you to accept my hearty Congratulations on your promotion, and my sincerest Wishes for your Health and safe return to England, which I suppose will begin as customary the beginning of November. I am &c.