You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majestys Schooner under your Command to St Augustine in East Florida, and on your Arrival acquaint his Excellency Governor [Patrick] Tonyn that you are come to co-operate with him on the Kings Service, to assist his Majestys Land Forces to secure and defend that Garrison against the Rebels, to protect Trade carried on according to Act of Parliament, to suppress illegal Commerce, and to put into Execution the Acts of Parliament restraining the Trade of the Colonies: All which you are hereby strictly required to do, to the utmost of your power on every occasion. And whereas the Rebels in several parts of the Continent are fitting out armed Vessels to be employed against his Majesty, You are hereby required and directed to do your utmost to take seize, burn, sink and destroy all and every pyrate and Rebel where ever you meet them. And you are to do your utmost to seize and keep safe any of the Delegates from the Provinces to the Congress at Philadelphia, or Rebel General Officers, that you may meet with: giving me from time to time a particular Account of all your Proceedings as opportunity shall offer. And whereas there is a Contract at St Augustine for supplying his Majesty's Ships with Provisions, you are to take Care to compleat once a month at least, that upon any emergency you may not be caught unprovided. You are to be careful in the Expenditure of all your Stores, and cause the utmost frugality to be observed.

Given under my Hand on board his Majs Ship Preston at Boston the 15 September 1775