You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majesty's Sloop under your Command to the River Delaware, where, by stationing yourself occasionally in the River and cruizing as opportunity shall offer between the Capes or on the Coast, you are to exert your utmost Endeavours to carry into execution the Acts of Parliament restraining the Trade of the Colonies and to prevent the importation of Gunpowder Arms and Ammunition and every kind of illegal Commerce or Communication agreeably to the several Orders you have received.
And whereas almost the whole Continent is in open Rebellion against his Majesty, and the Rebels have fitted out armed Vessels, and are endeavouring to equip a naval force to oppose and annoy the King's Ships; You are hereby required and directed to take, sink, burn and destroy every American armed Vessel you meet with not in the immediate Service of his Majesty, or commissioned by his Majesty's Governors of any of the Provinces under his Hand and Seal for the express purpose of defending themselves against, and to annoy, the Rebels.
You are to seize all Ships and Vessels laden with Provisions, Wheat, Flour, Rice, Rum, Salt, Melasses. Lumber or Grain of any kind, whether'. they are in breach of any Act of Trade or not, sending or bringing them to Boston or Rhode Island which shall be most convenient. And you are also to seize and detain all Vessels laden or in part laden with Hemp, Cordage Canvas, Sails, Cables, Anchors or any other sort of naval Stores coming to America. You are to endeavour to procure Supplies of Provisions from the Contractors at Philadelphia; and, if that cannot be effected, you are, when you have only two months on board, to repair to New York to compleat; and if Supplies cannot be had from thence you are to join me at Boston.
In case you are supplied with provisions at [New] York or Philadelphia, you are to continue on your Station as long as the Season will admit of your cruizing or lying with safety in the River, and then return to Boston. But should you at any time seize a Vessel or Vessels that cannot with prudence be manned from your Sloop, you are at liberty to convoy them to Rhode Island, and having delivered them into the Charge of the Commanding Officer there you are to return again to your Station or otherwise as shall appear to you best for the King's Service or as the Commanding Officer at Rhode Island shall direct.
Given under my Hand on Board his Majs Ship Preston at Boston the 17 Sepr 1775
