Sir

His Majesty's Ship Cerberus arrived the 26th of last month, and Captain [John] Symonds delivered to me the following Orders and Letters: Vizt Their Lordship's Order July 24, 1775, to stop all Ships bound to and from America, and search them for Letters, mentioning two Ships lately sailed from the Downs suspected to carry Letters from Persons in England, who secretly hold a traiterous Correspondence with the Rebels; Their Lordships Order August 2d to take the Cerberus under my command; Your Letter June 25 Duplicate, acknowledging the Receipt of my Letters by Mr Nicholls and Captain Chads; your Letter August 2d with an Extract of a Letter from his Majesty's Envoy at Lisbon and a Copy of a Letter from Mr Strickland at Gibraltar; your Letter August 3d answering in detail such of mine as required it, and inclosing a Scheme of the Naval force intended to be employed on the Coast of North America; And your three Letters August 5th that Lieut. Col. Collins is appointed to command the Marines at Boston; to cause six second Lieutenants of Marines to be landed from the Cerberus and follow Major [John] Tuppers Orders; and inclosing their Lordships Order above mentioned relative to stopping and searching all Ships coming to or going from America.

The Nautilus sailed the 20th of last month for the Delaware, where I hope Captain [John] Collins will fall in with the Mary and Elizabeth, and Pensilvania Pacquet; and it being a Rule to open and read all Letters, I am sure if the above Vessels are met Captain Collins will narrowly examine the Letters on board them, and bring those to me that contain any matter tending to aid or abet the Rebels, or that give material information of their proceedings.²

I am perfectly satisfied with their Lordship's determination about compensating the Commander and Crew of the late Diana for their losses.

The flat bottommed Boats will be of infinite Service; and their Lordships attention in ordering out Coals for the use of the Squadron has relieved me from great anxiety on that head.

The intended reinforcement to the Squadron will I hope enable me to perform every thing that can be expected from the Fleet. It has been entirely out of my power to send a Ship to South Carolina; the various pressing Services to the Northward have given full employment to every Vessel I had, and knowing the Tamer's bad Condition I ordered her to Boston, not doubting that I should soon be able to send a Ship in her room. I will endeavour to have Orders ready for Captain [Christopher] Atkins by the Time he arrives at Charles Town.

The Boyne and Asia shall go home upon the arrival of any two of the 50 and 44 Gun Ships: I have already mentioned the Somerset being intended to remain this Winter at Halifax. The province of Nova Scotia contains many disaffected people, Natives and New Englanders; I have reason to apprehend an attempt to destroy his Majesty's Yard and Stores in which the Rebels from the Eastern part of Newhampshire would be sure of assistance, not only from the Town and Country people, but even from the Artificers of the Yard, who I am told are mostly of this province. It is indeed a very serious consideration that those employed in the King's Yard are so intimately connected with Rebels that barely by not working they might throw us into many difficulties; I dare not suggest what such a Set of Fanatics are further capable of. When Commissioner Arbuthnot arrives, and I can send him a proper force for the security of the naval Yard and Stores, the Somerset shall return to England, and I hope their Lordships will approve of this Resolution.

My Letters August 17 and 22 of last month contain every thing I can say about the quantity of provisions I now have, and my dependance for future supplies. With respect to Stores I will carefully observe their Lordships directions to send in my future Letters the Quantities and Species that may be necessary for the Squadron.

The necessity being urgent for having the Fowey repaired and new sheathed, I was exceeding glad of the Cerberus to take her place in Charles Town River, that she might go to Halifax; And General Gage having upon my application, in consequence of their Lordships Orders, embarked some Soldiers on board a Transport to be carried to Halifax for the Security of his Majestys Naval Yard, Captain Montagu takes the Transport under his Convoy; They are already at Nantasket and will sail the moment the Wind is fair.

The Adventure Store Ship arrived at Halifax the 27th of August, and the next day Captain Le Cras began to unload her, which was done by the 6th of next month; It took four days more to put on board again the Stores ordered to be brought here: The Lieut: of the Store Ship having charge of the whole to be delivered to the S[t]orekeeper at Halifax unavoidably occasioned some delay; Captain Le Cras was obliged to lend Mr Hallum seventeen men, and with that help he at length arrived at Boston the 29th of Sepr and I had then the Honor to receive their Lordships Order May 29 to take the Adventure under my Command, their Lordships Order May 22 to send a Reinforcement of Ships and Vessels to Rear Admiral [Robert] Duff upon his application; and your Letter May 30 containing the establishment of the said Storeship.

Their Lordships having been pleased to express their approbation of my proceedings demands my most respectful Acknowledgements. On every occasion I shall zealously endeavour to do what appears best for the Kings Service, and always yield a ready and punctual obedience to their Lordships Commands. I am &c