By James Young Esqr Vice Admiral of the Red; and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed, and to be employed, at Barbadoes, and the Leeward Islands, and in the Seas adjacent
PURSUANT to an Order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty you are hereby required and directed to Seize all Ships and Vessels belonging to any of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America, following. Vizt New Hampshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delawar, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, or are owned by the Inhabitants thereof, except only in cases where it shall clearly appear from their papers, or from other Evidence, that they are bound to, or returning from, some Port or Place in Great Britain, Ireland, or His Majesty's Islands in the West Indies; but you are. to observe that this exception is not to extend, or be applied to Such Ships or Vessels as may have Arms or Ammunition onboard; which Ships and Vessels are to be Seized in all Cases whatsoever, unless it shall appear, that the Arms and Ammunition have been Shipped with license, either from His Majesty in Council, from the Master General and Principal Officers of the Ordnance; or under the usual Clearances from the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs: And you are to carry all Ships or Vessels which you shall Seize, in the Cases beforementioned into English Harbour, Antigua; there to be detained till further Orders, or be proceeded against according to Law, as the Nature of the Case shall require.
You are likewise directed, to take onboard the Ship you Command, the Men belonging to Such Ships and Vessels as you shall Seize, from the Causes aforesaid, leaving onboard them, only the Master and Mate, and should the Complement of His Majesty's Ship under your Command be deficient; you are to enter on her books as many of the said Men, as you can prevail with to enlist for that purpose, and to bear the Remainder, if your Complement happens to he Complete to the whole as Supernumeraries, until further Order.
And whereas it may sometimes happen that none of His Majesty's Ships" are remaining at English Harbour, and the Master and Mate onboard such Vessels as are sent in there might then attempt to carry them away in Order therefore to prevent their doing so, you are further directed to unbend the Sails, and unhang the Rudder of all such Vessels, and send the same onshore to the Kings Yard; and you are to Seal up the Hatches, and take the utmost care that there is no Embezzlement of Stores, Tackle, or Rigging &c. from any of them, for which this shall be your Order.
Given under my Hand on board the Portland in English Harbour Antigua, the 21st November 1775
The respective Captains of His Majesty's Ships
Argo Portland Hind Lynx and Pomona. Memo
In addition to the above General Order you are hereby further directed to send on shore to the Magazine at English Harbour, all the Gunpowder and Warlike Stores, which may be found on board such American Vessels, as you shall Seize and carry in there in pursuance of said Orders.
Jams Young
