Sir

I acquainted you in my last that on the 27th of January, afew days previous to the departure of Admiral Graves, who Sailed the 2d instant, I took upon me the Command of His Majesty's Squadron in North America, and finding upon enquiry a great Scarcity of Naval, as well as Ordnance Stores at this place, belonging to the King, and few or none of either to be purchased but at the most extravagant Prices, I thought it the first part of my Duty to dispatch a Transport under Convoy of an Armed Vessel to Halifax, to bring a Supply of both kinds of those Stores, on which Service they Sailed from hence the 11th Instant.

On the 13th Instant an Advice Boat belonging to General [William] Howe Arrived here from that Port, and brought me a Letter from Captain [Charles] Hudson of His Majesty's Ship Orpheus with the satisfactory Account of his Arrival there, tho' in a very shattered Condition, together with one from Capt [Hugh] Bromedge of the Savage Sloop (Copies of both which accompany this) and the latter informing me of the Seizure of Two Vessels laden with Naval Stores, which tho' perhaps legally cleared out in England, were certainly designed to Supply the Rebellious Inhabitants of the American Colonies, as the Owners and Claimants of both of them are reported here to be notorious and principal inflamers of the present unhappy Rebellion, as a confirmation of which I transmit to you, Sir, herewith a Copy of a Letter to me from General Howe on that Subject, and shall be glad to receive through You His Majesty's or their Lordships pleasure, with regard to these two Vessels, as well as to Thirty Six More, Seized and detained by Vice Admiral Graves's Orders and now lying in this Harbour under similar Circumstances, Application having been made to me lately, by the Agents, for my direction relating to them, Copy of whose Letter I send you herewith.

In a former Letter I took the liberty of recommending to their Lordships through You, that all Supplies to this Country might be sent in Armed Vessels, I mean such as our old Forty Gun Ships with only their upper Tier of Guns, for however Numerous our Cruizers may be, or however attentive our Officers to their Duty, it has been found impossible to prevent some of our Ordnance and other valuable Stores in small Vessels falling into the hands of the Rebels; and here I must take occasion to say that in the Course of my Service I never found Officers perform their Duty with so much perseverance and Vigilance as Ours, on this important Service, indeed, the firmness with which they have resisted the riguor of this long and Severe Winter, in constantly keeping the Sea on their respective Stations, is unprecedented and incredible; at the same time I must beg leave to observe to you the very few Ships I am provided with to enable Me to Co-operate with the Army, Cruize off the Ports of the Rebels to prevent their receiving Supplies, or protect those destined to this place from falling into their hands, and as it must be the first and principal object of my Consideration I have not been able yet to comply with their Lordship's Order of the 10th October for sending a Vessel to Bermuda for the safety and defence of the Ordnance Stores belonging to His Majesty at that Island, but intend sending the Nautilus Sloop on that Service immediately on her Arrival from her Cruize. I am, Sir [&c.]