English Harbour Antigua 3d March 1776.
No. 1
Sir I wrote You the 9th January last by the return of the November Packet, and by the present Opportunity transmit You Duplicates thereof, which desire You may Communicate to My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have now to request you will be pleased farther to acquaint their Lordships that on the 14th January The Viper Sloop, Captn Samuel Graves arrived at English Harbour; and on the 18th January the Experiment Captain Robert Keeler did the Same; both blown off the American Coast in bad Weather, and were very much damaged in their Hulls, rigging, Sails &c: The Experiment had her Fore & Main Mast Sprung: I immediately Ordered the Necessary repairs to be done to them, with all possible Expedition that they may be enabled to proceed as early as possible to the places of their destination: The Transport & Victualing Vessels named in the inclosed List marked No 1. have likewise been blown off from the American Coast and come to this and St Johns harbour Antigua in distress:The Enterprize Transport with four Companies of the 55 Regiment on board, having lost all her Masts and otherwise greatly damaged I apprehend she cannot be repaired in any reasonable time to proceed forward with the Troops I therefore propose embarking them in the Royal George & Diana Transports, and to Discharge the Enterprize from the Service & send her back to England as soon as the Master gets her put into Condition to proceed there.
The four Companies of the 55 Regiment and three Companies of the 46:Regiment which came here in the Enterprize & Argo Transports I have got accomodated in the Barracks at St Johns in this Island; whilst the Transport Ships are got ready to receive and proceed with them to Boston.
Since the Receipt of their Lordships Orders of the 2d September last, the Kings Ships under my Command, have Seized and Carried to the different Islands in these Seas; the American Vessels named in the List Inclosed, marked No 2: those that could be proceeded against by the Restraining Acts, or had transgressed any of the Acts of Trade; I directed to be prosecuted immediately and the others to be detained 'till I might receive their Lordships farther Orders; which I hope will arrive soon, as most of the Cargoes in the American Vessels are of a Perishable Nature and if kept but a short time in this hott Climate will be wholly destroyed and lost.
I have likewise transmitted a paper marked No 3, Containing Intelligence given by some of the Masters& people belonging to the Vessels that have been Seized here by the Kings Ships which I think it necessary their Lordships should be informed of.
Should the information of the Rebels Naval preparations be true, it is very probable some of their Cruizers may be sent into these Seas; where they undoubtedly might do a great deal of Mischief, in despight of the Small Squadron under by Command; now weakened by the Hind's going to St Augustine, with the three Companies of the 60 Regiment; and the Lynx coming to England. I therefore hope their Lordships will think proper to Order a Considerable Reinforcement of His Majesty's Ships to this Station; and thereby enable me to Protect and Secure the British Islands from Insult, and likewise prevent the Rebels carrying on a pernicious & dangerous Traffick to the French, Dutch and Danish Islands; whose Inhabitants will readily give them such assistance as they may require, in return for the Provisions & Lumber carri€d there by American Vessels; of which they now stand in great need. -
The 15th Instant Captain Robert Keeler of His Majesty's Ship Experiment (who has been very much indisposed from the time of his Arrival here) wrote me the inclosed Letter marked No 4, requesting my Permission to Exchange into His Majesty's Sloop Lynx in Order to return to England to reestablish his health; which I have, Complied with and Appointed Captain Alexr Scott to Command His Majesty's Ship Experiment in his room; and flatter myself their Lordships will Approve of the Exchange.
The other Papers inclosed marked No 5, 6, & 7 are List of the Appointment and removal of Officers in the Squadron between the 1st October and the 31st December 1775: The State & Condition and. Disposition of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels under my Command, which You will likewise please to Communicate to their Lordships. I am Sir [&c.]