[Extract]

No 2:

Sir In Addition to my Letter to You of this date marked No 1, I must farther request you will lay before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the inclosed papers Marked No 1. 2. 3. & 4. - being copies of Dispatches I received Express from Major General How[e], and my Answer thereto; however before the Viper could get to Sea with the two Victuallers I had proposed sending under her Convoy; The Hawke Sloop, Captain Robt Palliser Cooper arrived here in distress, having on board Government Dispatchers of very great importance, with which it was impossible she could proceed, having lost her Masts, Guns &c in bad Weather at Sea: In this Exigence, and having no Ship belonging to the Squadron under my Command, with me, I had no other alternative but to send them immediately to the Kings Naval Commander in Chief at Boston to be carried into execution by him. I therefore Ordered Captain [Samuel] Graves to take only One of the Victuallers under his Convoy, and proceed without a moments loss of time with her and the aforesaid dispatches to Boston. Copies of my Orders to Captain Graves & Letters to him and Rear Admiral Shuldham are inclosed and marked No 5. 6. 7. & 8.

I have Ordered the Hawk Sloop to be refitted forthwith and propose giving her the Lynx's Guns as None of the Weight the Hawk carries can be purchased here; and the Lynx's Condition being very bad, makes it improper to keep her Out longer. I therefore intend sending her to England with my Dispatches as soon as the Experiment and the Transports leave this place

[Endorsed] Rd 30 May.