Sir The Squadron of his Majesty's Ships stationed here being in great want of Provisions, Stores and other necessaries, and having no prospect of any supply but from Boston, I find my self under the absolute necessity of sending the Kingsfisher to inform you of our situation, Altho' 'tis sorely against my will to part with her from hence at this juncture.

Since the burning of the Town of Norfolk all civil communication with the Shore has been at an end, and very little Provisions by any means of any sort has been procured: The Contractors for Victualling the Navy could no longer supply the Ships, and had it not been for a vessel that was stopped by one of the Tenders in January last laden with Flour, Lord Dunmore the Governor would not have been able to have subsisted the people he has afloat with him untill this time.

We are also greatly in want of Slops of all kinds; as I found the Ships here entirely without them, I have been under the necessity of supplying them from the Roebuck.

Enclosed is an account of the State and Condition of the Ships under my command, together with a Journal of my proceedings since I received Vice Admiral Graves' Orders of the 25th december. Also an account of the Vessels that have been seized and detained by his Majesty's Ships here; the list I believe is complete except those taken by the Otter, and as Captain [Matthew] Squire is on a cruize, and has omitted leaving an acct of them with me, I must defer sending it untill a future opportunity, but I understand they amount to only four or five small vessels of little value: It is impossible to send such round to Boston as it would employ our men to very little purpose; And as we have no judge of the Admiralty here, nor Commissioners for prizes, I shall be glad, Sir, to have your Orders concerning them.

I likewise transmit you, Sir, a particular account of what the Liverpool is in want of. I am prevented from sending you the same from the Otter, for the reason above mentioned, but Captain Squire informed me before he sailed that he was in want of every kind of Store, leaving with me the enclosed memorandm of his decayed Cables and Sails.

I beg leave Also to acquaint you, Sir, that I have given Mr Charles Fletcher Surgeon of the Roebuck, who is also I believe a good Physician an order to receive on Shore the Sick Men from the Ships in the usual manner of sick quarters, which I hope you will approve of. The Ague and fever on board the Otter had shewn itself to be epidemick, and many died of it, but I have the pleasure to tell you that since I got them ashore the disease has subsided, and they are most of them in a fair way of recovery.

Lieutenant [John] Orde of his Majestys Ship under my command having when commanding officer on board at Halifax confined the Boatswain for bad behavior, I applied to commodore Arbuthnot for a Court-martial to be held on him, but during the time I remained there, it could. never be assembled for want of a sufficient number of Captains: I therefore took the Opportunity of the Mercury's calling in here to Order a Court-martial for his trial, when the charge was proved and the Boatswain was dismised the Service. Since which I have given an Order to Alexander Forbes (a Brisk active Boatswains Mate) to do that duty, whom I beg leave to recommend to you for promotion.

I hope my having detained the Liverpool here will meet with your approbation and that it will be in your power to send me the Supply's the Ships here are so much in want of.

I have the honor to be Sir &ca &ca

Account of all the Papers enclosed with ー the above.ー

Journal of the Ships proceedings.

State and condition of (Roebuck, Liverpool, Otter, & Kingfr) the Squadron.

Report of Seizures &ca made by Do

Liverpools demands for Stores &ca

Otters defective Cables &ca

Governor [Josiah] Martins Letter to Capt Bellew &ca

Captain Parrys to Do

Captain Bellews Admty orders (a copy)

Account of the Rebels Marine force

Intelligence of Do

Minutes of a Court-martial

Sentence of Do

Demand for Stores for the Roebuck