Sir,

Since my last to you of the 8th, the Fleet and Army have been busily Employed in Embarking the Ordnance and other Stores belonging to the King, in which the Rebels have given us little or no interruption, tho' their Cannon and Mortars have not been totally unemployed, and this Morning the Embarkation of the Troops was completed without the loss of a Man, and the Transports proceeded to, and Anchored at this place, but I find a considerable Quantity of Ordnance and other Stores are rendered useless, and left behind by the Army for want of time, as well as Shipping to carry it away, tho' the Troops are allowed but one Ton a Man in the Transports, and the extreme want of Provisions will not allow us to wait, I have therefore Appropriated a Transport (the Francis) to take on board all the Naval Stores I could collect, which the Adventure Storeship could not contain, and have the pleasure to inform you as little will be lost in our Department as could be expected in so sudden and unprepared ー for an event; I have also appropriated the Richmond Transport to the use of an Hospital Ship, 'till the Arrival of one from England for that Service.

Of the Ships taken up by the Commissioners of the Victualling, a List of which you transmitted to Vice Admiral Graves, accompanying your Letter of the 28th of September, those in the Margin
² are not arrived, nor have I any Account of them, by which Disappointment, and the Necessity I have been under of Supplying the Army, there is but a small Quantity of any Provision remaining, especially Beef and Pork, proportionate to the Squadron, as you will please to observe by the Agent Victuallers Account of Remains accompanying this.

Nantasket Road at the Entrance of this Harbour being at too great a distance for my observation of the Occurrences constantly passing there, I Ordered Captain [Francis] Banks of the Renown to Superintend and Command the Necessary Duty at that place, and as he is the Senior Captain at present under my Command, and an Active Officer, to hoist and wear a Distinguishing Pendant, except in the presence of a Senior Captain.

I informed you in my Letter of the 26th past of the number of small Vessels detained at this Port by Order of Vice Admiral Graves, several of which, that I could refit and Man, I have taken with me, and the others, either Sunk or destroyed, to prevent their being of use to the Rebels, among which are two Vessels of Three hundred Tons belonging to the Notorious Rebel [John] Hancock, which were upon the Stocks.

As the Chatham and Centurion drew too much Water to be moved from their Station before the Town, except with a particular Wind, and at a Critical time of tide, as soon as our retreat was determined on, I ordered their Captains to take the first favorable opportunity of moving those Ships down to King Road, and Ordered Captain [George] Montagu in the Fowey up to Boston to Defend the Embarkation of the Troops and Transports, and Cover the retreat, which he has done with the greatest propriety and Officer-like Conduct; Captain [John] Raynor had the Command and Regulation of the Embarkation on Shore, in which He, and the Officers under him, acquitted themselves with equal Propriety, and in the disposition formed in concert with the General, shewed themselves Active, Attentive, and Intelligent Officers; I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the greatest Unanimity and Harmony subsists between His Majesty's Fleet and Army, each party endeavouring to emulate each other in giving the strongest proofs of their Zeal and forwardness in the Discharge of their mutual trust and duty to His Majesty and the important Cause we are Engaged in. I am Sir [&c.]