Sir./.

I have received two Letters from Mr [George] Jackson 2 the one an Answer to a former One of mine of the 9th of September the other respecting the Ships under my Command Cruizing to intercept North American Vessels within the Limits of my Station both dated the 6th December likewise the late Act of. Parliament for prohibiting all Trade & Commerce with the Rebellious Colonies & His Majestys Proclamation for the Distribution of the Captures; all which I shall p::i.y due Attention to.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that since the Intelligence which I received in December last from Cape Francois in the Island of Hispaniola of the French making every Warlike Preparation there & of their expecting Seven Regiments & many Ships from Old France which I communicated to them by a Merchant Ship the 25th of last December and since that by two Pacquets ー Captn Douglas of His Majs Ship Squirrel, who arrived the 6th of last Month from his Cruize brought me the following Intelligence

"That there were a great Number of Men of War of the Line; & Troops lately arrived at Cape Francois from Old France & Martinaco" The Man who gave Captain Douglas the above Information; said, "he saw them at Cape Francois, & that he likewise saw Landed at that place a great Number of Troops & Ammunition, and that; after that he saw Troops Landed at Cape Nichola Mole under the Convoy of Two Frigates," to the truth of which since his arrival at Jamaica he has made Oath to, before a Magistrate at Port Royal which Affidavit I inclose for their Lordships information.

Since this Man has been Sworn Captain Gardner has sent in a Schooner from Cape Nichola Mole which he took loaded with French produce & bound to Nantucket the Master of which Vessel inform'd him, that he saw at Cape Nichola Mole two French Frigates one of 36 the other of 20 Guns but they were Sail'd for the Cape, that very lately there where Eight Hundred Troops landed there & that there were Three Regiments more Dayly expected which Corresponds with the Latter part of the other Mans Deposition. Captn Gardners Letter I herewith Inclose

In consequence of the above Intelligence I thought it absolutely Necessary to communicate it to their Lordships as soon as possible & having no Vessel under my Command to send Home with an express, except the Florida Surveying Sloop (Lieut Cobb) which had I done it Mr Gauld could have done Nothing this Year in Surveying and I suppose would have received his 365 £ from Government; the same as if he had been actually employed. The Ferret & her People being cast away & lost, & the Diligence at Pensacola I order'd the Naval Storekeeper to either Hire, or Purchase a Vessel of about 60, or 70 Tons for His Majestys Service. Hire, he could not, therefore I gave him an Order to Purchase a Schooner of about 70 Tons Burthen, a good going Vessel (which I have acquaintd the Navy Board of by this Oppertunity, in case I should have occaision to send an Express to England, on the Floridas return from Cape Francois, who I had sent there to learn the Truth of this Information (as there was sufficient time for her going there & returning before I should have occaision to send her to Pensacola to carry on the Survey. She is since return'd Lieutenant Cobb, informs me that what the Man swore to was an absolute Falsity, and as to Troops what arrived were in Six large Merchant Ships and the Convoy of One Frigate only which were to Releive others, with some little addition to Strengthen the Island. therefor I shall employ the Schooner wch I have purchased & call'd the Lady Keith in assisting the Maidstone & Squirrel, in going inshore while on their Cruize to Intercept North American Vessels coming from Hispaniola, and as the Florida i[s] Mann'd out of the few Ships under my Command, which much Weakens them I have put my Nephew Mr Fra[nci]s L'Montais (who was acting Lieutenant of the Antelope) into her to Act as

Lieutenant 'til their Lordships Pleasure is known, and have order'd him to Compleat his Complement to Eighteen Men, and as he is a good Man, & well qualified for an officer, I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships as such & hope they will Honor him with a Commission. I hope my proceedings in regard to this Vessel will meet with their Lordships Approbation.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that since my last I have been Served with Three more Writs of Habeas Corpus; which I comply'd with for the Reasons I have before assigned and inclose for their information at[tested] Copies of the Writs with the Petitions & Affidavit for their being Granted I've likewise had Fifteen Actions brought against me for the Detention of those People, on the Receipt of which I inclosed them to His Majestys Attorney General to defend the Cause; in behalf of the Crown, in answer to which he acquainted me, that I might depend on his best Services to the extent of his Proficinal [Provincial] Department, as Councel, but as he never acted as Attorney, it would be necessary I should employ one; and likewise Solisited me; to Join a Gentleman of the Bar with him, which Letter I herewith Inclose

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the Attorney which I employed in consequen[ce] of being Served with those Writs of Habeas Corpus & Actions, for the Detention of those People in pursuance of their Lordships directions has render'd into me an Account amounting to the Sum of £ 146:2:6 Currency, which I have order'd the Naval Storekeeper to discharge, & by this Oppertunity have inform'd the Navy Board thereof which I hope their Lordships will approve & Inclosed is the Attorneys Bill

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for their Information ー Since I have received the late Act of Parliament (agreeable thereto) I have order'd all such North Americans, who were of no use in condemning the Vessels, to be set at Liberty onshore

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships, that as yet not one of the Nine Sail, sent in by His Majestys Ships Squirrel and Maidstone are Condemned, the Attorney General having given it as his Opinion, that the Six, wich were taken before the 1st of January 1776 are not Subject to Confiscation not[with]standing the[y] clear'd out from America, for some of the British Islands in the West Indies, Carried their Cargoes to Hispaniola, where they Sold them took in French produce, & were taken returning to the Rebellious Colonies. The Captains have since Fee'd another Counce! who is of opinion they are all liable to Confiscation, Copies of which Opinions: I inclose for their Lordships information 4 & am sorry to acquaint them, that there are too many Friends to America; in this Island The Vessels are all Libell'd and will very soon be brought into the Court of Admiralty where I have not the least doubt of their being Condemned The Middle of this Month Two Briggs belonging to Newcastle on Delaware & Charter'd by the Congress, came into this Harbour, the former loaded with Flour & Bread, the Latter with Lumber, both of which I have Seized.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the 22nd of last Month Captain [Alan] Gardner of His Majs Ship Maidstone applied for a Survey on his Surgeon, he having a long while Labour'd under a Fistula, in consequence of which I order'd a Survey accordingly (the Report of which, with Captain Gardners Letter I inclose) wherein the Surgeons are of Opinion that a change of Climate is the only chance he has of recovery, agreeable thereto; I have given Captain Gardner an Order to Discharge him & have Appointed Mr William Bradford (the Surgeons First Mate of the Antelope) to Succeed him, & have likewise given Mr Richard Shepherd (the Surgeons

Second Mate of the Antelope) a Warrant as first, all which I hope their Lordships will approve

With regard to the Dissposition of His Majestys Ships & Vessels under my Command, I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships, that the Maidstone arrived the 14[th] of last Month and Sail'd again the llt[h] instant, she wanted a great deal of Repairs, in her Masts; & Yards which occaision'd her to stay longer in Port than she otherwise would have done

I have given Captain Gardner Discretional orders, to Cruize off the I~land of Henneaga, & use all possible means to Distress the Americans, observing the exceptions containd in the late Act The Squirrel has Careen'd, and is Haul'd off from the Wharf, & in a few Days will be ready to Sail, I shall give Captain Douglas orders to the same purpose, as those of Captn Gardner

The Antelope, in a few Days will Haul alongside the Wharf to Careen, after which I propose sending her to Cruize, & to Hoist my Flag onboard the Maidstone, when she comes in, as it will be her time to Careen as she will want to be intirely New Sheathed

The Florida I shall fit with all possible dispatch, & send her to Pensacola, to the Surveyior.

The Lady Keith Schooner is at present unloading a Store Ship and as soon as that Service is over, I shall send her to Cruize with the Squirrel & Maidstone, all of which I hope their Lordships will approve

Inclosed is the State & Condition of His Majestys Ships under my Command, & am, with respect Sir [&c.] Clark Gayton