Chatham in Halifax Harbour 16th April 1776.
Sir,
I am to inform you that His Majesty's Sloop Viper belonging to the Squadron under my Command which had been blown off the Coast and forced to bear away to the West Indies, arrived here yesterday from Antigua; and the Hawke Sloop having lost her Masts and forced to that Island by stress of Weather, Admiral Young has transmitted to me the Dispatches which were to have been brought oi1t in ~er; but as. Duplicates of those Orders and letters have been already received and acknowledged, I omit particularizing them.
The Packets for several of the Southern Governors, as mentioned in Captain Cooper of the Hawke's Order, (a Schedule of which is therein inclosed) I have also received, and shall forward them by the first Opportunity.
Admiral Young having transmitted to me an Account of such Ships and Vessels as were destined to America, and had been driven to Antigua I have the pleasure to inform you that the Layton, Killingsworth, Resolution, and Manners, Victuallers are among the number, with several other Ships laden with Coals, Porter, Vegetables, &ca ー The Layton is Arrived here with the Viper, and the others Admiral Young informed me would be ready to Sail from thence by the first of March, and would come under Convoy of the Experiment, which Ship has also been forced to Antigua.
I have the further pleasure of acquainting you, that the A lb ion, on board which Ship you inform me by your Letter of the 21st November were Vegetables for the use of the Fleet, is among those, of which I have received information from Admiral Young. I am Sir [&c.]