Sir,

Since my letter to you of the 5th of January every effort has been exerted in the different Departments, to bring forward the Preparations for the ensuing Campaign in North America, and though the Severity of the Weather, almost beyond what has ever been known in this Country, very much obstructs the Service in the Naval Department, yet I am encouraged to hope that the Reinforcement for the Army under your Command will be embarked before the end of March, and that the Armament intended for Quebec may be ready much sooner.

The unfortunate Events, which have happened in Canada, make it necessary that we should not only exert every Endeavour for the relief of Quebec as early as possible, but also for having a Force there, ready to commence its Operations, as soon as the Season will admit.

The great Attention, which the King shews upon all occasions to the rank & Merit of His Officers, would have led His Majesty to have appointed Major General Clinton to command upon this Service, under Major General Carleton, but as His Majesty's Pleasure has been already signified that he should command the Body of Forces to be employed upon an Expedition to the Southward, & he is, by this time probably sailed for Cape Fear, in order to wait their Arrival, His Majesty has thought fit that Major General [John] Burgoyne should act as Second in Command to General Carleton in Canada, and that he should proceed thither with the Eight Regiments from Ireland, which I hope will be ready to sail by the 20th of next Month.

If Quebec should fall before any Relief can be got thither and Major General Carleton should unhappily not survive the Loss of it, the King's Intentions are that, in such an Event, the Command of the whole of His Majesty's Forces in North America should devolve upon you. It is also His Majesty's Intentions immediately to appoint Majors General Clinton, Burgoyne, Lord Percy & Lord Cornwallis, Lieutenant Generals in America; The old Colonels, who now act as Brigadiers, are to have Commissions as Majors General; and the other Colonels will be appointed Brigadiers.

In case of Major General Carleton's death it will remain with you to dispose of the different Commands, as you, in your discretion, shall think fit. It will consequently be in your power to leave the Command of the Troops on the Side of Canada to Major General Burgoyne, or, if you think it more advisable you may appoint General Clinton to that Service; And it being His Majesty's Pleasure that Major General Lord Cornwallis should be employed in Canada, he & his Regiment are to be sent thither as soon as he joins the Army under your Command.

In the present state of Affairs in North America the Security of Nova Scotia & Newfoundland are Objects of Attention; and I am commanded by the King to signify to you His Majesty's Pleasure that the two Battalions of Marines, now serving under your Command, or any part of them you shall judge necessary, should be posted at Halifax, and that a Detachment of Major [Joseph] Gorham's Corps be posted at St. John's in Newfoundland, as a Garrison will be wanted there. It is also his Majesty's Pleasure that as many of the private Men of the 65th Regiment as are fit for Service should be turned over to the 27th Regiment, and if there are more than will complete it, you will incorporate them in any other Corps; That the 27th Regiment, when so completed, be joined to the Army under your Command, and that the Commissioned & Noncommissioned Officers & Invalids of the 65th be sent home to England.

I must not omit to acquaint you, before I leave the Subject of Military Arrangement, that the Officers of the Guards have expressed such Spirit & Zeal for His Majesty's Service, that His Majesty has ordered a Detachment of a Thousand Men rank & File, with Officers in proportion, to serve under you in America, and I have only further to add, that the King is so desirous of expressing upon every occasion His Royal approbation of the General Officers serving in the principal Ranks in America, that He has declared His Intentions that he will not employ any General Officer from hence who may be superior in rank to Majors General Clinton, Burgoyne, Lord Percy or Lord Cornwallis.

This letter will be entrusted to the Care of the Commander of His Maty's Ship Greyhound, who will also deliver up to you the Officers of the Privateer fitted out by the Rebels under a Commission from the Congress, & taken by one of Admiral Graves's Squadron. The private Men have all voluntarily entered themselves on board His Majesty's Ships, 2 but the Officers having refused so to do, it has been judged fit to send them back to America, for the same obvious reasons that induced the sending back the Rebel Prisoners taken in Arms upon the Attack of Montreal in September last.
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It is hoped that the Possession of these Prisoners will enable you to procure the Release of such of His-Majesty's Officers and loyal Subjects as are in the disgraceful Situation of being Prisoners to the Rebels, for although it cannot be that you should enter into any Treaty or Agreement with Rebels for a regular Cartel for the Exchange of Prisoners, yet I doubt not but your own Discretion will suggest to you the means of effecting such Exchange without the King's Dignity & Honor being committed, or His Majesty's Name used in any Negociation for that purpose; And I am the more strongly urged to point out to you the Expediency of such a Measure, on account of the possible Difficulties which may otherwise occur in the case of foreign Troops serving in North America. I am &c

Geo: Germain.