Admiralty Office 6. February 1776
My Lord,
Your Lordship having acquainted Us, in your Letter of the 15th of last Month, that it may eventually be necessary for His Majesty's Service that two armed Sloops, of about ninety Tons each, and, at least four hundred Batteaux from 36 to 40 feet in length, and 6 or 7 feet in Breadth on the Beam, should be prepared in Canada, for the conveyance of Troops and Stores through Lake Champlain, and at the same time signified the King's pleasure, that We should give Directions for preparing, and sending to Quebec, all such Materials, Timber and plank only excepted, as shall be necessary in the Constructing and Navigating the said Sloops and Batteaux, and that such a number of .Artificers should be engaged as shall be judged proper to assist therein.-And Mr [William] Knox having, by your Lordship's Command, transmitted to Our Secretary"' a Return he had received from Colonel Christie of the particulars of Stores and Materials, and a number of the Artificers that will be wanted for Building the said Vessels and Batteaux. ー We are to acquaint your Lordship in return, that immediately upon receiving the King's Pleasure We gave Directions to the Navy Board for preparing, and sending to Quebec, the necessary Materials for Constructing the above Sloops and Batteaux, as likewise concerning the Materials and Artificers that will be wanted for the same, and having received from the said Board their Report, We send your Lordship a Copy thereof, for His Majesty's Information, submitting to His Majesty whether from the reasons, mentioned in the said Letter, in regard to the Artificers, it may not be advisable to order such a number only to be sent, as is therein proposed. We are [&c.]
J. Buller Palmerton H. Palliser.