My Lord

Vice Admiral Sir James Douglass Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships at Portsmouth, having acquainted Us by His Letter of the 7th Instant, th~t in consequence of Information he had received from Captain [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] of His Majesty's Ship Phoenix at New York of their being Dispatches onboard the Ship SamjJson from the Continental Congress and leaders of the Rebellion in America, he had sent an Officer on board the said Ship upon her arrival at Portsmouth, to whom the Master delivered nine Packets, one of which is directed to be delivered by himself, & another not to be put into any Post Office, which he hath detained and given directions not to admit of farther Communication between the Ship & the Shore, except to the Custom House, where he hath desired the strictest Search may be made;

We signify the same for His Majesty's Information, and are to desire your Lordship will receive and communicate to Us the King's pleasure concerning the Directions necessary to be given to the Vice Admiral herein. ー We are &c Sandwich J. Buller Palmerston