Having ordered Capt [Thomas] Wilkinson, Commander of His Majts Ship the Pearl to proceed, without loss of time, to Cork & to follow your Orders for his further proceedings; You are hereby required & directed to make the best of your way in the Ship you Command to that Place & to take him under your command accordingly.

You are then to make enquiry for the Transport Vessels named in the annexed List which are intended to carry seven Battalions from that Place to Quebec, together with the Speke Hospital Ship & any Victualling, Store ships, or other Vessels whose Masters may be desirous of accompanying you, And, so soon as all the said Transports shall be arrived & the Troops embarked, you are, in pursuance of the King's pleasure signified to Us by Lord George Germain one of His Majts Principal Secretaries of State, to take them under your Convoy & make the best of your way with them to the Isle aux Coudres in the River St Lawrence, and, being arrived there, in conjunction with the Commander in Chief of His Majts Land Forces, to take such further steps as shall be judged necessary for the establishment of His Majts Government within the Province of Quebec & for repelling any hostile Invasion of it by His Majts Rebellious Subjects from the other Colonies; And, during your continuance on the above Service, you are to put yourself under the Command of Vice Adml Shuldham, or the Commander in Chief for the time being of His Majts Ships & vessels in North America, following such Orders as you shall receive from him, or the Senior Captain of His Majts Ships in the River St Lawrence for your further proceedings.
Given &c 11th March 1776.

By &c Geo. Jackson D S.

[Enclosure]

A List of Transport Vessels taken up to carry Six Regiments of Foot from Ireland, and th 31st Regiment of Foot from the River Clyde.

To carry the Six Battalions which are to be embarked at Cork.

Providence (lt) Charming Sally Caesar Favorite Champion Lucretia Amitys Succession Sarah Kitty London Gale Rosseau		Order'd to Cork from the River Thames.
Woodcock Christie Ostenbotten Speedwell		Ditto From Plymouth.
Adamant Lively Fidelity Myrtle Favorite Kent John King George Friendship Garland Henry Success's Increase Britannia Grace Lord North		Ditto from Portsmouth. NB. The first Seven are lately returned from Gibraltar & the others from Minorca.
Prince George Brilliant Sisters Britannia Liberty		Ordered to Cork from the River Clyde.
To take on board the 31st Regmt in the Clyde & then repair to Cork.
Lilly (1st) Mermaid Patty Rainbow Hunter Morisinia Lilly (2d) Boyd		In the Clyde.
Speke Hospl Ship—Order'd from the Thames to Cork.