[Admiralty Office] 16th March 1776
Sir
Sir Stanier Porten, Secretary to Lord Weymouth having transmitted to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty a Letter from the Consul at Co~unna, dated 3rd Febry. last giving Intelligence that the Polly, Captn Abijah Bodon a Brig belonging to Marble Head in Massachusetts Bay was then at Corunna supposed to be bound for some Port in the Possession qf the Rebels: that the Lyon, Captn John Wilson had saild from St Andro with a full Cargo of Gun Powder for Philadelphia, And that there were then at Bil boa three other North America Vessels supposed to be waiting to load Stores on the French or Spanish Coast. Vizt a Schooner belonging to Salem, the Brig Africa, belonging to Marblehead, and the Brig Elizabeth, William Babson of Boston; That the Schooner has arrived at Bilboa but lately and boasts that he got out of Salem in spite of some of His Majesty's Ships and in full view of them, and he intends to return the same way: I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you with the said Intelligence, and am &c.
Geo. Jackson D S By the Greyhound at Corke
Duplicate sent 29 March By [blank]