Whereas the Transports:~ith the first embarkation of the Brunswick Trodps engaged to serve iir'No America may be expected to arrive shortly at Spithead And whereas we think fit that the Ship you com,mand-&the Blonde shal.I Convoy the said Troops, and also the 21st Regt of Foot which is to embark at Plymouth to the place of their destination; You are hereby required & directed to take the Blonde under your.command (her Captain being directed to follow your Orders) and so soon as Major Genl Burgoyne & his Suite . shall be embarked on board her, ,& the Brunswick Troops above:rilentioned shall be ;;trrived at Spithead & ready to put to Sea: You are to take the Transports having those Troops on board under your Convoy & proceed without , 1oss of time off Plymouth Sound 1 where you are to make a Signal by hoisting. an Ensign at the Foretop Gallant Mast head, for the Transports having qn . board the 21st regt to join you we having given directions for their being kept in the Sound in readiness for that purpose; And then taking them under your Convoy also, You are in Pursuance of the Kings pleasure signified to Us by Lord Geo. Germaine one of His Majts prin: Secretaries of State in his Letter of the 19th Inst to proceed with the whole Armament to the Isle aux Coudres in the River St Lawrence which is the place of Rendezvous for the Ships & Troops destined to serve in.Canada & being arrived there, you are if you find any Officer of His Majts Ships in that River Senior to yourself, to put yourself under his ー command & follow his Orders for your future proceedings, or, if not, you are to take such of His Majts Ships & Vessels as may be there under your command, and.-in conjunction with the Commander in Chief of His Majts Land Forces to pursue such steps as shall be judged necessary for the establishment of His Majestys Government within the province of Quebec & for repelling any hostile Invasion of it by His Majestys rebellious Subjects from the other Colonies: And during your continuance on this Service you are to consider yourself under the command of, & to follow such Orders as you shall receive from Vice Adml Shuldham or the Comma~der for the time being of His Majts Ships & V<;!ssels in No America. Given &c 26th March 1776
Sandwich .JBuller C Spencer Lisburne
By &c. G J D $.