You are hereby required and directed to repair with His Majts Ship under your command into Hamoze, where we have ordered her to be cleaned, graved and refitted, stored for Foreign Service, and her Provisions completed to Six months of all Species except Beer, of which she is to have as much as she can conveniently stow, and to be supplied with Wine or Spirits in lieu of the remainder.

And you are strictly to observe the following instructions. You are to give a constant attendance at the Ship and to keep your Officers and men together during the whole time that she is in Harbour.

You are to use your utmost diligence in getting out your Guns and Powder, and, if necessary, your Stores, Provisions and Ballast or so much thereof as shall be necessary, and no more; and to leave no part thereof to be done by the Officers of the Yard.

You are to use the like diligence in getting in your Guns, Powder, Stores and Provisions, (as also your Ballast, if you found it necessary to put it out) when the ship is ready for it, and in putting her into a Condition to proceed on Service.

If you have any men who you suspect will run away, you are to apply to Vice Admiral [John] Amherst for their Security. When the Ship is ready again in all respects for the Sea you are to proceed into Plymouth Sound and wait there for further Orders. You are always to keep your Provisions Stores and Water compleat till you proceed to Sea. Given &c the 9th Apl 1776 Sandwich J,-Buller H. Penton By &c G:Jackson DS