You are hereby required & directed to make enquiry for the Hospital Ship, Victuallers & Storeships mentioned in the inclosed List, which are bound to Quebec, and have been ordered to Rendezvous at Plymouth, and, as soon as they shall be all assembled, you are to take them, and any others which may be at that place bound to Canada & ready to Sail, under your Convoy, and, putting to Sea with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather, make the best of your way with them into the River St Lawrence; taking all possible carre for their protection & security during the passage; and, repairing to the Isle aux Coudres (which is the place of Rendezvous for the Ships & Troops destined to serve in Canada) you are to dispatch the several Pacquets you will receive herewith, from Lorg George Germain, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, to General Carlton; and, if you find any Officer of His Majesty's Ships in the said River Senior to yourself, to deliver to him the inclosed Pacquet, Addressed to such Senior Captain, and to follow his Orders for your further proceedings; But, if you shall not find any Officer there senior to yourself you are to open the last mentioned Pacquet & put in execution the Orders you will find therein contained; And, also in conjunction with the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Land Forces, to pursue such 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 Majesty's Rebellious Subjects from the other Colonies; And, during your continuance on this Service, You are to consider yourself under the command of, and to follow such Orders as you shall receive from Vice Adml Shuldham, or the Commander in Chief for the time being, of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels in North America. Given &c 26th April 1776

By &c PS. By a Messenger at 4 p m.

A List of Ships ordered to Rendezvous at Plymouth & intended to Sail from thence under Convoy of His Majesty's Ship Tartar.