[Extract]

Sir/  I beg leave to acquaint you, that I have received, both their Lordships orders, respecting Stationing Cruizers, to intercept & Seize, such North American Vessells, as might be found, to have any Arms, Ammunition, or any Contraband Goods onboard, or belong[in]g to the twelve Rebellious Colonies, or Owned by the inhabitants thereof, under certain restrictions. The first bearing date, the 11th August, I received by [a] Merchant Ship, the 24th of November, the Latter, of the 2nd September, I received by the Pacquet, the [ ] of November, likewise a Letter, from you in Addition, [to] these Orders, respecting the Dissposal of the Men, belonging to such Ships & Vessells as might be Seized and Detained, under the abovementioned Circumstances.

I beg leave to inform their Lordships, that immediately upon the receipt of them, I order'd Captain Douglas of the Squirrel, & Captain Gardner, of the Maidstone, [to] compleat for Sea, and the 1st instant, they Sail'd, from thence, the Squirrel I have Station'd at the Little Caicos's, and the Maidstone, at Henneaga, or Inauga Island, and inclose their Lordships, a Copy of my Orders, to their Captains, which I hope, will meet, with their Approbation ー

In my Letter, of the 7th Novr I mention'd to their Lordships, my Doubts, with respect to the Ferret Sloop, and am sorry to confirm them as the Pensacola Pacquet arrived here, the 12th Novr, left Pensacola, the beginning of September, & then nothing had been heard of the Ferret, since her Sailing in August ー Had she been cast away, on [the] Coast of Carolina, & any of the People saved, I must have heard of it, long since, as we have had a Number of Vessells arrived, but no Account of her.

In my last Letter, I took the Liberty, of laying before their Lordships, the Utility, that a Couple of Arm'd Schooners, would be, on this Station and since I have received their Directions, respecting Seizing the North American Vessells, carrying on a Contraband Trade, I am convinced, they would still be of greater use, as I have Intelligence, which may be depended on, that a Number, of these Vessels resort to the Island of Curasoa, where they take [in] large Quantitys of Arms, & Amunition, which [they] carry to America ー Had, I any of these Vessells, under my Command, I could Station one of them, to Cruize this Island, to intercept them ー

The Antelope remains at Port Roy[al.] I am, with respect Sir [&c.]