Sir,

My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received advice that Ships belonging to His Majesty's Rebellious Subjects in North America; and more particularly those of Philadelphia, do find means to elude the vigilance of His Majts Ships cruizing upon that Coast and proceed with Cargoes to various Ports of France and Spain and Portugal in Europe; and that such Vessels are under injunctions upon their departure from America to use their utmost efforts to go so far to the Southward immediately after their leaving Sandy Hook as the 35th Degree of North Latitude until they reach the 50th Degree of West Longitude from London & then proceed with the utmost dispatch to the Ports to which they are bound. in the parts of Europe beforementioned; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to look carefully out for any Ships or Vessels that may fall within the above description and in case you meet with any such to seize and carry them with you to Boston. I am &ca