Lord Sandwich

m/33 pt 10.A.M.

I sincerely condole with You on the melancholy event that prevents Your coming before Sunday to St James's.

Sir Hugh Pallisser's letter shews he has not been idle during Your absence, and I trust Your activity will instill that vigilance into the inferiors in Your great department that no delay in sending out the Succours in the Spring will arise from the short notice You have had; You call it unprecedented, the expression in ordinary times ought undoubtedly to be attended to, but when such acts of vigour are shewn by the Rebellious Americans, we must shew that the English Lion when rouzed has not only his wonted resolution but has added the swiftness of the Race Horse. I should not be so desirous of employing Your tallents at the Head of the Admiralty Board if I did not entrust You with the general idea that is of late entertained that the Navy is not so quickly when called on fitted out as was expected by those who know Your unremitted ardour to effect whatever You undertake; my answer on all occasions has been that I did not deny that every other Department has been ready for the Southern Expedition three weeks sooner than the Navy but that the difficulty of obtaining Sailors was the cause of this, and that now a bounty is ordered, I trust things will be carried on with infinite dispatch.

I cannot too strongly inculcate the necessity of setting all Official forms aside that in the least delay the engaging Transports; I have reason to think the Ships of force fitting out at Philadelphia are not to attempt any engagement with Our Vessels of force but to intercept homeward bound India Men to obtain Salt Petre. Ships must be fitted out for to prevent their Succeeding; I cannot help on this occasion reminding You of the idea You mentioned some months ago of buying some Coal Vessels and fitting them out as Ships of War; in short every means of obtaining many Vessels ought to be add opted, and a considerable addition ought with the utmost expedition to be sent to strengthen the Southern Squadrons, for every intelligence points out St Eustacia as the Port from whence the Americans hope in the course of the Winter to obtain Gun Powder, therefore between that place and N.America we ought to cover the Sea with Vessels to disappoint them in this essential article for carrying on the next Campaign.