My Lord,

Your Lordship having in your letter of the 6th instant acquainted Us that there is ground to suspect that the Rebels in North America may, early in the Spring, invade the Province of West Florida, by the Channel of the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers; & may make some Attempt upon Pensacola; & having signified His Majesty's Pleasure that We do instruct the commanding Officer of His Majesty's Ships on the Jamaica Station to be very attentive to that Province, & to keep one or two of the smaller Ships under his Command constantly cruizing upon the Coast of West Florida, with Directions to bring immediate Intelligence to him in case any such Attempt should be made, in which case he is to take on board the first Battalion of the 60th Regiment, now on Duty at Jamaica, which the Governor will have Orders to embark, accordingly, and to proceed with his whole Squadron to Pensacola, consulting upon his Arrival with Governor [Peter] Chester the measures it may be advisable to pursue in such an Event. In return, We think it necessary on this occasion to acquaint Your Lordship that the Ships and Sloops that are at present Stationed at Jamaica, are 1 Ship of the 4th rate, 2 of the 6th & 3 Sloops, and that, in pursaunce of His Majesty's Pleasure signified in a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, We gave Orders on the 11th of August last to Rear Admiral Gayton, the Commander in Chief, to station two of the said Ships or Sloops, one at Heneago, the Other at the little Caicos, in order to intercept North American Vessels which were represented to resort to Cape Nicholas Mole & other Ports in the Island of Hispaniola, where they do load with french Produce and secretly take in large quantities of Arms & Ammunition. From which, Your Lordship will please to observe, after executing our aforementioned Order, there will remain only four of the Ships or Sloops under the Admiral's Command, which We think not sufficient for all the Services recommended to his Protection; & to prevent the Island being left intirely exposed, which would be the Case, if the Admiral, upon receiving the Intelligence aforementioned, should proceed with his whole Squadron to Pensacola. We submit whether, instead of giving him Orders so to do, it may not be more expedient to send Orders to the Governor to hire Transports to carry the said Battalion, and for the Admiral to proceed therewith in his own, or any other of his Ships, which may be most fit for the Service, by which we conceive he would be equally able to execute His Majesty's aforesaid Intention.

We cannot help observing to Your Lordship upon that part of Your letter desiring two of the smaller Ships under the Admiral's Command may cruize constantly upon the Coast of West Florida, to be ready to carry Intelligence, that, by this means of Conveyance, it must necessarily be a considerable time in reaching him, as the Ship to be dispatched, must be obliged, during her Passage back, to work all the way to Windward.

We are further to acquaint Your Lordship as a matter immediately relating to this Subject, that we have this day been attended by a Committee of the West India Merchants, who have requested such a Reinforcement may be made to the Squadron stationed at the Islands, as may effectually protect the Trade, for which We shall give immediate Orders.

All which desiring Your Lordship will Communicate to His Majesty, that We may receive His Majesty's Pleasure thereon, We remain &c