Sir

I beg you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships, that after having stop'd off Senegal and Gambia agreeable to their Orders, I proceeded to this place where upon my arrival I was inform'd that several American Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies had got up the different Rivers upon this part of the Coast and were hiding there until we were gone, when they would come out and probably get supplied with Powder and Ammunition from the European Vessels. I sent Lieut Bray in a Boat mann'd and arm'd to the Banana Islands about nine leagues from hence to seize a Schooner which I heard was there, but upon his arrival the person settled there inform'd him that some of her people had been found on shore am:i'd among the Bushes endeavoring to take off some of his Negroes, but upon being discovered they got off and put to Sea, and Lieut Bray could not follow her in an open boat. It was impossible for the Pallas to go up the Rivers after their Vessels if there had been time and I had no Vessel of any kind with me, but the Officer whom I sent up to Bence Island informd me there was a Sloop calld the St John belonging to the proprietors of that Island which mounted eight four Pounders, and he thought would be of force sufficient to seize the Vessels up the Rivers and guard this part of the Coast. As their Lordships in their Orders to me mention'd a Su[s]picion of the Rebels in America being supplied with Powder and Ammunition from hence, I thought after the information I had received, and what happen'd upon my sending Lieut Bray to the Banana's, I could not leave this part of the Coast entirely clear for them to carry on their Plan, at the same time I am well aware that I have no Authority to Commission a Vessel, but as it must appear clearly to their Lordships that I could not execute this part of their Orders without it, the Exigence of the Service in time of actual Rebellion will I flatter myself plead an excuse for my doing what I was not sufficiently authorised to do. I have therefore taken this Vessel into the Service until their Lordships pleasure shall be known. I have been obliged to put her upon an Establishment of Men, for as the Pallas was at her lowest Complement and nine short it was impossible for me to lend her Men; I have left Lieut Agnew in her to Command her with a Complement of Thirty Men, fifteen of which I have discharged from the Pallas which I hope to compleat in my way down the Coast, and I do not doubt but that he will be able to Compleat his Complement from the different Guineamen he may meet with upon this part of the Coast and the Men that belong'd to the Vessel before. I have not taken upon me to appoint Officers to the arm'd Sloop, only Lieut Agnew to Command her with a Mate, Midshipman and Surgeon's Mate, and I have fill'd up Mr Agnew;s Vacancy in the Pallas, by removing Lieut Bray to first Lieutenant and appointing Mr James Cornwallis who was acting Lieutenant, second. I am conscious that it must be an additional expence to Government, but I do not doubt it will appear to their Lordships as necessary an Expence as any occasion'd by this Rebellion.

Mr Agnew has just sent in a Schooner belonging to South Carolina which he seized coming out of Quia port River, and I intend taking her with me.

I have ordered Mr Agnew to keep constantly cruising upon this part of the Coast and to be particularly careful that no Powder or Ammunition is carried off that he may suspect to be going to the Americans and to seize and detain all Vessels belonging to the Colonies specified in my Orders from their Lordships, 'till the arrival of some of his Majesty's Ships or 'till farther Orders. I am Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] Recd 5 June & Read