Whereas there is an absolute necessity to send to his Majesty's Islands in the West Indies for Rum to enable the Contractor to furnish his Ma js Ships on this Station, it being impossible for his Agent to procure Spirits by any other means.

You are therefore hereby required and directed to order the Union Transport to be got ready for that purpose as fast as possible, and to take from the other Transports under your Direction as many empty Casks, in addition to what are now on board the Union, as may be sufficient; taking care however not to have less than three Months Cask in each Transport, and you are also to direct the Master of the Union to take down the Soldiers Births to make room.

When she is ready to depart you are to order the Master to proceed without loss of time to Antigua, to deliver the Letters he will receive from Mr Alexander Brymer the Contractors Agent here to his Correspondents Messrs Reed and King Merchants at St Johns; having so done he is to use all possible diligence in taking in a Cargo of Rum, and return again with the utmost Expedition to Boston; but if a Cargo of Rum cannot be so soon procured at Antigua, as at any of the neighbouring Islands, you are to direct the Master to proceed to such other of his Majesty's Islands as the said Messrs Reed and King shall desire, and there load as before mentioned. You are to direct the Master to be on his guard going and returning, to avoid speaking with anything until he has first made the private Signal inclosed, and finds it answered as a friend. And you are further to ordt;r him to keep the said Signal as secret as possible, and to deliver the same to you on his Return, but to destroy it if chaced and in danger of being taken.

Given under my hand on board his Majs Ship Preston at Boston the 1st Janry 1776

To Lieut. Parry Agent of Transports
By Command of the Admiral G. Gefferina