Hessom arrived here this Morng and I now redispatch him with Answers to such Parts of the Letters you have sent me, as require Measures to be immediately taken upon them.

Sir H[ugh] Palliser & I are of Opinion that in consequence of Adml [Samuel] Graves's Wish to have more Boats, the Navy Board should be directed to supply each Ship for America with a Cutter on [or] Yawl above the Established Number; and to send 20 Cutters by the first Transports that go to America, to be delivered to the Storekeeper at Boston, to be disposed of as Adml Graves shall direct. Also to prepare an additional Assortment of Stores to be immediately sent to Halifax, suitable to the Ships employed in America.

Admiral Graves should be told that his Idea of putting additional Marines into the Schooners & Small Vessels, is in our Opinion very proper; but as that we have none to spare as yet from hence, he must lend them from the Compliments of the Ships now with him, and he may depend upon it, that all the Ships that are coming out to him shall bring as many supernumerary Marines as we can possibly get; but he should at the same time be told, that he must not break into the Marine Battallions on Shore.

As Adml Graves mentions his Wish to have some 50 Gunships, and gives very substantial Reasons in my Opinion for such a Requisition,² which it is hoped would enable him to send home the three Guard ships, which should not be withdrawn from the defence of this Country but in a Case of Necessity; we think it advisable that the Experiment a small 50 Gunship, & the Phoenix & Roebuck of 44 Guns (which will answer the same purpose) be immediately commissioned; but upon this point you will ask Lord Dartmouth, to whom I have now written, & to whom you will communicate everything in this Letter that relates to America, whether he approves of this additional Reinforcement, before you lay the Commissions before the Admiralty, and send the proper Orders to the Navy Board.

[Endorsed] Ext. of Letter from/ Lord Sandwich to/ Mr Stephens, dated/ Plymouth 20th June 1775/ In Mr Stephens's Letter/ to J. P. of 1st July 1775.