Whitehaven June 26th 1777
Sir/
Since my Express of this days date to you I have Order'd the Fly Cutter belonging to the Excise of this Port to proceed immediately to the first Port in Ireland sending an Acct of the three American Privateers being in this Channel and the Number of Captures they have made in Order to Caution the trade in general and more particular the Convoy to the Linnen trade, I have been oblig'd to hire Eight Men to Navigate her at two Guineas pr head with a proper supply of provisions, the Men belonging to her being imploy'd on Service at this port and could not be spared which I hope their Lordships will approve on.
The Merchants and people are exceedingly alarm'd at this place on Acct of these Privateers, they have desir'd me to represent the Ship Dunmore a Frigate belonging to this port of twenty Guns, ten Nine pounders and ten Six pounders but Peirc'd for two and twenty upon the Main Deck, A Ship very fit for the Service, they will use their Utmost endeavours to get her Mann'd at this place, provided her destination may be in this Channel and her Men not turn'd over to any other Ship against their inclination she is already engag'd for the transport Service and is under Orders to proceed to Deptford, but they would rather wish to have her imploy'd on the Service in this Channel if their Lordships think proper to appoint her, she has all her stores on board and two Months provisions for One hundred and fifty Men at an Anchor in the Road every thing ready for Sea, ready to receive any Officers their Lordships may please to appoint they mean to let her continue in the Road till I am honor'd with their Lordships answer.2
Inclos'd is the Weekly return I am Sir [&c.]
P S The Privateers send all their Prizes Mann'd with Foreigners