Whereas we think fit that you shall command His Majestys Cutter the Alert, which is coming round, from Dover to Deptford, to be fitted out for immediate Service; You are hereby required & directed, so soon as she arrives at the last mentioned Place, to repair on board her and take upon you the charge & command of her accordingly, her Officers & Company being hereby strictly required & directed to obey your Orders, And you are as strictly to observe & execute the general Printed Instructions, and such orders & directions as you shall at any time receive from Us, or any other your superior Officer for His Majestys Service.
And Whereas we have ordered the said Cutter to be fitted & Stored for Channel Service Mann'd with Sixty Men & Victualled for Three Months with all Species of Provisions except Beer of which she is to have as much as she can conveniently stow; You are hereby required and directed to use the utmost dispatch in getting her ready for the above Service accordingly; And then falling down to Galleons Reach take in her Guns & Gunner's Stores at that Place, and proceed to the Nore for further Order. Given &c 27 June 1777
Sandwich
Lisburne
H Palliser
To Lieut John Bazely hereby appointed
to command His Majs Cutter Alert
at Deptford
By &c PS
