[Admiralty Office] 6th July 1775
Sir
Soon after I had dispatched to you by the Viper instead of the Raven Sloop, my Letter of the 24h. ultimo, I received by Lieutenant Merrick and immediately communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letters of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th & 25th of May, giving an Account of the Rebellious Behaviour of His Majesty's American Subjects in several of the Colonies and of your proceedings since the 23d of April, Copies of all which have been sent to the Earl of Dartmouth for His Majesty's Information.
Their Lordships approve of your hiring Advice Boats to carry Dispatches to the King's Ships and Towns in the other Colonies as all communication by Land is stopt or at least very precarious.
The reasons you have given for desiring to have a few of the old 50 Gun Ships sent out to you are very substantial and as their Lordships, think that the Experiment a 50 Gun Ship built upon a new principle and of less burthen than any which have been built these many Years, and the Phoenix and Roebuck of 44 Guns, will answer the purpose to the full as well, and can be got ready much Sooner, they have ordered them to be fitted out and will send them to join you at Boston as soon as possible, which additional Reinforcement it is hoped will enable you to send home the three Guardships which should not but in a case of necessity be withdrawn from the defence of this Country; But as I said in my last this is a point that is left to your discretion according as the necessity of the times and the Service may require, and of which their Lordships wish to have your opinion by the very first conveyance that offers.
Their Lordships have in compliance with your request ordered the Raven Sloop to be supplied with an additional Boat, and will give the like directions for all other Ships that are going to you, as well as for sending some spare Boats to you by all opportunities that offer.
Your idea of putting small Detachments of Marines into the Schooners and small Vessels is in their Lordships opinion very proper; but as they cannot at present be spared from hence, Their Lordships recommend it to you to lend them from the Complements of the Ships now with you, and command me to acquaint you that you may depend upon receiving by every Ship coming out to you as many Supernumerary Marines as can possibly be got, which, from the number of Recruiting Parties that are now sent out, it is hoped will be sufficient to answer all your demands. But in all Events their Lordships command me to add you must not break into the Marine Battallions employed on shore.
Their Lordships have directed the Navy Board to send to Halifax immediately, such an assortment of Stores as may be necessary and proper for the use of the Squadron under your Command And as they do not think it safe to rely wholly upon the Contracts that have been made for supplying your Squadron with Provisions they will direct the Victualling Board to send out to you in due time a further supply of Provisions than those mentioned in my Letter of the 24th Ultimo.
Their Lordships are satisfied with your having permitted Lieutenant Merrick to quit the Glasgow for the recovery of his health, and have no objection to your giving Mr Pultney a Commission to be Lieutenant of her, in his room, who is now acting as such by your Order. I am &c
(By the Raven Sloop)