My Lord.

Since closing my Letters to your Lordship of the 20th Instant, I have had the honor to receive Yesterday your Lordships dispatches of the 18th & 29th June & of the 3rd 5 & 9th of last Month numbered from 32 to 36 both inclusive with the several Papers accompanying them, which came by the Packet; & this day Duplicates of the said Letters & Papers which came by Capt Talbot of the Niger, all of which I have communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty & expect to receive their directions to answer them in detail, by the next conveyance; there not being sufficient time for it to be done by this.

I have also, since closing the said Letters had the satisfaction to re­ceive & communicate to their Lordships, a Letter from Sir George Col­lier dated at Halifax the 12th of last Month given an Account of his having taken & brought into that Port, the Hancock Privatier of 32 Guns —— Manley Commander; & of the Flora's having re-taken & carried into the same place His Majts Ship the Fox which had been taken by the Hancock on the Banks of Newfoundland, And their Lord­ships understanding, by the Officer who brought the Letter; that Sir George Collier had sent, or intended to send, to your Lordship Capt Fotheringham who commanded the Fox at the time she was taken, and who, with some of his people, were found on board the Hancock; I have their directions to recommend it to you, when he & such a Num­ber of His Officers & Men as may be judged sufficient for the purpose, shall arrive, to cause a Court Martial to be assembled as soon as con­veniently may be, to inquire into the cause of the Capture of the said Ship, & to try the said Captain, his Officers & Men, for their Conduct upon that Occasion.

I have at the same time their Lordships commands to signify their directions to you & to cause her to be put into condition again, as soon as possible, to re-commission the Fox; to direct the Naval Officer at Hallifax to purchase the Hancock by Appraisement, if she is found fit for His Majesty's Service, drawing upon the Navy Board for the ex­pence, And then to commission her as a Ship of 32 Guns, & to cause her to be put into proper Condition also employing them both after­wards as you shall judge best for His Majesty's Service entrusted to your Care. I have the honor to be &ca

vice Adml Lord Viscount Howe, By the Venus. Duplicate by the Maidstone 20 Septr —