My Lord

I am commanded by my Lords Commissrs of the Admty to signify their direction to you to order the Commanders of His Majts Ships Bedford & Asia & also the Cameleon Sloop when she arrives at Plymouth, to put to Sea without one Moments Loss of time, & to proceed & cruize upon the Stations against each exprest on the other side hereof for the protection of the Trade of His Majesty's Subjects & to use their utmost Endeavours to take, or destroy any Privatiers or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of North America which they may be able to come up with, and more particularly to look out for the homeward bound West India Convoys which were to have sailed from Jamaica & the Leeward Islands on the 1st of last Month, And upon falling in with either of those Convoys to accompany them as high up the English Channel as Spithead & remain there untill they receive further Order, sending their Lordships an Account of their arrival & proceedings, But upon case of falling in with the said Convoys, or either of them, the[y] shall find that any other of His Majts Cruizers (under like orders to see them into the Channel) shall have joined them, they are in that case to continue to cruize on their respective Stations, to look out for the remainder (if any are expected) & for the other purposes beforementioned untill the expiration of three weeks from the first passing the Meridian of Scilly, & then to return to Plymouth Sound, & remain there untill they receive further order, For which their Captains will respectively receive their Lordships orders in form the first convenient Opportunity, this being sent to save time as the West India Convoys are hourly expected, & there is reason to apprehend they may meet with some Conveyance for the American Privatiers. I am &ca,

		[On Reverse]
Bedford		Between the Lattitudes of 49° & 50° North, stretching 40 Leagues to the Westward of he Meridian of Scilly —
Asia Cameleon Slo[o]p		Between the same Lattitudes stretching 40 Leagues to the Westward of the Meridian of Cape Clear —