[Admiralty Office] 30 Sepr 1777
Sir,
The West India Merchants having upon an Attendance on my Lords Commrs of the Admty, desir'd that Convoys may be appointed to proceed to England, the ensuing Year on the 30th April, 15th June, and 1st Augt; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to appoint Convoys to be ready to sail from St Christophers on those days accordingly, directing the Commanding Officers of such Convoys to accompany them till their arrival in the Downes, And, in this Case they are pleased to recommend that you proportion the strength of the Convoys to the Number of Ships they are to take under their Care.
And it is their Lordships farther direction that you do all you possibly can for security of the Trade of the several Islands within the Limits of your Command, in protecting them on their passage to the Island of St Christopher's from whence they are to depart as aforementioned.
Their Lordships recommend, it to you to give the like Protection to the homeward bound Trade from Tortola, until they join the Fleet off Anguilla, in the ensuing Year, as was given to it in the present, if the same can be done consistently with the other Services under your Care. I am &c.
Vice Adml Young at Antigua } By the Packet 1st Octr } Duplicate sent 30 By the Niger
