No 23

My Lord  The hope you held out to us in your letter of the 1st of May that with a supply of arms and ammunition you should be able to collect from amongst Negroes Indians and other persons a force sufficient if not to subdue Rebellion at least to defend Governt ー was very encouraging; but as I find by your letters delivered to me by Lt [Henry] Collins that you have been obliged from the violence of the times, menaced by one branch of the Legislature and abandoned by the other, to yield up all the powers of Governt. and to retire yourself on board the Fowey, I have the King's commands to send you His Majtys leave to return to England, which together with this letter and a Commission to Mr Corbin to administer Governt. during your absence will be delivered to you by Captn [Christopher] Atkins of His Majty's Ship Actaeon, who goes Convoy to the Maria Store Ship.

At the same time it is left to your Lordp's discretion to use this leave of absence or not, as you shall see occasion, for relying upon your firmness I have still a hope that with the supply of arms now sent to you and with the assistance of a greater Naval force, the King's Governt. in Virginia may yet be maintained; and should this happily be the case, it will not be necessary that Mr. Corbin should be informed of His Majty's intention in his favour  I am &c.