By the Viscount Howe Vice Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed &c in North America.
Emerald.
Solebay.
Otter.
Senegal.
Whereas it is intended that the Ship you command together with those named in the Margin, should, in the Absence of a Senior Officer, be employed under your direction, at and near to the Entrance of Chesepeak Bay. More especially to intercept all Supplies of Military Stores attempted to be introduced into the several Ports and Rivers of the Colonies bordering thereupon; Aswell as otherwise to prevent all Trade and Intercourse with the disaffected Inhabitants of those Colonies and to take or destroy any Armed Vessels they have provided, by every means in your power: you are therfore to take your Station, in such parts of the Bay towards the Entrance thereof, and to employ the Ships placed under your Direction, in such manner from time to time, as you may judge to be most effectual for the several purposes aforesaid.
Your first attention will however be more particularly necessary to prevent the Rebels from putting to Sea with Cargoes of Tobacco whether in American or Foreign Bottoms) destined for the Ports of France, in payment for Supplies of Arms and other Military Stores furnished on those Conditions from that Kingdom; Wherein your care must be further extended, as you can be assisted with small Armed-Vessels of suitable Force and Burthen, in opposition to the Success of a Plan undertaken with the same intent, and proposed to be executed by transporting small Cargoes of Tobacco over to the Eastern Shore of the Bay, and re-shipping them for Europe in Vessels adapted to the Navigation of the Shallow Creeks and Inlets on the opposite Coast of the County of Northampton.
In this view, and more particularly at those Seasons of the Year, whilst the unsettled state of the Weather will not probably admit of keeping the Sea without danger of having the Cruizing Ships forced off of the Coast, proper Anchoring Stations are to be taken within the entrance of the Bay, where they may remain or repair to occasionally, as Circumstances require. Tho' at other times when a sufficient number of Ships can be spared for the temporary Service, the additional Force may be very advantageously appointed to cruizing Stations without the Capes: conducive both to the purpose of intercepting Ships that may have escaped out of the Bay, and preventing the importation of necessary Supplies to the Rebels from foreign Ports.
In case, by the capture of any Trading Ships, or Ships armed for War, you shall be incumbered with a number of Prisoners not inclined to enter for the King's Service, you are permitted to Exchange the same against any British Prisoners, Officer for Officer claiming equal Rank, and Sailor for Sailor, as on a proffered Communication for that purpose with the Inhabitants of the Provinces having British Captives in possession, you find them disposed on those Conditions to release. But if being unable to make such advantageous Exchange, you are likely to be compelled to quit your Station, or to detach any of the Ships under your Orders on the same Account; you are then equally permitted to land such Prisoners, not being His Majesty's European Subjects or taken in Arms, in the Provinces most convenient with reference to the general purpose of these Instructions. But British Prisoners taken whilst in the Employment of the Rebels, may be retained involuntarily to serve in the Ships of War, if you think fit.
You are to continue upon this Service, with the several Ships beforementioned, and such as may be hereafter sent to be employed in the same mariner under your Direction, whilst heir Condition, and the State of their Men and Stores will admit, with due sufficiency for their Return into Port to procure the Relief they respectively require, or until further Order. But if the cause for leaving their Stations shall in such time happen, that the particular Ship cannot arrive to obtain the requisite Supplies at the general Rendezvous in the Port of New-York, before the End of the first Week in December (and afterwards until the beginning of March the attempt is to be postponed) the Captain is to repair for the purpose to Rhode-Island; Where a suitable Provision will have been made for affording the necessary Assistance in the mean time, whilst the access to the Port of New-York is likely to be obstructed by the Ice which usually forms there at that Season of the Year.
You are to transmit to me by every suitable conveyance, a particular Account of your Proceedings in compliance with these Instructions; The Incidents that occur; The Stations on which the Ships have been placed from time to time, in the Form annex'd; And the Condition of them, as any Change of Circumstances therein may require. And further to communicate by such opportunities, all advices you obtain of the Practices and Designs of the Rebels for Strengthening themselves in their illegal Resistance; With the measures deemed most effectual for preventing the Success of their hostile Intentions, or which in other respects appear to be for the benefit of His Majesty's Service.
Given onboard His Majesty's Ship the Eagle in Chesepeak Bay the 22d of September 1777.
By Command of the Vice Admiral. Jos: Davies.
P.S. The Packet enclosed herewith is to be delivered to Captain Parker as soon as an Opportunity offers for that purpose.
