Sir,

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that this comes by His Majesty's Ship pal­las, who with the armed Ship Bute sails from hence to morrow with the Trade to Blue­fields, and from thence to proceed with the Convoy to England and I have given Capt^n. Cotton my usual Order to Keep in company with the worst sailing Ships; Noth­ing has occur'd since my last to their Lordships by the Pacquet,¹ a duplicate of which I transmit inclosed, together with Copies of several Letters, Affidavits & Petitions which are more particularly set forth in the Schedule²

The Porcupine Sloop who sailed in Company with the Lively Captain Bishop, and who was Struck with Lightning, which accident shiver'd her Mast all to pieces and which occasioned her to be towed in to S^t. Augustine Harbor there to get a Mast and refit, but there not being a Mast to be had (sufficiently large for said Sloop) Captain Cadogan, was under the Necessity of converting her into a Brig, which he did, and she is now arrived and at the careening Wharf to repair the damage she sustained when on shore on the Bar of S^t. Augustine and I hope she will soon be ready for Sea

His Majesty's Sloop diligence whom I sent to the Mosquito Shore and Bay of Hon­duras, met with a like accident and lost her Mast which was replaced and she is ar­rived and fitting for Sea

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that I send by His Majesty's Ships pallas and Bute a Number of Americans and Frenchmen who were taken in Rebel Vessels and some in Arms against His Majesty, among them is a notorious pirate whose Name is Murfee, him and his Officers I have order'd to be confined in Irons, untill the Ships arrive and their Lordships pleasure is Known; he was taken by Captain Atkins in His Majesty's Ship Æ​olus but had thrown his Guns overboard before she came up with him, his being taken is a most favorable circumstance for the Trade of this Is­ land as he intended (after completing his complement to 100 Men) to come to the North side and cut Vessels out of the different Harbors: I beg leave to inclose his Commission and Instructions from the Rebel Congress as also a List of his Officers, he had only 28 Men on board when taken but purposed going to Cape Francois to complete his complement to One hundred with French Men and then proceed as I have herein before informed their Lordships, which he undoubtedly wou'd have af­fected had he [not been taken by Captain Atkins,]³

The [Squadron under my Command] is employed as follows. The Antelope ready to proceed to England soon after I am relieved by the Admiral Sir Peter Parker, The Winchelsea, Glasgow and Stork are on a Cruize, The Southampton is just from the Ca­reening Wharf and fitting for Sea, The Æ​olus is at the Careening Wharf to be hove down, The Lowestoffe almost ready to proceed again on a Cruize, The Atalanta con­ tinues at pensacola, The Racehorse armed Sloop is stationed at the North side this Is­land to protect the Trade, The Florida and West Florida Sloops are on their Stations agreeable to their Lordships Orders, The Hornet is gone to Cape Francois with my dispatches to the Governor of Hispaniola to demand restitution for Acts of Violence committed by the French Kings Subjects on the Loyal Subjects of Great Britain, [which] their Lordships will observe by [the Copies of] those dispatches which I in­ close for their Lordships information.⁴

The Porpoise Capt^n. Haynes at the request of the Governor of this Island is gone to remove Troops from one part of the Island to the other, this request I granted 'tho' I have not any directions in my instructions for that Service & I must beg their Lordships will be pleased to direct me how to proceed in future on the like occasion, particularly in time of War, when Ships are wanted to Cruize against the Enemy⁵

As to the Badger I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that she arrived so very leaky (which I signified to their Lordships in my last) that I am surprized how she ever reach'd this port, I have order'd every thing to be done to make her fit for Ser­vice, but I am doubtful that can not be accomplished; in that case I shall order her to be Surveyed and if condemned will purchase an other armed Vessel in her room, which I hope will meet their Lordships approbation⁶

I also beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that I purpose sending the Lord Amherst armed Ordnance Transport to England in december with a Convoy if there shou'd be any, or without, as she is leaky and y^e term for which she was hired will ex­pire by the time she arrives in England

I likewise beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the Squadron, under my Command, being much augmented and no Launches fit for Service I find the Sloop Flying Fish is not sufficient to Water the Ships with that dispatch which the Service at present requires I have therefore purchased an other small Vessel for that purpose, both which Vessels will be very useful to unload Storeships as they will contain the Men that are sent on that Service & thereby prevent a Frigate being sent to Green­wich where many Men are lost.⁷

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships, that Lieu^t. M^cNemara whom I appointed to y^e Racehorse armed Sloop, being so much indisposed with a fever, that he was not able to go out in the said Sloop, I therefore order'd M^r. Charles Jordan, my acting Lieutenant, to take upon him the charge and Command of said Sloop dur­ing the Indisposition of her Commander, & proceed with  her round to the North side this Island, to protect the Trade and Convoy the Ships to Bluefields to join the Fleet; and I have the pleasure to inform their Lordships that Two days ago, I received a Letter from the acting Lieutenant M^r. Jordan, acquainting me that had taken a Rebel privateer of 12 Carriage and 16 Swivel Guns, & between 90 & 100 Men, almost all French-men, after having engaged her upwards of Two hours; M^r. Jordan in the Racehorse had 10 Carriage Guns (three pounders) 8 Swivels & 4 Musquetoons and 37 Men, The Privateer had 16 Men Kill'd and 40 Wounded, The Racehorse had 1 Man Kill'd & 8 wounded and took her by boarding. For this very Gallant behaviour I beg leave to recommend M^r. Jordan to their Lordships favor, as also his People & Offi­cers, I inclose with the other papers a Copy of  the  acting Lieutenant Jordan's Letter to me for their Lordships further information[.] ⁸ I purpose giving M^r. Jordan a Lieu­tenants Commission, and hope it will meet their Lordships approbation⁹

I likewise beg leave to inclose the State and Condition of His Majesty's Ships in Port, a List of Officers made & removed since my last & A List of prizes taken by His Majesty's Ships under my Command to this date. I am [&c.]

Antelope in Port Royal
Harbor Jamaica 25^th.
October 1777.