Garland, off Quebec, Octobr. 28th. 1777.
Copy
My Lord,
I beg leave to inform Your Lordship, that after General Burgoyne had passed Ticonderoga and Lake George, and had proceeded on His March towards Albany, I judged it necessary to withdraw Captain Lutwidge1 and the Triton's Men from the Lake Service, with the Approbation of General Sir Guy Carleton, he being of Opinion, as well as myself that the detention of her any longer in this River would be unnecessary; I therefore dispatched Her on a Cruize agreeable to Your Lordship's Orders in that behalf—But in Order to point out more clearly to Your Lordship the past, as well as the present Transactions relative to the Service in Canada, I herewith beg leave to inclose to your Lordship Copies of such Letters, Orders &Ca. as will fully explain the Situation of Affairs on the Lakes, as well as in the River St: Laurence.
On the Receipt of General Sir Guy Carleton's Letter from St. johns the 24th. Ultimo, I immediately set out for the Lakes, and took with me Captain Graves2 of the Viper and Sixty Men from the Garland but on our Arrival at St. Johns I found the Rebels had failed in their Attempt to Storm Ticonderoga, and afterwards at Diamond Island, and that they were intirely dispersed with great Loss. After having remained a few Days at St Johns, in which time I made a proper Arrangement of the Vessels and Men for the defence of the Lakes &c., I returned with Sir Guy Carleton to Quebec, leaving Captain Graves (at the request of His Excellency) to Command the Naval Armament on the Lakes till farther Order.
In a few Days after my return to the Garland, I received from Captain Graves the inclosed Letter with the State and Condition of His Majesty's Armed Vessels employed upon the Lakes;3 in Consequence of which, as well as having daily Accounts of the probability of General Burgoyne's Army being obliged to retreat again into Canada, from His being surrounded by numbers. I thought it expedient (as did General Sir Guy Carleton) that as many Officers and Men should be sent from His Majesty's Ships here, as could possibly be spared [to] give Assistance in securing the Retreat of the said Army across the Lakes; I therefore instantly, for that purpose, sent off Captain Lutwidge of His Majesty's Ship Triton (She being at this Time returned to Quebec) with one Lieutt., three Mates, three Midshipmen and Eighty Seamen from the Garland and Triton, none of which with twenty eight I sent up from the Garland a few [days] before, are included in the inclosed State of the Lakes.
Two Hundred and Twenty Seamen with Lieutenant Brown4 of the Apollo, Lieutenant Schank5 of the Canceaux and three or four petty Officers crossed Lake George with the Army to Hudson's River, all which I fear from the Accounts we have had lately, are either killed or fallen into the Hands of the Rebels with General Burgoyne and His whole Army; they having been by every late Account said to be surrounded by thirty or forty thousand [Men] between Stillwater and Saratoga, And by the last Account that they had been obliged to Capitulate on the 16th. instant.
This will sufficiently point out the urgent Necessity for having a large Reinforcement sent out to this p[lace] as early as it is possible in the Spring.
I must also beg Leave to inform Your Lordship that His Majesty's Schooner the Magdalen being found by Survey to be totally unfit for His Majesty's Service, and not capable of being repaired I thought it best and most for the Good of the Service to put Her out of Commission and put her up to Sale at a public Auction—I herewith inclose to Your Lordship the Bill of Sale with a Copy of the Report of the said Survey;6 and as Her Sails, Stores and every part of her Tackle must have been unavoidably spoiled by letting Her continue the ensuing Winter in her bad Condition, I hope what I have done will meet with Your Lordship's Approbation, having, in this Business, as well as all others, used the utmost of my Endeavors to do every thing for the good of the Service.
His Majesty's Ship Warwick being sent out by the Admiralty with a Convoy to this place, arrived at Coudré the 8th. instant, And Sailed from thence the 25th. agreeable to their Lordship's Order with the Trade of this Province for England. I have the Honor to be [&c.]
