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.
Copy.
You are with all convenient dispatch, to complete the Provisions in His Majesty's Ship under your Command, to a proportion of three Months of all Species from the Victuallers as will be more particularly pointed out; And with Water in the full Quantity that the Ship can Stow. When so prepared in those respects, You are forthwith to proceed to Hampton Road in Virginia; And take the station of the Phoenix, which you may expect to find there, for the purposes chiefly, as Expressed in the Copy of the Orders to Captain Parker herewith enclosed.1 Upon which Service you are to remain, as long'as your Provisions and Water will last with due sufficiency for your passage to Rhode-Island to procure a fresh Supply, conformable to the tenor of the Orders to Captain Parker as aforesaid; Unless you are sooner relieved, or otherwise directed.
A farther Object of your appointment therein, being to afford an opportunity for Captain Parker to complete the Water in the Phoenix; Either by repairing to this River or proceeding higher up in Chesepeak Bay for that purpose, And at the same time to leave him at liberty to prosecute any attempt which shall seem advisable, with one or more of the Stationed Ships that may be consistently spared for the same occasion; In acting with Effect against the Armed or Trading Ships of the Rebels, as from the intelligence he may have gained, He judges it advisable [to] attempt.
And whereas from the Remains left in the Victualling Transports attending the Fleet, it is inexpedient to complete the Provisions in the St. Albans for a longer Term than is before expressed; But from the nature of the Service for which the Ship is now intended a material inconvenience might ensue in consequence of the deficiency in the Article of Provisions when the Ship left New-York. It will be requisite the daily Issues in the Ship should be regulated in such manner, that the Supply for three Months may serve for the Term of four Months, during your absence from Rhode Island: You are then to reduce the Allowance to the Ship's Company whilst on this Service to two thirds of the full proportion established; At such times however in continuance or at seasonable Intervals, [which] in your discretion you think fit.
Given on board His Majesty's Ship the Eagle off of Chester in the River Delaware the 22d day of November 1777.
By Command of the Vice Admiral.
Jos: Davies
