By &c

So soon as the Provisions & Stores of the Sloop you command shall be completed agreable to our Order of yesterdays date, you are hereby required and directed to take His Maj^'s Sloop the Alert under your command (her Comm^r. being directed to obey your Orders) and then putting to Sea with the first opportunity of Wind and Weather proceed to the Coast of Portugal, and cruize between Oporto & Lisbon for the Protection of the Trade of His Maj^ts. Subjects in those parts, and diligently to look out for, and to use your utmost endeavours to take or destroy any Privatiers or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of North America, which you may be able to come with, calling alternately off those places, and making enquiry of the British Consuls there for Intelligence

And in case you shall receive information that can be depended upon of any Privatiers or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies abovemention'd, being in parts contiguous to tho' not actually within the Station you are hereby directed to cruize upon, you are at liberty to proceed in quest of them, taking care to return immediately to the said Station, as soon as you shall have taken, destroyed or driven them away, or be thoroughly satisfied that none such are there.

You are to be very careful never to go into Port in the Ship you command or to suffer the Alert to do so, except when there shall be an absolute necessity for so doing & even then not to stay there a moment longer than you can possibly avoid, & when you shall have occasion to go into the Tagus you are never to go higher than the Bay of Wares.

You are to enter all seamen being His Majesty's Subjects who shall offer and to bear such as may be more than sufficient to complete your allow'd Complement as supernumeraries for Wages & Victuals until you shall have an opportunity of putting them on board any of His Maj^ts. Ships or Vessels which are short of Complement, or of disposing of them in such other manner as we shall think fit to direct, and you are to give similar directions to the Captain of the Alert.

You are to transmit to our Secretary by every opportunity such Intelligence as may have come to your knowledge with an account of your proceedings, & of the State & Condition of the Sloops, and you are once a Month (or as often as opportunities offer) to transmit to him also a Copy of your Journal, and to direct the Comm^r. of the Alert to do the like.

You are to continue upon the above Station and Service until you receive further Order, or til you reliev'd by some other of His Maj^ts. Ships or Vessels which you may expect will be soon sent out for that purpose, and then, if you do not receive orders by them to the contrary you are to return with both Sloops to Plymouth sound & remain there until you receive further Order, sending Us an Account of your arrival & proceedings, And in case any such Ships or Vessels whose Comm^r. shall be Senior to you shall be appointed to cruize upon the Said Station while you continue thereon, you are to follow his Orders, and, on the other hand, if he shall be junior to you, he is hereby required to obey such as he shall receive from you. Given &c. the 14^th. of October 1777.¹

By &c. P.S.