By &c You are hereby required & directed to put to Sea in the ship you command with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather & proceed & Cruize off the Port of Oporto for the Protection of the Trade of His Maj'^ts Subjects & diligently to look out for & to use your utmost endeavours to take or destroy Privatiers or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of North America, sending Letters to the British Consuls at that Port & at Lisbon by the first Vessel you may meet with going thither, to inform them of your arrival & of the time you are appointed to Cruize on the Coast of Portugal which is to be, off Oporto, as above directed, for the space of Fifteen Days after your arrival upon that Station & at the expiration thereof for the like number of Days off the Tagus, whither you are to proceed & Cruize accordingly for that time & for the above purposes; and then repair to Lisbon where you are to make enquiry for all such homeward bound Trade as may be desirous of accompanying you, and (after a stay not exceeding Ten Days from the time of your going into that Port) you are to take the said Trade under your Convoy & make the best of your way (consistent with their security) with them towards England & having seen them to Spithead or as near to it as your way & theirs may be together remain there until you receive further order; sending Us an account of your arrival & proceedings.

And Whereas the Commanders of His Majestys Sloops named in the Margin¹ are directed to proceed & Cruize, for the like purposes off the Ports of Portugal abovementioned until relieved by the arrival of other clean Frigates intended to be sent out as soon as possible; we signify the same to you that you may know of their being on the Coast & give information thereof also to the British Consuls as above directed, And, in case you shall receive information that can be depended upon, either from them, or others, that any Privatiers, or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies abovementioned are in parts contiguous to, tho not within the Stations 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 Stations as soon as you shall have taken destroyed or driven them away or be thoroughly satisfied that none such are there. Given &c 16^th Oct^o 1777.

By &c &c

LB, UkLPR, Adm. 2/103, 350-52. Addressed at foot of letter: "Cap^t Elphinstone, Egmont, Spithead.”