By &c.

You are hereby required and directed to put to Sea in the Ship you command with the very first opportunity of Wind &Weather and proceed in her without a moments loss of time to Kingroad (Bristol) where you are to remain until you receive further Order; holding yourself in readiness to sail at a moments notice, And, in case you shall receive any information that can be depended upon of any Privatiers belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of N^o America being in any part of the Bristol, or S^t. George's, Channel, you are immediately to proceed in quest of them; taking care to return to Kingroad when you shall have taken, destroyed or driven them away, or shall be thoroughly satisfied that none such are there, & to send to our Secretary an Account of your arrival & proceedings.

Upon the receipt of any such intelligence as is beforemention'd you are to send an Account thereof by the Post to the Officers employed on the Service of raising Men for His Majesty's Fleet at the Ports against their Names express'd on the other side hereof¹ with a request that they will communicate the same to the Commanders of any other of His Majesty's Ships or Vessels which may be in the neighbourhood of those Ports respectively to the end that such Commanders may likewise proceed in quest of the said Privatiers & use their best endeavours to take or destroy them, and you are to send a like Account at the same time to the Commanding Officer, for the time being of His Majesty's Ships &Vessels at Plymouth. Given &c. the 18^th. Nov^r. 1777

By &c. P.S.