My Lord,

Your Lordship having, in your Letter of the 21^st August last, acquainted us that as the Issue of the present Campaign in North America cannot be known here in time to prepare for the Operations of another, if another shall become necessary, His Majesty had come to the Resolution of making every preparation for the further Prosecution of the War that depends upon this Country, so early that in case the Rebellion is not subdued this Campaign, the next may open the Moment the Season will admit, and Your Lordship having, in your aforesaid Letter, signified His Majesty's Pleasure, that we do give the necessary Orders for providing Ships of sufficient Strength to defend themselves against any of the Rebel Cruizers, for the Conveyance of 3,000 Tons of Tents, Camp Equipage & other Stores to North America, to be in readiness to receive the same by the End of December, it being His Majesty's express Commands that the whole should be assembled at Spithead in readiness to sail from thence, under the Convoy of such of His Majesty's Ships as we shall think proper to appoint, on the 1^st. Day of Febry; We are to desire you will be pleased to acquaint His Majesty, that the Navy Board have, in Obedience to Directions we gave them, in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands aforementioned, acquainted us that they have purchased six Ships whose Names are in the Margin,¹ to perform this Service, which Ships are Armed with 26 Guns and will be provided with a Complement of 160 Men each. We are further to inform His Majesty that the Nabob one of the aforementioned Ships is arrived at Longreach and ready to receive such part of the aforementioned Camp Equipage & Stores as may be thought fit to be sent on board; that the rest are equipping with all possible Expedition in order to proceed thither also, and that so soon as they are arrived there, we shall not fail to give Your Lordship immediate Notice thereof. We are &c