Gent^n.

Lord Vis^te. How Command^r. in Chief of His Maj^t's. Ships in N^o. America having in his Letter of the 5^th. June last¹ taken notice of the long absence of the Flora, which he had sent to Antigua to be refitted, not by way of censuring the retardment, but in a light that may effect the service of the ship carreening in the West Indies; and his Lordship having Proposed as an expedient if necessary in future (for facilitating the timely Repair of his Cruizing Ships) to apply to Comm^r. Arbuthnot for a Part of the Artificers to be sent from Halifax to be employ'd at New York during the season of the year which will not admit of sending Ships to be refitted at that Port; I am commanded by my Lords Commiss^rs. of the Admty to send you herewith an Extract of so much of the said Letter as relates to the subject & to acquaint you that they have signified to his Lordship their Approbation of his proposition; and I am to signify their direction to you to give the necessary orders to Comm^r. Arbuthnot to send to New York from time to time such number of Artificers belonging to the Yard at Halifax as Lord Howe may inform him will be requisite for carrying on the service above mentioned as well as to encrease the present establishment of Artificers at Halifax if it shall be found necessary to enable him to do so. I am &c^a.