Number 51.
Sir,

Captain Cornwallis,¹ appointed to the Chatham for returning to England on Account of his State of Health, is charged with the Care of this and my other Dispatches of the 5^th: and 6^th: Instant, sent by the same Opportunity. He will be accompanied by the Buffalo and Tortoise, with such of the Naval Transports as are judged unfit in their present Condition, to remain longer in this Country.

Fourteen of the Lower-Deck Guns will be left from the Chatham; to lighten the Ship in the Extremities, for her Passage to England; and to replace the same Number furnished from the Centurion for being mounted last Summer in the Vigilant. The Tortoise being weak and making much Water forward in bad Weather at Sea, Four nine-pounders have been also taken from that Ship for Arming the Delaware Frigate; the Guns of which (cast in this Country) have been inspected and are deemed unserviceable.

I am acquainted in my late Advices from Commodore Hotham with the Loss of the Mercury the 24^th: of last Month; By striking upon some of the Obstructions placed in the North River the preceding Year, tho represented to have passed in the accustomed Channel. The Injury was so considerable, and the Effect so sudden, that the Ship sunk almost immediately; And I have the further Concern to hear, that very few of the Stores, a part of the Guns excepted, are likely to be preserved. Captain Montagu's² Relation of the Circumstances is herewith transmitted.³ And by an Inquiry into the Cause of the Loss of the Ship immediately directed, the Officers and Men are acquitted of all Misconduct on that Occasion.

The Commodore's Letters being sent by the Maidstone, I was then first informed by Captain Gardner,⁴ that the Conway Store-Ship, with Baggage for the Army, parted from him the 21^st.; very unnecessarily, as he apprehends.

I received at the same time, the Report of the Survey taken on the Fowey;⁵ and Letters from Captain Pearson of the 28^th: of October,⁶ which arrived a few Days before in an Armed Ordnance-Transport dispatched from Quebec. The Copies thereof are herewith enclosed.

I have added Copies of the most necessary Papers referred to in the last; for the fuller Information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty respecting the State of the Maritime Force in that Province.⁷

An Answer has been lately received from Lieutenant General Burgoyne, by which it is signified, that no part of the Force comprehended in the Convention of the 16^th: of last October, will be permitted to embark, except at Boston. And from some very exorbitant Demands for Extraordinaries furnished to that Army, and required to be adjusted before the Troops are released; there is great Reason to suspect the Rebels mean to evade a Compliance with that part of the Engagement. The Particulars, by Desire of General Pigot,⁸ have been dispatched in the York Armed Sloop, to Sir William Howe. But the Passage of the Sloop up the Delaware, for conveying the Intelligence to Philadelphia, is very uncertain at this Season of the Year. I shall nevertheless, in consequence of General Burgoyne's recent Application for the Transports to be sent immediately to Boston, endeavor to get them advanced on their passage towards that port, as far as Cape-Cod-Harbour, in the mean time; Under Conduct of the Amazon and Juno.

The Commission, Instructions and other authorities, together with the Letter for Vice Admiral Gayton, having been delivered to Sir Peter Parker, who sailed in the Bristol for Jamaica the 15^th. Instant. Captain Griffith⁹ will remain in the Nonsuch, with the Command of the Ships assembling at this port after the Departure of the Amazon, as soon as the State of the Navigation will admit of my returning in the Eagle to the Delaware; which I reckon may be attempted early in the Month of March.

The Demand for Slops, and more especially for Shirts and Shoes, has been so urgent, that the Supply sent out in the last Store-Ships is considerably deficient of the Quantity requisite even for the present Necessities in the Fleet. The Distress of the Men becomes considerable on that Account; many of them being rendered incapable of Duty in the severer part of the Winter-Season. And those proceeding by Exchange, are sent destitute of Cloathing in almost every Article.

An Alteration having been made in the form of Distinguishing Signals appointed for the Ships on this Station; A Copy of those distributed for Use at the Commencement of the present Year, is herewith transmitted.

I am, with great Consideration, Sir, [&c.]