(N^o: 1)
Sir

Please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the Trade from England to these Islands arrived here Safe the 20^th: January last, under Protection of His Majesty's Ships Niger, Hind, Aurora, and Deal Castle; and the Sloops Hound, Sylph, and Ceres, by which I have received Duplicates of the Letters &c, their Lordships had transmitted me by His Majesty's Ship Yarrnouth, and Octo^r: Packet; likewise Orders to take under my Command, the Aurora, Deal Castle, and Ceres, to Station the Aurora & Deal Castle, at the Islands Grenada, & Tobago; and Employ the Ceres as I may think best for His Majesty's Service; all which I have Complied with. As the Aurora came here Eight Months foul; had lost Her Mizen Mast, and Sprung Her Main Mast, and Bowsprit; I thought it would be of great use on the Service she was appointed, to heave her down, whilst the other Damages were repairing; this is now Compleated, and She Sailed from hence to her Station the 9^th: Instant; The Deal Castle has remained there, since her Arrival, in these Seas.

The 13^th: January the Aurora fell in (to Windward of Barbadoes) with the S^t: Peter a Rebel Privateer of 18 Guns & 119 Men;¹ Cruizing there to intercept the Convoy from England; which she took and brought into this Island; His Majesty's Ship Seaford, whom I sent off that Island to look out for the Convoy, has taken and carried into Barbadoes, the General Washington a Congress Brig^e: carrying 18 Guns & 84 Men;² She was also Cruizing for the same purpose, as were 14, or 15, others all from Martinico; The Seaford on Her passage from Barbadoes to this Island fell in with and took the Hampden Rebel Privateer 12 Guns & 64 Men and carried her into Dominico;³ Their Lordships will also perceive by the Prize List transmitted them by this Opportunity that the Ariadne took a Schooner of 8 Guns and 30 Men;⁴ and distroyed two Sloops that run on Shore; mostly Mann'd with French Men; Lieutenant Billy Douglas Commanding His Majesty's Armed Brig^e: Antigua, has likewise taken (after a Smart Action) and sent into this Island, the Schooner Nancy, An American Privateer from Georgia Carrying 12 Guns and 40 Men;⁵ The Antigua suffered no loss or Damage, but the Privateer was a good deal Shattered and had 4 Men Killed and 5 Wounded, amongst the latter was the Commander, whose Thigh was broke by a Swivel Shott from the Antigua. Notwithstanding these Successes⁶ their Lordships will perceive by the Accompanying papers of Intelligence,⁷ these Seas still swarm with Armed Vessels and privateers, and I am extremely sorry to add, they mostly belong to French Owners; And the French Men of War Stationed here, Convoy the American Vessels part of their way, and clear of these Islands; all going under French Colours; The Masters of the American Vessels it seems make a Collection for a present to the French Captain; this Intelligence I received from a Brig that was taken after the Convoy had parted from them; and the Master informs me His Share in the aforenamed Collection, Amounted to Twenty four Johannes: As our Cruizers have not yet fallen in with any of these Convoys, I am Ignorant how the French would behave on the American Merchant Vessels being searched, which it is probable I shall soon know, for they must not be suffered to carry on such an Open breach of Neutrality; Their Lordships may rest assured, I will not begin Hostilities with them, 'till forced; so at present I shall only Order the Kings Ships under my Command, to follow, 'till the Convoy parts Company; and if they pretend to hinder that; they must take upon themselves the Consequences.

I must likewise desire you will acquaint My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that within these few days past a Dutch Squadron of five Sail, most of them Two Deck Ships, commanded by The Count Byland⁸ are arrived at Eustatia; and the reason assigned for their coming here: "To Protect their Trade" and are it is said, to be Stationed at their different Settlements in these Seas.—

I have likewise received Information; that on the 8^th: Instant, (Ten or Twelve Leagues to the Windward of the Island S^t: Martins) The Portlands Tender Resolution fell in with four Sail of Spanish Two Deck Ships of War; apparently Steering for Porto Rico, or S^t: Domingo; for what purpose all these Armaments are intended, I do not know but cannot avoid remarking to their Lordships every Action of the French and Dutch &c; in these Seas, carry very strong appearances of An Approaching Rupture; I have therefore thought it necessary to send His Majesty's Armed Brigantine Endeavour, Express to England, on the Occasion; and hope I soon shall receive their Lordships directions how I am to Act in all these Critical Circumstances, or that my Successor may bring with him Instructions on that head.⁹ I have given Notice to the different Islands at what times the Convoys are appointed to Sail for Europe; but have not yet Settled what Kings Ships will come with the first Convoy. Their Lordships must know the Squadron Emploved here is very Weak and Insufficient for the Various Services wanted, in the present very precarious Situation and Uncertainty, who are our Friends or Foes. The Trade from Ireland Consisting of Vessels under Convoy of the Camel & Cupid, are all arrived Safe (both the Kings Ships accompanying them I find are gone down to Jamaica) Their Lordships will perceive by the Abstract of Orders given to the Kings Ships under my Command (⅌ Dispatch Marked No: 3.)¹⁰ that I thought it absolutely Necessary to send as Many of the Cruizers as I could, to look out for and protect the Convoy 'till they were clear of the French Islands; (now the place of General Rendezvous of the American Cruizers, where they receive all possible protection and Information) and I am happy to find they have Succeeded therein.—

I must again repeat my former request, that Their Lordships will be pleased to send some directions, about securing the prisoners taken on board the American Privateers &c; for We cannot keep them prisoners in the Kings Ships, without endangering the laying up the Squadron by Sickness &c; and the Governors of the Islands refuse Imprisoning them on Shore: They therefore get away to the French & Dutch Islands and go on board other American Privateers some of which have been taken several times within these last Six or Eight Months; this Constant Supply of Men to the Rebels Cruizing Vessels must undoubtedly prove very prejudicial to the Kings Service; as well as to the Trade of His Majesty's Loyal & Faithful Subjects, and I hope Administration will instruct me in some mode to remove the mischief.—

I have likewise received Information from Barbados, that the Packet from England with the January Mail on board, is Arrived there, in a Shatterd Condition; having been Engaged on Her Passage by an American Cruizer;¹¹ and that during the Action the Commander of the Packet had caused the Mail to be Slung astern of His Vessel to have destroyed it in case of being Overpowered by the Enemy; and by Accident the same has been carryed away by a Cannon Shot from the American Privateer;¹² this certainly proves very unlucky at this Critical Period, when I so much need their Lordships Instructions for my proceed[ings.] I hope, and ardently wish I may soon receive the Duplicates of their Lordships Dispaches for me that were on board the aforenamed Packet.

I am Sir [&c.]