By &c.

Whereas we have receiv'd Intelligence that an American Privatier of 20. Guns, called the America and commanded by one Johnson, was in Dunkirk Roads a few days ago, waiting to complete her Provisions and Water, And whereas we intend that the Ship you command¹ together with one of His Maj^ts. Sloops named in the Margin² shall proceed immediately to the Northward of Dunkirk to endeavor to intercept the abovemention'd Privatier should she attempt to put to Sea & shape her course that way; You are hereby required & directed to take such one of the two Sloops before named under your command as Rear Admiral Roddam³ shall direct, and having receiv'd on board a Pilot properly qualified for the North Sea, & the Commander of the Sloop having done so likewise (we having ordered two to be sent immediately down to Sheerness for that purpose) and put to Sea with the very first opportunity of Wind and Weather & proceeding down the Swin⁴ stretch over to the Coast of Flanders and endeavor to fall in with it to the Northward of Dunkirk where you are very diligently to cruize, on such Station as shall appear to you to be most likely for answering the abovemention'd purpose for the space of fourteen days using your best endeavors to take or destroy the abovemention'd, or any other Privatiers or Ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of N^o. America which you may be able to come up with, and then repair to the Downs and remain there until you receive further Order, sending to our Secretary an Account of your arrival and proceedings

But whereas Vice Adm^l. Buckle is directed to send two Cutters off Dunkirk in order to discover what may be doing there, and to gain Intelligence of the Motions of the abovemention'd Privatier, ordering one of them to repair afterwards to your station to communicate the same to you, You are in case you shall through that or any other Channel receive Information which can be depended upon, that the abovemention'd Privatier hath left Dunkirk & sailed to the N^o.ward to proceed in quest of her so long as there shall appear any probability of your being able to come up with her, and to use your best endeavors to take or destroy her, repairing afterwards to the Downes as before directed. Or if she shall not have left that Port but remains there in apparent readiness to push out, you are at liberty to extend the time of your cruize as much longer as you shall see any probability of her coming out, And then having taken, destroy'd or driven her away, or being satisfied that it is to no purpose to remain on the abovemention'd Station any longer in expectation of her repair to the Downes as above directed.

In case from the Intelligence which shall be brot. to you by one of the Cutters beforemention'd, or which you shall otherwise receive you shall judge it necessary to continue on the Station assign'd you longer than the time before limited, you are to send the said Cutter to the Downes, with a Letter to be transmitted to our Secretary, acquainting him therewith, and with the reasons for such longer continuance; and if the Cutter shall join you before the expiration of the time so limited you are at liberty during that time to send her back off Dunkirk if you judge it necessary to make further Observations and collect further Intelligence and then to return to you with an Account thereof, that you may regulate your proceedings as above directed accordingly. Given &c. 2^d. January 1778.

By &c.
G. Jackson D.S.