My Lord

I had the honor to receive on the  18^th. Ult^o. by Cap^tn. Reynolds your Lordships Dispatches of the 6^th. &. 10^th. of Dec^r. Numbered 47 and 48 giving an account of your proceedings and of the Arrangement you had made of the Squdron under your Command¹ All which were immediatly laid before my Lords Cornmiss^rs. of the Admiralty and Copies thereof transmitted to Lord George Germaine for His Majesty's Information.

With respect to the Extra Supply of Medicines mentioned in your N^o. 48. I have it in command from their Lordships to acq^t. you that they understand from the Navy Board that the necessary directions are given for sending out such supply thereof as may be judged sufficient, &. with respect to supplying the Ships of the higher Rates² which may be sent to your Lordship with addional Stores to the establish'd Allowance, I am to acquaint you that orders will be given to the Navy Board aswell as to the Captains of the Ships for that purpose.

My Lords command me to desire your Lordship will not understand the tenor of the Letter which I had the honor to write to you by their Orders on the 20^th. of August³ was meant to convey any idea that the service committed to your care had not been adequately performed or that they disapprove of the arrangement You had made of Your Squadron;⁴ On the contrary I have it in command to acquaint your Lordship that they have seen no Cause to disapprove of the disposition which has been made of the Ships under your command.

In one of my Letters of the 7^th. Ult^o. I informed your Lordship that the Navy Board were directed to prepare a Plan for the Establism^t. of a Naval Yard in North America in addition to the Yard at Halifax. I have it now in command from my Lords to send Your Lordship a Copy of that plan which has been approv'd of⁵ and to acquaint you that in consequence thereof the Master and Carpenter of the Eagle who are now doing the Duty of Master Caulker & Master Shipwright by your Lordships orders will have firm appointments to those employments, that M^r. Fowler the present Storekeeper will be appointed Clerk of the Checque and Clerk of the Survey and that a Storekeeper will be sent from hence with Commiss^r. Le Cras⁶ for the New intended Yard.

My Lords have resumed the consideration of your Lordships request of an additional number of Flag Officers to serve under your Command and in consequence thereof have appointed Vice Admiral Byron and Rear Adm^l. Gambier to hoist their Flags,⁷ the former on board the Europe, the latter on board the Ardent who will be ordered to join your Lordship without delay.

I have the honor to send your Lordship a continuation of the Secret intelligence⁸ transmitted to you in My Letter of the 7^th. Ult^o. and to repeat the assurances of my being with great consideration My Lord &c.