By &c

You are hereby required & directed to put to Sea in the Sloop you command¹ with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather & proceed & Cruize between S^t Abbs-head & Cromarty for the protection of the Trade of His Majestys Subjects and diligently to look out for and to use your best endeavours to take or destroy any Privatiers or other ships or Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of N^o. America which you may be able to come up with And also to intercept Seize &bring into Port agreeable to the Printed Instructions for that purpose which you will receive herewith any Ships or Vessels having Wool Brandy or other Prohibited Goods on board or which may be carrying on any unlawful Clandestine Trade

And in case you should receive Intelligence which may be depended upon of any such Ships or Vessels being in parts contiguous to, tho not within the Station hereby assigned You, You are at Liberty to proceed in quest of them; taking care to return to the said Station when you shall have taken or destroyed them, driven them away or be well convinced that none such are there

You are to avail yourself of all opportunities of procuring Men for His Majestys Fleet & after completing your own Complement, to bear the remainder on a Supernumerary List for Victuals until you shall have an opportunity of putting them on board one of the Tenders employed under the direction of the Hon^ble Cap^t Napier² who superintends & Regulates the Service of raising Men for His Majestys Fleet at Edinburgh & Leith; taking care to Deliver with them a List of their Names with the times they respectively enter'd or were Pressed into the Service that they may be borne for Wages accordingly on the Books of the Ships wherein they may be appointed to serve; and to send to our Secretary from time to time an Account of the number you may procure & how you dispose of them.

During your continuance on the above mentioned Station & Service you are to call at Leith as often as you conveniently can to enquire for Orders & not finding any to the contrary to return and Cruize & call there again in like manner until you receive further order. Given &c 7^th Feby. 1778

By &c PS
Two Press Warrants (same as in Vol. P.
Two Printed Instructions (same as in Vol. P.

signd Sandwich
S Spencer
H. Palliser