My Lord

Your Lordship having in Your Letter of the 23^d. of Nov^r. last¹ expressed wishes that my Lords Commiss^rs f the Admiralty would take into their consideration the particular Officers in whom they will permit you to vest the authority with which you are intrusted, in case of your inability to execute the various duties of the very complicated Service committed to your care, which you seem to be apprehensive your impaired constitution will not allow you to attend with the punctuality that the nature & importance of it requires; & the Earl of Sandwich having signified to the Board that from some information he has received there is a possibility that Your Lordship may wish to return to England.

I have it in comm^d. from their Lordships to acq^t. you that Vice Adm^l. Byron will be sent to join your Lordship with the utmost dispatch, &. that if upon his arrival your Lordship should from the ill state of your health or from any other motive wish to return to England they are pleased to permit you to do so in the Eagle or any other Ship of your Squadron you may make choice of leaving in such case the Command of the Squadron with Vice Adm^l. Byron, with such Instructions as your Lordship shall Judge proper to give him for carrying into execution the various important Services which have been committed to your care; But their Lordships command me at the same time to express their most sanguine hopes that you will find no occasion to avail Yourself of this Leave but that you will continue in the Command which you have hitherto executed so much to their satisfaction, so much to the credit and advantage of His Majesty's Service. I have the honor to be with great consideration My Lord &c.