Sirs

Pursuant to my Instructions from Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe, I Order Captain Reddall¹ of His Majesty's Store-Ship the Grampus to proceed with the Ship under his Command to Spithead, and upon his arrival to inform you of it, and wait there for their Lordships further Orders. 

He has likewise my directions to receive onboard Lieutenant General Burgoigne² & his Suite for the purpose of Conveying them to England: He is likewise to take under his Convoy, such of the Transports, as may be Reported to me unfit for further Service, and others as fall under the Description of such as are to be sent Home by my Instructions, a List of which are annexed for their Lordships information,³ as well as a Copy of my Letters to the different Civil Offices, relative to such Matters as regard their Seperate departments⁴ 

I do further desire to inform you that Lord Howe Sail'd from this Port in the Eagle (for the Delaware) the 23^d. of last Month. 

On the 28^th. The Rebel Frigate (Columbus)⁵ was destroy'd near this Port, and as it is Probable that you cannot receive this Account (being so recent) from His Lordship, so soon as thro' my Hands, I beg leave to refer you to a Copy of my Letter to Lord Howe upon that Occasion,⁶ and one to me from Captain Gardner of the Maidstone upon the same Subject;⁷ and likewise to One from Lieutenant Christion of the Kingsfisher Sloop,⁸ relative to a Rebel Brig running on Shore in the Seconnet passage⁹ of 14 Carriage Guns. 

On the 27^th. Of last Month, the Isis¹⁰ sailed from this Port for the Delaware, with a Third Division of Forage Ships for the use of the Army, the two former Divisions Preceded each other, the first under Convoy of the Brune,¹¹ Dispatch,¹² and York-Arm'd Sloop,¹³ the Second under Convoy of the Diamond;¹⁴ and what remained of the Forage Ships not ready when the Isis Sailed, was to follow under Convoy of the Apollo,¹⁵ who after seeing them safe into the Delaware (under the Protection of some Ship for proceeding to Philodelphia) was to Cruize in the Lattitude of 38°.30' and 40°.30' and 66°.00 and 70°.00 West Longitude for Six Weeks, but at Liberty to extend it, in Limits and Time, A Copy of my Instructions to Captain Pownall I do enclose,¹⁶ & such as seem General Ones in it, I mean to give to all the Cruisers in this Division for their future Guidance: The Maidstone after seeing the Lord-Tow[n]shend Ordnance Ship to New-York, is to join the Apollo on her Rendezvous, and Cruise together. 

The Mermaid¹⁷ & Sphynx¹⁸ are Sail'd under my Orders to Convey & protect Seven Transports to Shelter Island (near Long-Island) for the purpose of Wooding for the use of the Troops here; A large Ship under French Colours (seeming to be an Old Indiaman)¹⁹ is arrived in the adjacent (Rebel) Port of New-London, (which may soon be fitted out) makes two Frigates Necessary on this Service, one to attend the Party, the other to be without to prevent any annoyance from the Sea, the Situation being such as to admit of it. 

The Diamond Captain Fielding Sail'd from hence the 2^d. Instant with three Victuallers under his Convoy for Halifax. 

The Juno,²⁰ Cerberus²¹ and Convoy of Transports arrived here the 30^th. Of March from Cape Cod Harbour, being sent there to Convey General Burgoigne's Army to England; the Convention being broke they are in Consequence returned to this Port; The Haerlem Arm'd Sloop²² was sent with Lord Howe's directions to Land the Provisions for the use of the Army, but the Sloop going for expedition within the Shoals, and the Convoy returning without, Missed each other. 

The Ships now on the advanced Posts to this Island, are the Flora,²³ Venus²⁴ and Lark²⁵ for the Middle passage; The Somerset²⁶ for the Narraganset, or Western passage; The Kingsfisher Sloop, Alarm Gally²⁷ (and soon the Spitfire Gally)²⁸ for the Seconnet or Eastern passage. 

The Juno will soon relieve the Somerset who is to go to New-York. 

The Unicorn²⁹ is to relieve the Kings-Fisher while she gets a Foremast in, then the Unicorn is to proceed to Halifax to heave down, the lower Pintles of the Rudder are so worn as only to be got at by that Means. 

The Strombolo Fireship³⁰ to go to New-York (when the Season is a little more advanced) to be fitted for occasional Sea Service; 

The Greyhound³¹ is arrived at New-York from Antigua, being Necessitated to bear away, a Sea breaking upon her, beating in part of her Stern, and Sprung a lower Mast, said to have returned to New-York from Antigua unrepaired. 

A Vessel reports (and Circumstances Coroborate) that the Phœnix³² Captain Parker is at Antigua, being obliged by Weather to bear away from this Coast. 

A french Ship³³ being taken near the Chesopeak by the Ships of that Detachment, and some of the People belonging to her being brought to this Port in the Ariel,³⁴ I am instructed to send such Home in the Grampus, if in the intermediate time they behaved properly, they have so, & they go to England in the Grampus accordingly. I am likewise instructed to inform their Lordships, that amongst those that goes, is a Person who assumes the Title and Name of the Viscount de Sabron,³⁵ calls himself a Captain of Dragoons and Major of Infantry in the French Service, He is supposed to be an able Engineer; The Purser of the Grampus knew him formerly in the East-Indies, but he did not go then under his present Name, and the Purser does not recollect what Name he did go by. 

I likewise enclose to you a Copy of Lord Howe's Instructions to Captain Brathwait,³⁶ and a Copy of the Resolutions of Congress,³⁷ which was to have been sent Home with the Transports from Cape-Cod Harbour had they Proceeded from thence, & returned here, after his Lordship had left this Port. 

Five or Six Vessels with Provisions &c^a: will be sent the soonest possible (for the use of General Burgoigne's Army) to Boston: The Oeconomy (and Service) to Government makes this Step Necessary, as will be explained by the General Himself. — They shall proceed under the Sanction of a Flag of Truce, and, therefore a Convoy needless, but to avoid the dangers attending so intricate a Navigation as between the Shoals, the Haerlem Arm'd Sloop shall proceed so far with them, and as General Burgoigne will (of Course) give his Commissaries, Suitable directions, for the reception, & discharging the Vessels, with proper Receipts to be given, as well as other Matters relative to it; nothing more on my Part is Necessary, but expedition in sending them, and explicit Orders for that Purpose, are already given. I am Sir with great Respect, [&c.]