Secret
My Lords

Intelligence having been received of the sailing of a Squadron of French Men of War from Toulon consisting of Eleven Ships of the Line, one of Fifty Guns & Six Frigates, having on board besides their compliment of Seamen & marines, One thousand Land Forces, and from the warlike Implements put on board & other circumstances it is supposed the said Squadron is destined for Boston or some other Port in the revolted Colonies and intended to act in conjunction with the Rebel arm’d Ships & Troops in attacking His Majestys Ships & possessions in North America & the West Indies and annoying the Trade of this Kingdom

The King therefore concurring in the opinion submitted to His Majesty by His most confidential Servants, judges it expedient to augment the naval Force in North America not only for the protection of the British Territories & security of the Commerce of His faithful Subjects but to vindicate the insulted honor of His Crown and assist the violated Rights of the People of Great Britain by attacking & defeating the said French Squadron

And I am commanded to signify to your Lordships His Majestys pleasure that you do without a moments delay detach thirteen ships of the Line under the command of such Flag Officer as your Lordships shall think fit to appoint, & that you do Instruct such Flag Officer to proceed with the Ships under his command to Halifax in Nova Scotia and immediately upon his arrival there to acquaint Lord Howe or the Commander of His Majestys ships in North America therewith, and to endeavour to gain Intelligence of the said French Squadron and if from the information he re- ceives he shall have reason to think it is put into Boston or any other Port in North America, or is upon any part of the coast he is without delay to proceed in quest of it, taking with him any of His Majestys Ships he may find at Halifax or that may Join him there or in his course from thence, sending at the same time advice of his proceedings to Lord Howe or the Commander of His Majestys Ships in North America, And untill he shall be Joined by Lord Howe, under whose command he is to put himself, or receive Orders from him, He is to conduct himself in the manner he shall think best, for effecting the destruction of the said French Squadron and do his utmost to attack & defeat it whenever he shall find an opportunity of so doing. And in case upon his arrival at Halifax he shall be inform’d that no French Squadron has appeared in those seas, and he shall have reason to suppose it has proceeded to the West Indies, he is then to follow it thither with the Ships under his command and taking likewise under his command such of His Majestys Ships as he shall find upon that station, he is to do his utmost to attack & destroy the said Squadron or any other French Ships of War he may meet with and to cover & protect His Majestys possessions, But if upon his arrival in the West Indies he shall find the Squadron upon that Station commanded by an officer superior to him, he is then to put himself under the command of such superior officer & communicate to him his Instructions and follow his Orders in their further execution

If however upon his arrival at Halifax & during his continuance there such time as he shall Judge necessary to make enquiry & collect Intelligence, he shall receive no Information that shall give him reason to suppose the destination of the said French Squadron is either for North America or the West Indies, he is in such case to return to England with the Ships he carries out under his command

And if upon his passage to Halifax or in any other part of his Voyage he shall fall in with the said French Squadron or any other French Ships of war he is to attack & do his utmost to defeat & destroy the same