By the Viscount Howe, Vice Admiral of the the White and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed &c^a. in North America.

A Supply of Provisions being immediately wanted for the Use of the King's Troops in the Province of East Florida, and the present State of the Magazines of the Army not admitting of the Reduction necessary for that purpose; You are therefore, taking the Captain¹ of the Otter Sloop under your Command, to proceed to Sea with the said Sloop and the Naval Victualling Transport which accompanied You hither from New York, and use your best Endeavors to conduct the said Transport in Safety to S^t. Augustine. Upon your Arrival there, You are to direct the Master of the Transport to deliver the Provisions in his Charge to the Assistant Commissary of the Army at that Port, and to take his Receipt for the same. And you are further to direct the said Master, as soon as the Vessel is cleared of her Cargoe to proceed to Deptford (if not otherwise appointed by the Agent Victualler at New York) and acquaint the Victualling Board with his Arrival there, that he may receive their Instructions for his future Conduct; unless he should prefer being discharged abroad with the stipulated Allowance of one Month's Freight: In which last Case You are to give him a Certificate, specifying the time of such discharge, accordingly. 

It being intended that a Piece of Heavy Artillery should be sent to S^t. Augustine for the Use of the Garrison, or to be mounted in One of the Armed Vessels fitted for commanding the in-land Navigation of the Province; You are to cause the same to be received onboard the Perseus,² and disposed of, as Governor Tonyn³ shall desire. 

You are moreover, to take into your charge the public Dispatches which You will receive herewith, together with such Money as the Pay-Master of the Army may have occasion to send to S^t. Augustine for the payment of the Troops; And having upon your Arrival delivered the same as they are respectively intended, You are to consult with the Governor respecting the manner in which the Ship you Command (and any others which shall be ordered for the same Service) may be employed with the greatest Advantage for the Defence and Security of the Province, and to pursue such Measures in consequence as shall appear to be most effectual for that Purpose: Being to continue upon this Service with the Perseus and such other Ships as may be appointed to act in Conjunction with You, as long as your Provisions will admit, with a Sufficiency in Reserve for joining me at New York for further Orders; Or until the Arrival of an intended Re-inforcement to the Garrison of S^t. Augustine; And You are then to join me without delay, as aforesaid. 

In case You should meet the Ariel, stationed off of Occacoke Inlet, on your Passage to the Southward, You are to order Captain Phipps⁴ to join me without Loss of Time in this River. 

Given onBoard His Majesty's Ship the Eagle in the River Deleware, the 3^d. day of June 1778. 

By command of the Vice Admiral 

Jos^h. Davies.