(N^o 10.)
Duplicate.
Sir, 

I have received your Dispatches of the 23^d May, and 5^th. and 13^th June numbered 3 and 4,¹ and had the Honor to lay them before The King, and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that the Disposition you made for evacuating Philadelphia appears to His Majesty, for the reasons you State, to have been very proper, and I shall hope to hear from you in a few Days that the Army under your Command passed thrô the Jerseys without any material Molestation, and is arrived in safety at New York.²

But I am not so easy in respect to the Expedition ordered to the West Indies, as the Season will be so far advanced before it may be expected the Troops can Sail from New York, that I fear they will be exposed to the Danger of a Hurricane on their Voyage, and to that of the Autumnal Diseases upon their Arrival; I make no doubt however that every possible Precaution will be used to guard against both Dangers, and your giving the Command to an Officer of Major General Grant’s³ prudence and Ability, was taking the most likely means to insure Success, his appointment therefore has met with The King’s Approbation.

I am very anxious to learn the Effect of the Commissioners Letter to the Congress,⁴ I flatter myself a Treaty will take place, and that We shall be at liberty to act with our whole Force against France.

My Circular Letter of this day⁵ will inform you of the Resolution His Majesty has come to, of issuing Letters of Marque for seizing & making Prize of their Trading Ships, and you will see by the enclosed Gazette Extraordinary that an Action has happened between His Majesty’s Fleet under the Command of Adm^l. Keppel and the Brest Squadron.⁶

Should however the Congress, and all the revolted Provinces, refuse to treat with the Commiss^rs, the Attention due to the Safety of other Parts of the King’s Dominions, and the Security of our Trade, will make it necessary to deprive them of the means of making Naval Expeditions, of fitting out Armed Ships; and therefore I trust you will, in concert with the Commander of His Majesty’s Ships, lose no time in carrying into Execution such Measures as you and he shall concur in as most proper for effecting that Important Service

The Recovery of South Carolina & Georgia in the Winter, or even the latter Province if the other requires a greater Force than can be spared, is an Object of much Importance in the present State of things, as from thence our Islands in the West Indies might draw Supplies of Provisions and Lumber, for the want of which they are now greatly distressed, and His Majesty’s Ships would have Ports of Safety to Wood and Water in, and refresh their Crews. But as in my most Secret Letter of the 8^th of March⁷ I fully stated what appeared to me to be the most advantageous manner of employing the Troops under your Command in case a French War had not intervened, it is unnecessary for me now to say more upon that Subject than to acquaint you that it is still The King’s Wish, if the Rebellion continues, that in your future Operations you should adopt such parts of the Plan suggested in that Dispatch, as in the present Circumstances you shall think may be executed with Success. I am [&c.]

P.S.

I have the pleasure to send you Enclosed herewith His Majesty’s Commission under the Great Seal of England, appointing you Commander in Chief of all His Majesty’s Forces in the Colonies lying upon the Atlantick, and a Warrant under His Majesty’s Sign Manual authorizing you to appoint to Vacancies therein, on which I beg leave to congratulate you.—

G. G.