Sir

In my Letter of the 30th of last March I acquainted you of my having Seiz'd one William Platt as being concernd in taking the Ammunition and Warlike Stores Belonging to Government out of the Ship Philippa at Georgia and that as I had apprehended him in the Body of the Island I imagined he came under the Jurisdiction of the Governor ー

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that after I had got the Identity of his Person properly Sworn to by the Master of the Ship and Three or Four of the People I enclosed the Affidavits to the Governor and acquainted him that as he was taken within his Jurisdiction I desir'd to know how I wasto dispose of him in order to his being Punish'd according to Law for the Crime he had Committed and that as the Antelope was going to the Wharf to Careen requested that he and the Evidences might be properly Secured until his Tryal came on

His Excellency acquainted me that as my Letter comprehended questions of Law; he had taken the advice of His Majesty's Attorney General, who was of Opinion; that as the fact was committed in a Colony in open Rebellion; the offence was only Triable in England and that he supposed the Man to be in greater Security onboard a Kings Ship than any where else; therefore his Excellency thought himself precluded from any Interference in the Affair and return'd the Depositions, which Letter with the Attorney Generals opinion I inclose for their Lordships information. ー Immediately on the Receipt of the Governors Letter, I again wrote him that the Antelope was going to the Wharf, that I had no Ship to secure the Pirate in, & requested that he and the Evidences might be Secured in Kingston Jail until she Haul'd off again when I would receive them into my Custody this request was likewise refused me! inclosed is his Letter with the Attorney Generals opinion on the Subject

On the 1st of May I was Served with a Writ of Habeas Corpus from the Chief Justice of the Island desiring his appearance before him which I comply'd with, and he was accordingly sent, however he was remanded back again ー Attested Copies of the Writs with the proceedings thereon I inclose for their Lordships Information

I have had him in Irons: ever since March & propose sending him to England in the Pallas with Three of the Evidences (which I've detaind for that purpose) in order for him to take his Tryal. She is not yet arriv'd, & if she does not, I think it will be most prudent to send him in one of the small Armed Vessels under my Command, which I hope their Lordships will approve and shall transmit them the several Affidavits.

In the former part of my Letter of the 30th March I communicated to their Lordships an Account of the Rebels having visited the Bahama Islands & carried away the Governor with several of His Majestys Warlike Stores, and that I should inform the Commanding Officer at Boston therewith as soon as possible.

I beg leave to acquaint them that on the 5th of April I received an Express from Captain Barkley of His Majestys Ship Scarborough Station'd at Georgia giving me an Account of this affair; and that His Majestys Schooner St. John & a small Sloop had escaped from [New] Providence to St Augustine with the Kings Powder which prevented it from falling into the Hands of the Rebels, and informing me that the Rebel Squadron had got into Charles Town South Carolina which Letter, with Captain Barkleys information I enclose. As Captain Barkley inform'd me he was preparing to Sail for Boston I thought the Intelligence of this Squadron must get there much sooner than any that I could send

Captain Barkley recommended the Man; whom he sent Express to me as deserving of every Encouragement, as in the first place he was Master of the Sloop that escaped from Providence to St Augustine with the Kings Powder; and that he was Instrumental in Seizing a Number of Ships; laden with Rice, belonging to the Rebels. I therefore order'd the Naval Storekeeper to Supply him with a few Stores, and to repair the Damage his Vessel had sustain'd, as an Encouragement to him for his Services to Government and by this oppertunity have transmitted the Navy Board a Copy of my order for that purpose, all which I hope their Lordships will approve.

On the 23rd of April I received an Application from the Agent to the Royal Assiento Company at the Havannah requesting that a Sloop which had arrivd with Bullion to purchase Slaves, might be supplyed with a Mast out of His Majestys Stores; she having Sprung her own, in such a Manner that it was not repairable. And as their Lordships had been pleased to direct me to give every possible encouragement to the Importers of Bullion in foreign Bottoms I ordered the Naval Storekeeper to comply with his request and take a Conditional Bill for such Value to be paid for the same as. the Commissioners of the Navy should put thereon which I've made them acquainted With & hope it will meet with their Lordships approbation.

I further beg leave to inform their Lordships of the arrival of His Majestys Ship Boreas, Captain Thompson on 23rd of last Month with Three Transports under her Convoy to carry the 50th Regiment to North America. As the Companies were Detach'd in different parts of the Island they are not yet Embark'd, I have sent the Squirrel to the North Side of the Island for a Company that is Station'd there and expect her return every Day and as. that is the only one remaining to bring in I presume it cannot be long before they will Embark,

I propose sending the Boreas to Convoy them to North America and after she has perform'd that Service shall order Captain Thompson to return & Join me with all possible dispatch

By the Boreas; I received your two Letters of the 15th February acknowledging the Receipt of mine up to the 24th of December last, and that their Lordships approve of my proceedings. I likewise received my two Commissions, & their Lordships orders for purchasing Four Vessels, one of them to draw about Six feet Water abaft and to be Employed in the Lakes on the Mississippi, and their directions for sending Convoys with Homeward bound Sugar Ships at the Periods mention'd in your Letter; all of which I shall pay due attention to.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that I have already purchased two of those Vessels, and the Lady Keith Schooner (whose Name I have alter'd to the Porcupine, one of the Names sent by them) makes the Third so that I want only one more which I shall purchase as soon as I can meet with a proper Vessel.

One of the Vessels is a fine Sloop of about 90 Tons and. capable of Mounting Ten Carriage guns; which I have call'd the Racehorse, and put my nephew, Mr Charles Everitt (who came out Second Lieutenant of the Boreas) into her, and appointed a Son of Sir Charles Knowles's in his Room.

The other Vessel which I have purchased is a Sloop of about 60 Tons and drawing Six feet Water abaft which I have call'd the West Florida (to make a Distinction between her & the Florida Surveying Sloop, which I hope their Lordships will approve) and shall fit her as fast as possible & send her to the Mississippi agreeable to their Lordships directions. I have given Mr George Burdon of His Majestys Ship Antelope a Commission for her, as I have likewise to my Nephew Mr Francis L'Montais for the Porcupine (formerly the Lady Keith) who has met with great Success; having taken Three Prizes one of them a Schooner bound to Philadelphia wth 20 Tons of Gun Powder, 1,000 Stand of Arms, with a quantity of Flints & Musquet Balls, which would have been a very great Acquisition to the Rebels had it got to any part of America.

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that I have constantly kept one of the Sloops under my Command Station'd at Pensacola for the Protection of West Florida; and that as I had no Vessel to relieve the Diligence I have sent down by the last Pacquet Stores for her to Careen to prevent that Province being left Defenceless which I hope their Lordships will approve.

As the Ships on the American Station have all their War Complements must beg; you'll let me know whether 'tis their Lordships pleasure I should compleat those under my Command to that Number and likewise in regard to the Florida Surveying Sloop whether I shall put her on the same Establishment as the other Arm'd Vessels as it much Weakens the few Ships I have her being Mann'd out of them The 4th instant I received Letters from the Principal Inhabitants of the Mosquito Shore & Bay of Hond[u]ras (which I inclose) representing that two Spanish Vessels had Seized a Vessel the property of two of the Inhabitants as soon as the Atalanta arrives from Affrica I shall send her to enquire into this Matter and propose after she has perform'd that Service to order her to Pensacola to relieve the Diligence

I further beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the Wharf and Victualling Stores, and likewise the Mast Houses at Greenwich are greatly out of Repair; that I shall order an Estimate of the Expence to be made, and shall transmit them; and the different Boards, an Account thereof.

I have the pleasure to acquaint their Lordships that since my last the Ships under my Command have sent in the following Vessels, being American Property, viz The Squirrel a Ship Two Briggs, & a Schooner, the Maidstone Two Sloops loaden with Lumber & the Porcupine the Vessels mentioned in the former part of my Letter

With regard to the Disposition of His Majestys Ships & Vessels under my Command I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that the Antelope hasCareen'd being the Second time since she has been on this Station; and am sorry to inform them it has much Weaken'd her. the Maidstone is alongside the Careening Wharf But as she came in, in a very shatter'd Condition it will be some time before she is ready for Sea as She Sprung her Main Mast & Bowspreet & most of her Yards which have been obliged to have been new. But to facilitate the same and to fit the Arm'd Vessels for Service as soon as possible I have given the Naval Officers directions to Hire Artificers at Day Pay 'till the Works are in forwardness which I hope their Lordships will approve. I wish the Pallas may arrive in time to take the July Convoy as she will be able to see them quite home. Inclosed is a List of Officers made & the State & Condition of the Ships and Vessels under my Command for their Lordships Information. I am Sir with Respect [&c.]