Sir

Herewith you'll receive a Duplicate of my Letter of the 2nd inst, and I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that His Majestys Ship Boreas Sail'd the 3rd inst with the 50th Regiment for North America and Inclos'd is the Embarkation return of that Regiment for their information

I likewise beg leave to acquaint them that His Ma jestys Sloop Atalanta arriv'd the 8th instant from Barbadoes and that Captain [Thomas] Underwood died the next day I have appointd Lieutenant Everitt to Act as Captain of her 'til the Antelopes arrival when I propose giving the first Lieutenant of that Ship a Commission for her. I likewise beg leave to inclose their Lordships the several Affidavits relative to William Platt, who I have sent to England in the Pallas to take his Tryal for the Crime he has committed, which I hope their Lordships will approve.

In my former Letter I acquaintd their Lordships with the Gun Powder & Arms taken by Lieut Montais. on its being brought in I immediately wrote to the Governor & offer'd it him for the Island at the Market price to prevent its falling into bad hands & ever getting to North America In answer to which his Excellency acquaint's me that he had assembl'd his Council & laid the matter before them who were of opinion there was not a Necessity for purchasing the Small Arms as they soon expected a large Supply from Great Britain and in regard to the Gun Powder they had not a sufficient unappropriated Fund to enable them to purchase it on behalf of the Public, but as the same time, offer'd to take it on their own Accounts for the Island at the rate of £6.15 pr Barrall when the Market price was £ 15, not doubting but the legislature would refund them at the next meeting of the General Assembly

As His Majesty had been most graciously pleas'd to give the sole property of all Prizes to the Captors, I thought I should have been doing them a great Piece of Injustice, and what I had no Authority to do, to consent to the Islands having it so much under the Market price which I wrote the Governor and told him to prevent it ever geting into the Hands of the Rebels, I would order it to be kept in His Majestys Magazines until I heard from their Lordships respecting it. in regard to the small Arms as they had declin'd taking them at any rate; and there being no probability of their being want'd for His Majestys Service the Captors had order'd their Agents to sell them. the Captors have since agreed for the Island to have the Powder at their offer'd price, rather than wait 'til I here from their Lordships I therefore must beg that you will lay the matter bdore them and request their directions, how I am to Act in future; if any Powder or Ammunition should be brought in by my Cruisers, whither 'tis to be Sold agreeable to Act of Parliament, or purchas'd for Bis Majestys Service.

The reason my thus troubling their Lordships, is, that the Governor has wrote to Lord Geo[rg]e Germain informing him that I had refus'd to Let the Island have the Powder at that price when the Market price was higher, which I did for the reasons I have assign'd in the former part of my Letter, which I hope will be fully Satisfactory to their Lordships and clear me of any Imputation which may be alledg'd against me.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships that a Vessel arrivd from the Mississippi who brings Account of the Diligence's having taken Eight Prizes ー I likewise beg leave to inclose them a Letter from Mr. Gauld wherein they will see how he proposes Employing himself, and have sent by the Pallas a fair Copy of his last Years Work.

I have likewise order'd Surveys & Estimates to be made on His Majestys Victualling Stores & Mast Now at Greenwich and have transmitted to the respective Boards, Reports thereof. I am, with respect Sir [&c.]