My Lord,

This is conveyed by the Pearl, having under her Convoy, three Transports carrying round the Rebel Prisoners. And the Tartar, forthwith to be relieved by the Bute at the Isle of Bic, after ranging round a great part of the Gulph of St. Laurence, taking a State of the several Fisheries, & cruizing until the 15th of September between Cape Ray and Scatari, is to wait upon your Lordship.

Very shortly after my last was sent away, I received Information by Express from Chambly, that because of Want of density of the Ground, thro' which the Engineers were preparing a Road, the Enterprize of getting the Hulls of the three Vessels, transported overland from thence to St. Johns, would not answer: as to remedy the looseness thereof, would require more time and Labour, than the Season and several other Circumstances could admit of General Carleton being just then returned from Montreal, and approving of the measure, all the Artificers I could muster superintended by Lieutenant [John] Schank who commands the Canceuux, were set to Work on the 23d Ultimo, to take down the Frame of a Ship building here ー On the 26th her Stern frame, Stem, Keel, and some of her Floor Timbers went away in Long-boats for the River Sorel, and I hope are by this time at St. Johns; where Blocks were previously ordered to be laid, for her Reconstruction; her length from Stem to Stern is eighty Feet ー the said long boats My Lord were willingly ceded, as may appear by the herewith inclosed, And are to be employed on Lake Champlain. I flatter myself that the Masters of the Transports, above the Rapids of Richlieu, may still (for since my last they have made Difficulties,) be prevailed upon, to follow the laudable Example Set them by their Brethren here ー Who are all to depart for Spithead, the moment their men return from the Sorel.

In Consequence of the pressing Requisition of General Carleton, apprized of Mr Schank's Men instead of reserving the Canceaux arm'd Ship, to carry his more recent dispatches to the Eastward as was intended (keeping the Gaspée for that purpose) I have sent her up to the Sorel. Lieutenant Schank is to superintend the Reconstruction of the Vessel at St. Johns, which he saw pulled to pieces at Quebec, and to command her on the Lake, with his Officers and Men from the Canceaux, about forty in Number making Part of her Crew ー A Frame taken down in the Sorel, & that of the Maria arm'd Schooner, are some time ago taken in hand ー but how soon all our Force will be afloat, is impossible for me to ascertain; so much being necessary, & our Means respecting the Magnitude of the Enterprize, so scanty; & the Loss of Time in getting every thing sent so far up against predominating Westerly Winds and opposing Currents, so great; Yet I'd fain hope it might be brought to Completion, some time in September. ー The Major part of the Seamen necessary for this Equipment, must be furnished by His Majesty's Ships; are to be attached to the three Vessels above alluded to; (when rebuilt,) to our flat bottom'd and the Gun-boats; And are to be commanded by Capt. [Thomas] Pringle of the Lord Howe ー Lieut. [Joseph] Nunn has declined serving on Lake Ontario, and resumed the Command of the Magdalen. Mr John Stone 2d Lieutenant of the Lizard by my order, & Mr John Curling Mate of this His Majesty's Ship, who were to have served as Lieutenants under him, are transferred to Lake Champlain, where a good many Officers of that Rank are wanted. ー All such Officers & Seamen, thus to be employed, are only lent or to be lent, from their respective Ships, until further Order: and for their Encouragment, are to have extraordinary Pay from General Carleton, equal to what they would have in their several Classes, on board His Majesty's Ships of War at Sea ー Capt. Pringle & Lieut. Schank, are paid as Masters and Commanders ー Warrant and petty Officers, the same Pay as in the Ships to which they belong, and each able and ordinary Seaman is to have 17s/6d P Mensem added to his Navy Wages ー His Excellency wishes the Isis, the Juno, the Blonde, the Triton and Lord Howe to continue in this River, & in their present Stations; the Canceaux in the Sorel; the Bute at the Isle of Bic, the Gaspée & Magdalen Schooners, to be kept in readiness for carrying Dispatches as is the Juno for any particular Exigency ー The Triton is returned to the Foot of the Rapids of Richlieu.

For farther particulars, I beg leave to refer You to Captain [Thomas] Wilkinson, And have the honor most respectfully to remain [&c.]

P.S. I have been under the necessity of ordering Guns, with their Carriages, proportion of Shot, Tackle, Furniture &c. to be spared from His Majesty's Ships 'till the Lake Business be over: vizt. from the Isis, ten twelve, & four Six Pounders. Blonde Six twelve Pounders. Juno four twelves & two Sixes. Pearl the same; Triton, four Nines and the Lord Howe and Bute, also four Nine pounders each.