My Lord
The Diamond, Ambuscade and Unicorn, three of the Ships which I have had the honor to inform your Lordship were to convoy the Transports carrying the 2d Division of Hessians, with the other Reinforcements therein mentioned (except the 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons) put to Sea from Spithead on the 28th of last Month; but were not able to get out of the Channel, the Wind coming strong to the Westward, which obliged them to put into Plymouth where they remain with their Convoy.
The Daphne, which was charged with Convoy of the Transports having on board the 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons, sailed also from Portsmouth the 4h instant, but from the same reason was obliged to put into Torbay, where she remains likewise.
The Adventure, one of the Victuallers which (as I mentioned in my former Letter) was expected to arrive at Spithead in time to sail with the aforesaid Convoy, not succeeding in her Voyage, my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed her to proceed under convoy of His Majesty's Ship Perseus; whose Captain is ordered to join your Lordship, and on his arrival put himself under your Command: The like directions are given to the Master of the John, Chambré and Susannah Transports, as they could not be got to Spithead in time to sail with Captain Fielding.
Besides the Victualler and Transports last mentioned, Captain [George Keith] Elphinston takes under his Convoy the Victuallers named in the Margin[*], loaded with Provisions for supply of the Fleet under your Lordships Command, being part of the second Proportion of four Months for 13,000 Men; and the Grand Duke; Friendship King of Naples and Betsey, having on board the Provisions to complete the aforementioned Proportion, will sail at the same time, if they can be got round before the Perseus sails; but this being uncertain, the Captain is not to wait for them. If there should be any army Victuallers at Spithead, in readiness to sail with Captain Elphinston, he is to take them under Convoy with the Ships abovementioned.
Captain [Richard] Smith of the Lark is ordered to repair to Cork, and take under his Convoy from thence such army Victuallers as may be ready to proceed with him to Halifax, where he is to leave them, unless the Commanding Officer of His Majesty's Land Forces there shall desire him to convoy them to the place where General Howe with the army may be, in which case he is to do so, and then proceed to join your Lordship wherever you may be, and follow your orders for his further proceedings. But if the Victuallers remain at Halifax he is in that case to make the best of his way to Join your Lordship and follow your orders as aforesaid.
The Commissioners for the Sick and Hurt Seamen, having my in consequence of directions they received from Lords ordered the Medicines, Bedding and other Stores intended for the use of the Naval Hospital in North America to be put on board His Majesty's Hospital Ship, the Jersey, I have thought it necessary (the matter having before escaped my recollection) to inform your Lordship thereof, that if you have not already done it, You may give such orders for the disposal of them as you shall think fit; as also for the disposal of additional Quantities of Stores and Medicines which the aforementioned Commissioners have provided and which, my Lords have ordered to be sent out in the Perseus. I have the honor to be &c
