Sir/ I am this Instant honored with your Excellencys Letter in the first place requesting that I will detain H. Majesty's Sloop West Florida, untill the arrival of H. Majesty's Sloop Diligence or any other of H. Majesty's Ships ー also that I will give directions to Lieut Burdon to give all the Assistance in his power in the Removal of a Quantity of timber from Rose Island and Tartar point ー for the better Carrying on the intended new Works. I shall Comply with your Excellencys request & give directions to Lieut Burdon accordingly

Your Excellency has also Signified to me that it is the Opinion of your Excellency & Council that H. Majesty's Sloop under my Command should be held in readiness to proceed to Jamaica with dispatches for vice Admiral Gayton & Sir Basil Keith ー I look on it my duty and am always ready to Comply with any request that may be for the good of His Majesty's Service ー at the same time I must take the liberty to say that as your Excellency has a proper Vessel for such service she should be employed therein. I on my part will give every assistance required in getting her ready for sea ー and do take upon me to say (if her bottom is in proper Order) I will have her ready nearly as soon as any Dispatches your Excellency may have to send and as in the present State of Affairs it would in my Opinion be improper in me to quit the province I propose forwarding the Removal of timber &c up to this place and to give every assistance in putting it in a State of defenceー

But should it prove that the Hillsborough cannot possibly be got readyfor Sea I am still ready to forward any dispatches for Jamaicaー

I beg the favor of your Excellency's Answer as soon as convenient that I may have time either to get the Hillsborough ready or to write my Letters to Capt [Thomas] Davey and leave directions with Lieut Burdon for his farther proceedings have the honor to be &ca

His Majesty's Armed Sloop [West] Florida
Pensacola Septr 6th 1776