[No.] 201

Sir I have received your letters of the 8th and 13th Inst relating to the seamen whom you desire to be sent down. orders for which have already been given by me, as Captain [Thomas] Pringle will more particularly inform you of.

I am very sorry to hear you think the Blonde cannot winter here. I was in hopes that if she could not remain in the Cul de sac some other place might be found, such as Chaudiere or St Patricks Hole as the service very much requires her stay; for altho we have defeated the Rebels upon the Lake, and for the present made ourselves masters of it, yet as the advanced season of the year may make our establishing of this post impracticable, and therefore oblige us to fall back into Canada for our winter quarters, the Rebels may probably exert themselves to equip another fleet, and dispute the lake again with us, it is therefore of the utmost importance to His Majesty's Service that the Blonde as well as the other ship and as many seamen as they can bear, remain in the river St Lawrence if it be practicable, in order that we may be prepared to be before the Rebels upon the lake in the Spring.

It has always been intended by me that the victualling ships should be dispatched as fast as possible, having received an order to that effect from the Treasury, which I communicated to you some time past,² and gave directions about to the Lieutenant Governor at the same time, if I remember right.

Least I should not have the pleasure of writing to you again before your departure I must again thank you for the many good offices you have done, and the ready assistance you have given to His Majesty's service here, and I wish you a good Voyage and safe arrival in England. I am &c