Number 16.
Sir

By the Receipt of your Letter of the 19th of October, I have the particular Satisfaction to be advised of the Approbation their Lordships have done me the Honor to express of my Proceedings to the Date of the Dispatches delivered by Major Cuyler, who arrived here the 15th Instant.

The large Detachment of the Army which pursued the Rebel Forces through the Jerseys for an Extent of near Ninety Miles to the Banks of the Delaware, being now of Necessity retired into Winter-Quarters; I have nothing concerning the present Disposition of the Ships to add to my last of the 12th Instant, by this Opportunity.

I received Letters yesterday from Sir Peter Parker, to let me know that the King's Forces under the Command of Lieutenant General Clinton took possession of Rhode-Island the 7th without Opposition; And that he had ordered the Mercury for England with the Lieutenant General's Dispatches, and to give their Lordships the earliest Intelligence of that beneficial Acquisition. I have added Copies of the Commodore's Letters, by this Conveyance.

The uninterrupted Progress of the Army having removed the Rebel General Washington (under whose Authority the Exchange of Prisoners on this Part of the Continent could only be then negotiated) too far distant for continuing the Communication; And the Appointment of the late Armament preventing the Effect of an Intercourse I had subsequently opened with the principal Persons in Authority at Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, with better Prospects of Success; I have not yet derived any material Benefit from the Proposition.

I do not trouble their Lordships with the Papers on the Subject referred to in Sir Peter Parker's Letter, as the Matter is of no consequence, and I shall now probably have an Opportunity to renew the Overture with better Advantage.

You will, Sir, have been already apprized from the Contents of my preceeding Letters, of the regard which has been had to the Subject of their Lordships pleasure, respecting the return of the Petty-Officers appointed to superintend the Navigation of the Transports of different Descriptions. Such as are since arrived, will take their Passage in the Bristol and the same Care will be continued in future Instances.

Equal Attention will be shewn to their Commands for the Dismission of the Agents of Transports, as they can be spared. But their Continuance here is so essential for carrying on the various Duties incident to this Branch of the conjunct Service, that I cannot at present say how soon a Decrease of their Numbers might be made with any Propriety. And when I have observed, that those Duties have consisted of repeated Embarkations and Landings, often of very considerable Corps of Troops, for near four Months, I am persuaded I shall be excused for any seeming Delay in that respect.The State of the Asia and Experiment is such, that there will be a necessity for sending them to England. But as the calls for the Use of practised Seamen have been so various and frequent, and will be so soon renewed in a still greater Proportion, should this unhappy Contest (as there is yet too much reason to apprehend) continue any part of the next Year, it is not without great Uneasiness that I divest myself of the Aid of those Ships, under the Uncertainty whether they can be seasonably returned or replaced: Having to request that I may be strengthened with Six Sail of not less than sixty-four or sixty-Gun Ships in Addition to the Naval Force appointed for this last Year, to co-operate in the proposed Services of the Army next Campaign. It is desirable for this End, that such Reinforcement should be arrived here (or at Rhode-Island, as Circumstances of Weather upon the Coast may induce) before the End of March. I am, with great Consideration, Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] R 23rd Febry, at 11 PM (5 Inclosures)