Secret.
Copy.

Sir In Addition to the Orders of the same Date which You will receive herewith, I have thought it necessary to communicate in this separate Instruction, for your further Government and private Information alone, some Particulars that will require your earliest Attention, respecting the more general Employment of the Naval and other Military Force sent to this Country.

Many Opportunities may probably off er in the course of the Service you have been appointed to conduct, for collecting material Intelligence and making useful Discoveries; Not only of the Preparations for further Resistance of the King's Authority by His Majesty's disaffected Subjects, but also of the Pilotage and Navigation on the most accessible parts of the Coasts within the Limits of your Station: Likewise of the Means it may be expedient to adopt, in case it should become necessary to press the Inhabitants of the delinquent Colonies with severer Hostilities; Either by Descents upon the Coasts to ravage the interior parts of the Country, or by making Seizures of Cattle and other Refreshments for the Fleet and Army.

But to facilitate the Acquisition of such useful Knowledge, as well as the Concealment of the-purpose, those Methods and Opportunities should only be taken for Sounding or other Examination of the Coasts, that will testify the least apparent Intention of that Nature. Hence it becomes necessary to desist from all partial Attempts that may have been proposed, for weakening the Defences of the Enemy or obtaining a lim1ted and temporary Advantage over them: As they would be thereby led to the Discovery of more effectual Measures for resisting the Military Operations it may become expedient to prosecute in great Extent hereafter, in case the Signification of the King's most gracious Intentions with which I have the Honor to be charged in Con junction with General Howe, for restoring Peace to the Colonies, should yet fail of that happy consequence.

For your further Information therein, I forward herewith Copies of the late Declaration made expressive of His Majesty's benevolent purpose, and of the Proclamation subsequently issued: That the Contents thereof may be circulated by You amongst the Inhabitants of the Southern Provinces in such Manner as you have Opportunity to do with most Effect.

You will nevertheless continue, pursuant to the Tenor of your General Orders, to use every sufficient Means for preventing all Trade and Intercourse with the several Colonies within the Limits of your Appointed Station, according to the Intent and Meaning of the Act of the last Session of Parliament referred to therein.

For the purpose of that Act, as well as to prevent the Armed Vessels of the Enemy from putting to Sea and molesting the Trade of His Majesty's faithful Subjects inhabiting other parts of the British Dominions, or procuring Supplies of Ammunition or other Military Stores; proper Stations should be chosen for anchoring the Ships of your Division in Security, when rendered necessary by Stress of Weather, and in the ensuing Winter-Season: So that they may be soonest enabled to resume their different Stations, in the Delaware more especially, when the Navigation thereof is open in the Spring, and on the other parts of the Coast, from which they may be otherwise forced by the tempestuous Weather to be now expected in Continuance for some Length of time.

It will likewise be requisite to consider the best Means practicable for providing the Squadron with Water occasionally from some Part of the Southern Coast: That the Stationed Ships (when You are provided with a sufficient Number to extend your Care further Southward) may not be drawn away too far from those principal Channels of Communication, by which the Enemy are furnished with their chief Resources for carrying on the War. And as the possession of Rhode Island will facilitate that purpose greatly, You will profit thereby, as You see necessary.

I have added hereto a Chart of the Delaware, the Part of your present Charge to which your principal Attention, and your Presence also, will be most necessary, whilst the Rebel Forces continue in the Town of Philadelphia. The Chart is probably imperfect: Especially in the Degree of Accuracy the purpose of this Instruction requires; But it is deemed the best extant. If it is at all correct, there should be tenable Anchorage to the Westward of the Shoals forming the Pass named the Narrows, too far distant to be incommoded from either Shore, and sufficiently extensive to prevent Molestation from the Pontoons or floating Batteries the Enemy are said to have provided for obstructing the Passage of Ships of Force higher up the River.

Tho' I would still postpone every Attempt upon those Pontoons or Floating Batteries, under such Circumstances as would lead, if suitably provided, to engage in a regular Attack of the principal Defences on which the Enemy rely for being able to protect the Town of Philadelphia from Insult; I do not therefore mean that the Ships should neglect any favorable Opportunity that may present for getting possession of, or destroying, any such Pontoons and Armed Vessels as shall be in all other Situations exposed to Capture or Annoyance.

By the Copies herewith enclosed of the Orders given to Captain Hamond, you will be fully acquainted with the Measures taken for securing the Passage of the Delaware until the Navigation is rendered impracticable, according to the general Experience, early in the next Month. You will see therein the Provision which has been made for commanding that passage in like manner later in the Spring, when the River may be cleared of Ice: This Event is said to happen at different Periods: Sometimes so early as the beginning of the second Week in February. It is therefore desirable that You should be attentive to seize the earliest Opportunity to have possession taken of the Entrance of the River, that the change of Circumstances will admit, and to repair thither yourself as soon after as may be: Taking care to leave suitable Provision for commanding the Passage in Chesepeak Bay. The Orders given to Captain [Hyde] Parker [Jr.], of which You are likewise furnished with a Copy, will instruct You in the Steps it has appeared expedient to pursue for the same End, prior to your Arrival on that Station. You are further provided with a Copy of the Instructions given to Captain Davis for the Conduct of a small Detachment of Ships appointed to a more distant Station, generally; But in which, by the Latitude it has been thought fit to give that discreet and diligent Officer, you may possibly have occasion to interfere. You will therefore be governed in those several Instances, and make such Alterations in the general Appointment of the different Ships, as You see to be of more immediate and effectual Benefit fo~ His Majesty's Service. The same Liberty is given to You with respect to the Orders which (as I am at present informed) I may think fit to give to the Commanders of the other Frigates intended for the more Southern Coasts; To restrain the Commerce and Intercourse with the principal Ports on that part of the Continent also.

The Rebels having been preparing to put to Sea in Armed Ships, two or more together, of greater Force than usual, it may be proper that the Cruizers You detach for a Continuance on such distant Service as affords no Opportunity of finding Support in case of being attacked by a much superior Enemy, should not be less than two to act in Con junction.
These different Objects will afford sufficient Occasion for the Exercise of your approved Ability and Judgment. And whilst I am therein providing for the Benefit of the public Service, I have the Satisfaction of being able with equal Propriety, to indulge the Sentiments of Esteem with which, I have the Honor to bt, Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] Copy. Secret Instructions to the Commodore Hotham
Dated 23d Decemr 1776. No 3 In Lord Howe's Letr of the 15 Jany 1777