My Lord
I had the honor to receive on the 28h ultimo by Mr Robarts your Lordships Letters of the 28h of July, 8h and 14h of August, and on the 10h instant by Major Cuyler, two of the 31st of August, and one of the 3d of September giving an Account of your arrival at Staten Island, of your being joined by the Commodores Sir Peter Parker and Hotham, and of your proceedings from the date of your Letter off of Halifax All which, with their several Inclosures were immediately laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and in return I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that their Lordships very well approve of the whole thereof, but more particularly the judicious measures your Lordship took for landing the Troops with so much expedition on Long Island, and the disposition you made of the Fleet for co-operating with the Army.
My Lords have great satisfaction in the Account your Lordship has given of the Abilities and diligence shewn by Commodore Hotham and Captain Davis of the Repulse, in .conducting to your Lordship the Transports under their respective Convoys: and their Lordships are well pleased with the Spirit and perserverence of Captain Parker and the Small Squadron which had been sent up the North River under his Conduct at the request of General Howe.
Their Lordships are glad to find that you have concurred in a Proposition that has been made to you for an exchange of Prisoners: and they have no doubt that the measures your Lordship has taken to prevent the decrease of the Complements of the Ships under your Command, will have a good effect.
My Lords will confirm the Appointments your Lordship has made not only of Officers to the Ships under your Command, but those of Agent Victualler, Master Attendant and Agent to Transports; and as Captain [Alexander] Scott, late of the Experiment was under the necessity of quitting her to return to England on account of the Wounds he received in the late attack upon the Fort on Sullivan's Island, their Lordships are pleased to dispense with that restriction in your Instructions, respecting the appointments of Officers to which your Lordship alludes, and to leave it to your Lordship to confirm in such manner as you shall judge proper the appointments made by Sir Peter Parker in consequence of Captain Scotts Resignation.
No time was lost in transmitting to the Board of Ordnance an Extract of so much of your Lordships Letter of the 14h of August as relates to the want of ordnance Stores, and I have the honor to acquaint your Lordship that in consequence thereof three Storeships are now laden in the River with a supply for the Fleet under your Command, and nearly ready to sail for Spithead, from whence they will be conveyed to your Lordship by the Thames, Captain [Tyringham] Howe, who will likewise take under his Convoy the Elephant laden with Naval Stores and a Victualler laden with the Sour Krout mentioned in my former Letter.
I have only to add that my Lords approve of your Lordships permitting Lord Shuldham to return to England in the Bristol, and to repeat the assurances of the great regard with which I have the honor to be &c
(By Major Cuyler)
Duplicate sent by the Packet 6 Novr
Triplicate sent 20th N ovr By the Thames
