Sir

My Lords Commissioners of the Admty think it necessary that you should be informed (and you are to consider the same as most confidential and secret) that there is some reason to believe that a Squadron of Ships, consisting of six of the Line, and four Frigates, which have been for some time preparing at Brest, is intended to be sent to the West Indies & to be Stationed 3 at St Domingo & 3 at Martinique, at the same time, that it is no less necessary, in order to prevent alarm & to obviate every inconvenience which the appearance of this Squadron might occasion, that you should be informed that the Court of France has in the most express terms, disavowed all hostile Intentions and declares that the Sole object of that Armament is to protect the Commercial Interests of her Subjects from those Inconveniences to which they must be unavoidably exposed, during the Existence of the American Rebellion

Notwithstanding however this pacific declaration of the French Court the honour of this Nation & common Prudence render it expedient that we should be provided against all possible Events, and you may rest assured that if the French fleet sails, a British fleet of at least equal force, will soon sail for the Security of His Majesty's Islands.

I am therefore commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you that it will be a necessary & useful Part of your duty, to be particularly attentive to the Motions of the French Armament & to signify their direction to you not only to take the ea,rliest Opportunity of transmitting all material Intelligence together with your remarks thereupon to me for their Lords Information, but also to communicate the same with all possible expedition to His Majesty's other Governors within the Limits of your Commands, who have received the same Information, from Lord George Germaine, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and similar directions with respect to communicating the same to you. I am &c

Vice Admiral Gayton Jamaica Vice Admiral Young Leeward Islands

By the Packet