Sir

Please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Yesterday arrived here His Majesty's Brigantine Badger, by whom I have received the Several dispatches for the different Governors, which I will forward to them by the earliest opportunity. I have also received Copys of Lord Germains Letters to the Governor of this Island, from which I perceive His Majesty's Intentions are to give the whole Value of the Prizes taken by the Non Commissioned Vessels to their Owners, unless the Owners of those I have Caused to be Seized by pertinaciously persisting in the Prosecuting of the Suit against me, for having acted in the discharge of my Duty, should remove the favorable sentiments His Majesty entertains for them, and Render themselves unworthy of so particular a mark of His Royal Favour; whether they will or not by this Conveyance I shall not be able to acquaint their Lordships, as I make use of the Opportunity of the Badgers going to Jamaica to send this by the first Packet from thence. I beg to observe to their Lordships, that the Owners of None of the Non Commissioned Privateers except the Hamond, attempted the Prosecution of any suit against me, though they were detained the same Manner as she was, and most of their Men: They were always very glad to have their Vessels returned back to them on asking for, and promising not to fit them out again as Cruizers, which promise they never kept, as some of them were twice taken and re­ leased again.

The Hammond was a second Time taken and they might have had her then for asking, as I never refused giving her up; but they took another Method, as their Lordships have already been informed. As She had not taken any thing, the Owners of Her cannot partake of His Majesty's Good­ness, therefore they Yet may Obstinately persist; for the Two Extraordinary Verdicts they have Obtained, they may think will make up to them for their Want of Success. I sincerely wish they may not; and that every thing may be amicably settled, I beg leave to return my thanks to their Lordships, for their directions to their Solicitor to take the Cause in Hand, neither myself nor Captain Dumaresq have yet payed any Money, but have been obliged to keep out of the Way 'till we heard from England.

Their Lordships being so good as to Confirm the Commissions I gave in consequence of Captain [Thomas] Wilkinsons Death, Captain [Thomas] Windsor now takes the Opportunity of Returning to England, by the Packet from Jamaica; and I have appointed Mr [John Auriol] Drummond first Lieutenant of the Portland to the Command of the Beavers Prize, late the Oliver Cromwell Rebel Privateer; who will sail the first Week in November with a Convoy for England as I cannot Get Guns fitt for her here; of which I wrote their Lordships by the Camel. I have received Petitions from the. Islands to appoint a Convoy after the Hurricane Season is over, and as I have reason to believe it will be a very large one, I must also send home the Grasshopper with them; I am sorry to find that Captain [William Clement] Finch pursuant to his Orders did not Join the Tortola Ships, it might be owing to bad Weather as it is dangerous going among the Virgin Islands at this Time-of Year, and it is impossible to beat up from the Island Tortola to join the Convoy at the Place of General Rendezvous; so that the whole must go to them.

I further have the Pleasure to acquaint their Lordships that (as the Portland is in Port for the Hurricane Months) I have Manned a Couple of Sloops as Tenders with a Petty Officer to go out occasionally and that they have taken a Privateer called the Black Snake a Schooner of Eight Guns and Forty Men (Twenty four of whom are French) and Carried her into Barbadoes. She made no Resistance though only one of the Sloops got up with her after a Chace of Eight Hours, I have appointed Mr Newsam the Midshipman who Commanded her to the Vacancy made by Mr Drummonds going into the Beavers Prize, and also Mr [William] Peacock Lieutenant of the Beaver to be second Lieutenant of the Portland, all which I hope their Lordships will approve of.

The Several Reports of the New Endeavour and Oliver Cromwell I will transmit to their Lordships by the first Conveyance. I am Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] 31 Deer send a Copy within [ ] to Ld Geo Germain in addition to the Papers transmitted in our Ltrs of & on this Subject for his Majs information Ansd 7 Jany 1778