Number 37.
Sir

I informed You in my last Letter of the 9th of July that the part of the Army intended by the General for a particular Service was embarked.

I put to Sea from Sandy Hook with the Fleet, consisting in the whole of Two Hundred and Sixty seven Sail, the twenty third of the same Month; being the earliest Opportunity the Weather would admit. But having fre­quent Calms, and otherwise constant South West and Southerly Winds in the mean Time, the Progress of the Armament was so much retarded, that We were not advanced along the Coast so far as the Delaware before the 29th; Nor off of the Capes of Virginia, the Destination of the Fleet, until the 14th Instant.

The Wind then changing to the Eastward, the Fleet proceeded on and anchored next Day within the Entrance of Chesepeak Bay. By the Attention of Captain Griffith commanding in the Rear, and the general good Disposition of the Masters of the Transports, the Passage was effected without Separation.

Captain Hamond, who had acquired a very correct Knowledge of the Navigation, was withdrawn from the Delaware, the Roebuck being replaced by the Liverpool, and charged with the Care of stationing proper Pilot Vessels to mark out the Channel up the Chesepeak Bay. The Fleet with that Assistance, being by the chief Pilot Mr William Warren Hayton, safely conducted up to the Head of the Bay, anchored between the Sasafras and Elk Rivers the Twenty-second.

Having attended the General to reconnoitre the adjacent Shores next Day, the Descent was fixed to be made on the 25th in the Elk.

The Debarkation of the Army was to be made on this Occasion in five Divisions, corresponding to the Number of Men which could be regularly landed from the Flat-Boats at the same Time.

The covering Ships, consisting of the Roebuck, with the Apollo, Sphynx, Vigilant, Senegal and Swift, moving up the River on the Morning of the 25th, the Flat-Boats under the chief Command of Captain Duncan, with the Infantry of the first Division advanced, and were followed in Succession by the Transports of the Second and Third Divisions.

No Preparation being made to oppose the Descent, the Transports of the other Divisions were also ordered forward: And the whole Army, with the necessary Proportion of Artillery and Stores, were landed the same Day on the Northern Shore opposite to Cecil Court House, about six Miles from Turkey Point.

The Ships of War, with the Transports engaged in this Service, will remain upon the several Stations as expressed in the enclosed Return, until the further Operations of the Army give Cause for making some Change in their present Appointments.

On the Arrival of the Fleet off the Entrance of Chesepeak Bay, I had the Satisfaction to receive Advice from New York, of the Capture of the American Armed Ship named the Hancock, by the Rainbow; And Recovery of His Majesty's Ship the Fox (taken some Time before) by the Flora. The very spirited Determination of Captain Brisbane, and proper Conduct of Sir George Collier, have induced me to trouble the Lords Commissioners with Copies of Captain Brisbane's Letters on that Occasion.

I have likewise added thereto, the Copy of a Letter from Captain Fotheringham, received at the same time, respecting his Desire to take the earliest Opportunity for having an Inquiry made into the Circumstances of the Capture of the Fox. The Fox being at Halifax, and more particularly not of the Squadron under my Command; I have therefore sent Directions for the Ship to be refitted, and Captain Fotheringham to be replaced in Charge thereof, for conducting Her to Newfoundland or Great Britain, as Circumstances will admit; when a proper Convoy can be provided for the Security of the Ship, in the State she can only be now navigated. He will be assisted therein by such of the Ship's Company as were released at the same time; and is to advise You of his Arrival in England, for receiving the Commands of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty regarding his further Proceedings, if he is not sooner enabled to join Vice Admiral Montagu abroad. The other Principal Officers of the Fox will take their passage to England likewise, by the earliest Opportunity that offers after they may be exchanged, if the Boston Armed Ship is not intercepted by the several Frigates stationed on the New England Coasts.

Enclosed herewith you will receive an Account of the State and Condi­tion of the Ships in this Bay and at Halifax since the Date of the last Return. — The Main-Mast of the Isis was struck with Lightning the 23d Instant, and appears to be rendered unserviceable, otherwise than for the passage to New York, where the Ship may be supplied with another Mast. The same Accident happened to three of the Transports at different Times, during the Progress of the Fleet up the Bay; But tho' the Masts were equally affected, the Ship's Companies in the .several Instances, happily escaped all material Injury. I am, with great Consideration, Sir [&c.]

P.S. I beg leave further to submit to their Lordships Consideration the Extract of a Letter from Sir George Collier of the 12th past, with the Report of the Dimensions of the Armed Ship referred to therein; And beg to receive their Lordships Commands upon the Proposition.²

[Endorsed] R 28 Octr (8 Inclosures)