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New York Octr. 17th. 1782

Dear Sir

I take the liberty of sending you the result of the enquiries, I have been able to make since I came to the West Indies, of the track of ships in general take in going to Cape Francios from the coast of North America; and as you have done me the honor, to ask my opinion in your present situation, I will very candidly say, what I should do, was the Kings fleet, under my command

I would as expeditiously as possible proceed to Carlisle Bay Barbadoes, with half the Line of battle ships now here, and so soon as they had completed their water go to St. Lucia for 24 hours, and from thence to St John’s road Antigua, and not finding any reason to suspect, any design from the Enemy, against His Majesty’s Islands to Windward, I should stretch away to the Northward, and cruize from 20 to 30 Leagues, to the northward of the Caycos Island, untill I received intelligence of the situation of Things at Cape Francois and the Havanna, which intelligence would guide my further conduct; and as I went to the southward I should detach the Jupiter, with the Germain or Lively off the Havana, the former to return & cruize at the above mentioned bearings and distance from the Caycos Island, as long as her water would last, and the latter to make all the dispatch possible to Barbadoes, calling off Antigua in her way, and leaving with Commissioner [?Lassorey] whatever intelligence her commander may have to communicate—The other half of the Line of battle ships, left upon this coast to watch the motions of Vandreuil Squadron, should put to sea, at the same time and proceed into Boston Bay to take a view at the Enemys Ships, and not finding them in a condition for Sea to go to Halifax for a few days, in order to keep their water up, then return again into Boston Bay, for another view of the Enemy and from thence proceed off New York and upon sending a frigate in, and receiving no intelligence to occasion a longer stay of His Majesty’s Squadron; and the season being then such, as to make any attempt from the Enemy by sea, at this port, impracticable; The Squadron should make the best of it’s way, to the above mentioned station off the Caycos Island, and not meeting with any frigate there, to communicate

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