My Lord:

The hope you held out to us in your letter of the 1st of May that with a supply of arms and ammunition you should be able to collect from the Indians negroes and other persons a force sufficient if not to subdue rebellion at least to defend Government was very encouraging but I find by your letters delivered to me by Lieutenant Collins that you have been obliged from the violence of the times menaced by one branch of the Legislature and abandoned by the other to yield up all the powers of government and to retire yourself on board the Fowey. I have the Kings command to send you His Majestys leave to return to England which together with this letter and commission to Mr Corbin to administer Government during your absence will be delivered to you by Captain Atkins of His Majestys ship Acteon who goes convoy to the Maria store-ship.

At the same time it is left to your Lordships discretion to use this leave of absence or not as you shall see occasion for, relying upon your firmness I have still a hope that with the supply of arms now sent you and with the assistance of a greater naval force the Kings Government in Virginia may yet be maintained and should this happily be the case it will not be necessary that Mr Corbin should be informed of his Majestys intention in his favour.