Your favor of the 1st. inst. has been recieved & I thank you for the communication. considering the mass of false reports in circulation & the importance of being truly informed of the proceedings of the British armed vessels in the Chesapeake & it’s vicinities, I should be very glad, as you are on the spot provided with a proper vessel & men, if you could continue watching their motions constantly & giving me information of them. in that case it would be necessary you should journalize every thing respecting them which should fall within your observation, and inclose daily to me a copy of the observations of the day, forwarding them to the Post office of Norfolk by every opportunity occurring. your allowance should be exactly on the same footing as when you were surveying the coast, and for current expences you may draw on mr Bedinger Navy agent at Norfolk, only accompanying each draught with a letter explaining generally the purpose of it, which is a constant & indispensable rule in all our departments. it will be necessary for me to ask the continuance of this service from you only until I can ascertain the course these officers mean to pursue. I salute you with esteem & respect.