Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé reporting a meeting with Prince William, who had recently arrived off Staten Island, announcing that there were 36 French ships in the Chesapeake, outlining the plans agreed between the British Army and Navy to attempt to assist Lord Cornwallis and also his opinion of the ineffectiveness of 'our [underlined] commanding officer' [presumably Rear-Adm. Graves].
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through the Enemy. directly to York, or to Land Sir Henry Clinton & his gallant army, in James River. I have strongly recommended some fine ships to be prepared with which I think we shall be able to derange. & throw the Enemys Line into some confusion and we must then catch the critical moment, to avail ourselves of it. But I have no opinion of the ability of [[underline]] our [[/underline]] commanding officer, he may be a very good theoretical man, but I am sure he is not a good practical one; his conduct on the 5th most clearly proved to me, that he is unequal to the command & management [[catchword]] of [[/catchword]]
