Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé, writing from various locations and detailing his activities, expressing frustration over the general lack of action by the British fleet and the failure to take opportunities against the enemy, complaining about Adm. Pigot's inexperience, reporting on illness on board his ship and his own need for exercise, and commenting on the whereabouts of Prince William and his ship.
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is no salvation for us; the labour, and toil, of a few, cannot effect it, the principle must be adopted in Common, and strictly attended to by men in Authority and command or all is over with poor old England as a great nation I confess to you. I like the aspect of things less, in the West Indies, than before the 12th of April; for if Vaundreuil is come this way, just to shew himself, and wear away the hurricane months, I fear he will have the start, and be gone back again, long before us, unless we are very alert indeed! God grant my apprehensions may be groundless, and that on our getting to New York, I amy have good reason to see things in a more favourable light. In answer to the note Admiral Pigot sent me, I took the liberty of hinting the necessity of his sending a frigate immediately to reconnoiter the Cheaseapeak, that he might not be unnecessarily delayed an hour, off Cape Henry; I also suggested another frigate to be immediately detached to New York, to announce his near approach, and to desire Admiral Digby, would cause a sufficient number of Pilots to be collected on board the Guardship at the Hook, with two small sloops, or Schooners, to buoy the Bar, so soon as the fleet Appeared, as the loss of a tide, may occasion a delay of many days; and that Admiral Digby, may likewise be desired to order the contractor to have as many Bullocks ready to Kill, and as much Spruce Beer brewed as possible, that the poor Seamen may not be a day, without all the refreshments, that can be procured them, or otherwise they will probably [[catchword]] wait [[/catchword]]
