Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé reporting on escorting the Jamaica convoy to New York [?], complaining of the time this was likely to take and what actions should be being taken by the British fleet to patrol against the enemy's movements, and giving his opinion of Adm. Pigot, expressing sympathy for his lack of experience at sea, and for the lack of anyone to give him worthy advice.
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Not yet through the Gulph of Florida August 21st. 1782 [[underline]] Secret & Confidential [[/underline]] Surely my dear friend, we seem somehow or other to be strangely infatuated — The Jamaica convoy joined us, on the 14th in the afternoon, upon which we bore away to the westward the whole night, and though not a single ship of it, was to be seen from the Masthead at day light next morning, we continued to run before the wind, till the evening, and then lay too, since which we have loitered very much, carrying moderate sail in the day time, and only under our topsails in the night. This looks as if we were inattentive, how the time slips away and how very precious it is to us; and instead of leaving a frigate to take care of, and follow with four or five paltry prizes, they are it seems to be [[underline]] towed [[/underline]] all the way to New York in company with the fleet; how exceeding tedious will this make our passage! When not a moment should be lost, whether we find the Enemy in force, upon the American coast or, are to see them in a more Southern Lattitude, dispatch in my humble opinion, in either case, is, absolutely necessary and important. When the Spaniards were found so [[underline]] strong, [[/underline]] and [[underline]] ready [[/underline]] at the Havanna, as to make it expedient, that the Convoy should pass the Gulph before us, The fleet should have cruized, between Cape Antonio, and [[catchword]] the [[/catchword]]
