Gilbert Nelson Merchant has presented a Petition to the King in Council asking to be allowed to send two ships to the West Indies despite the current embargo namely, the PRINCE of ORANGE, Josias Daniel Master and the ANN John Leech Master, loaded with defective Provisions bought from the Commissioners for Victualling the Petitioner having previously agreed with the Commissioners to carry a quantity of Provisions freight free for the supply of the Duke of Bolton's regiment, and offering to transport a number of Troops in the above named ships and to provide passage for the remainder of the Recruits for that regiment provided the Crown feeds them, the Admiralty has been instructed to agree the Petitioner's offer provided it is viewed favourably and to supply the ships with Victuals for the Soldiers under passage. The Admiralty is to be informed when ships are ready to receive troops but no Soldiers are to be put aboard other of HM Ships bound with supplies for the West Indies.