NO. 2 LAST CRUISE OF H.M.S. "lOO" PETERSON 1"] 



below decks and the Loo was not to leave Port Royal until December 

 30, when she began her last cruise. 



While lying at Port Royal Utting continued active direction of the 

 vessels under his command from the Loo. On November i8 he issued 

 two orders to Captain Newman of the sloop Spy. The first directed 

 Newman to watch for a vessel expected from Havana with prisoners 

 of war which were being exchanged and, should he meet with her, 

 "to take out thirty of the best seamen on board for the service of his 

 Majesty's ship Loo." " 



The second order directed the captain of the Spy to keep close touch 

 with Charleston to obtain intelligence of the expected declaration of 

 war against France, and if hearing of such declaration to rendezvous 

 with the Loo."^^ 



By Captain Ashby Utting, Commander 

 of his Majesty's Ship Loo 

 Whereas we are in dayly expectations to hear of the Declaration of a French 

 War. 



You are hereby required and directed when on your cruise to call as often of 

 Charles Town, as you shall think convenient to get the best information you can. 

 And when you find any certain intelligence of a French War being declared 

 either by Publick or private letters. You are immediately to proceed and joyn 

 me of the N W part of the Grand Bahama, and if not find me there to proceed 

 of the Isaack Rocks and the Bominies and if not at either of those places to 

 proceed of Cape Florida and the Martiars [Fla Keys] ''^ where you are to 

 cruise for me Ten days and if not find me in that time you are to proceed to 

 Hinds Bluff one of the Burry Islands where you are to fill up your water and 

 then proceed and cruise between the N W part of the Grand Bahamas and Cape 

 Florida till you meet me or as long as your provisions will last ; and then return 

 to Port Royall where you are to compleat your water and provisions to three 

 months and to proceed to sea, and cruise between that Port and Georgia till 

 further orders. Given under my hand on board the said ship in Port Royall 

 Harbour the i8th day of November 1743. 



Ashby Utting 

 To Captain Newnham of his 

 Majesties Sloop Spy. 



" ADM I, vol. 2625, No. 426. 



^3 ADM 2, vol. 2625, No. 426. 



^* Ponce de Leon named the Florida Keys "the Martyrs" because, he said, 

 from the sea they bore a resemblance to the early Christian martyrs tied up on 

 lines of stakes for execution. From 3 miles or so at sea the larger trees on the 

 Keys indeed appear in long rows, the low-lying land of the Keys being out of 

 sight over the horizon. In an age of Christian fervor, when religious signifi- 

 cance was seen in every natural phenomenon, such an analogy would be the 

 expected thing. The name "Martyrs" appeared on charts as late as the early 

 i8oo's. 



