William Marsden. Have instructed Commissioner Lane at Antigua to purchase ground...

William Marsden. Have instructed Commissioner Lane at Antigua to purchase ground in Barbados to build a Naval hospital having furnished him with the plans. Are sending a copy letter from Commissioner Lane and one from Rear Admiral Cochrane, which informs us ground has already been purchased. The Commissioner forwarded bills for payment at the direction of Rear Admiral Cochrane. Charles Wilkes of New York has been commissioned by Rear Admiral Cochrane to supply timber. It appears that the Admiral has taken upon himself the direction of this work without communicating with the Board or Commissioner Lane and has departed from the usual mode of awarding the work by contract. He has further sent the Chichester storeship to New York which will detain the ship and impede supplies to foreign stations. Asks for directions and guidance and whether the bills presented are to be accepted