While "Providence" was at home, Hopkins appointed Jones the commander of , a larger ship and the Commander in Chief's flagship on the expedition to the Bahamas, and Captain Hoysted Hacker took command of "Providence". The two ships got under way 11 November. They took the brigantine "Active" after ten days and the armed transport "Mellish" the next day, carrying winter uniforms and military supplies for the British Army. On the 16th, they captured the snow "Kitty". "Providence" had been troubled by leaks which developed during bad weather on the cruise, so she headed back for Rhode Island and arrived at Newport two days later.