Navy-Board, Eastern Department.
Boston, July 18, 1778.
ALL Officers and Seamen, belonging to any Continental Ship or Vessel of War, within the Eastern Department, now absent on the recruiting Service, or otherwise, are hereby required immediately to repair on board their several Ships; and all Seamen now in America, who regard the Liberty of Mankind, or the Honor of the United States of America, as well as their own Advantage, are now earnestly intreated to enter immediately on board some of the Continental Vessels, in order to afford all possible Aid and Assistance to His Most Christian Majesty's Fleet, under the Command of the Count de Estaing, Vice-Admiral of France, now in the American Seas, for the Purpose of assisting these American States in vanquishing a haughty and cruel Enemy, too long triumphant on these Seas.—Now is the Time to secure to yourselves Safety in your future Voyages, and to avoid the Cruelties which all those experience who have the Misfortune to be captured by the Britons, and now is the Time to make your Fortunes.
J. WARREN, in Behalf of the Board.
N.B. Those Officers on the recruiting Service are permitted to continue on their several Posts three Days after receiving this, if necessary to promote the Service, and compleat their Business.
Providence Gazette; and Country Journal, 25 July 1778. This same notice was printed in The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal, 20 and 27 July, and in The Independent Chronicle, and the Universal Advertiser (Boston), 23 July.