Preston Boston 11th. April 1775
Sir
The Hope Schooner has brought from Rhode Island the Tents and Camp Equipage &c for the Marines, and is placed at the entrance into this Harbour between Point Shirley and Deer Island.
Upon the death of the man who deserted from the Gaspee at Falmouth (of which I acquainted you in my Letter March 4th and of the Court Martial thereupon) some of the Inhabitants of the place thought fit to threaten to destroy the Gaspee or any other Kings Ship that should come there; insomuch that Lieut [William] Hunter judging it unsafe to send a Boat on shore, and wishing to avoid the Civil Power there taking Cognizance of the Seaman's death, returned to Boston; Upon his Acquittal I instantly ordered him back to Falmouth, partly with a View of getting the Deserters, but principally to check the Insolence of threatening the Kings Ships, by assuring them that if they committed any act of violence against the persons of his Majesty's Officers or Seamen or destroyed any of the Kings Stores, that I would take the severest Measures to distress them the Law would allow. This Message had the proper Effect; they reply'd civilly to Lieut. Hunter's Letter, and the people of the Gaspee went ashore as usual without being insulted, but the Deserters were not in the Town, and the Gaspee after remaining on the Coast her appointed time proceeded to Halifax to get ready to attend the Fisheries this Summer in the Bays of Chaleur and Gaspee.
I had fully purposed to send the Asia to New York according to what I formerly mentioned to you and Lieut. Governor [Cadwallader] Colden, but a Vessel arriving at Salem in six weeks from Falmouth with Accounts of the Proceedings of Parliament to the middle of February, and of the Falcon being either sailed or upon the point of departing, I determined to wait her Arrival before I sent any of the large Ships from this Harbour, in order to be in a Condition fully and effectually to execute any Orders I might have the Honour to receive from their Lordships.
The Asia's Decks and sides have been caulked, she is completed with Stores,and is in all respect fit for Service; I have ordered her for the present to lie in Kingroad.
We have been obliged to lighten the Somerset by taking out her Guns, Cables, &c. Upon stripping the sheathing from her Bottom, we found the Ocham in her seams entirely rotten and the Butt Ends open; these Defects have been repaired, her Decks and sides well caulked and I have placed her, where the Lively and Canceaux formerly lay, between Charles Town and Boston. It is very likely that in this situation she will be of considerable service. They have not yet finished caulking the Boyne, but this Ship will in a few days be compleat; The sudden Departure of these Ships . from England prevented perhaps, their being as well fitted and stored as they otherwise would have been. It is certain they came to me with a very scanty allowance of Stores, and their upper works in a leaky Condition. I have endeavoured in the most frugal manner to make up these Deficiencies and equip them for Service; but the want of Men is another impediment. The Squadron is already upwards of 160 short, and from the same Causes, vizt Death and Desertion, it is likely this number will be increased. I have therefore ordered Captain [George] Montagu of the Fowey at Virginia to press for Seamen, if Volunteers cannot be had.
It has now become almost unpardonable for Pilots to take Charge of the Kings Ships and Vessels, several have been driven from their Homes and threatened with death for assisting his Majesty's Fleet. I therefore encourage them to come to me, and have at this time several Pilots in pay, more than are immediately necessary, thinking these very usefull people should not all be suffered to abandon the Coast when the King's Service may very soon require their assistance. I endeavour to retain them upon the cheapest Terms I can for the King without regarding the established rules of payment, excepting not to exceed them. I hope their Lordships will approve of my bearing some of these persecuted Pilots on this emergency, rather than let them quit the Country, as I think the necessity for this measure cannot long exist.
Their Lordships have been pleased to order me to hire two Schooners for the particular Service of this Harbour, which with the Falcon they imagined would be sufficient for the purpose of guarding it; I have accordingly hired a Sloop and a Schooner, and caused them to be manned, victualed and stored as their Lordships have directed. One of these Vessels at the pressing Intreaty of the Inhabitants (and the Generals desire) has been chiefly employed at Marshfield, and where, tho' she is at present in this Harbour, I must send her or some other again. The other hired Vessel has been to and from Piscataqua, Marblehead and Salem, on business for the Squadron, and is now in this Harbour assisting in preventing the unlawful Entry of Vessels. I have also hired a small Sloop of 25 Tons which I have placed between Nodles Island and the Main near Winnisimmet Ferry; through this passage I find much Smuggling has been carried as it is extremely convenient and near to the two Towns. The small Sloop now placed there will answer every purpose of a much larger and more expensive Vessel. Frequent attempts are every week make to enter this Harbour, some in the night, and others upon various pretences of Distress, Ignorance and of bringing provisions imagining that provisions might be brought in without complying with the mode prescribed by the Act of Parliament; and smuggling is carried to such a height, and so systematically followed, that without the utmost Vigilance and care, there is no detecting them to Condemnation: We have however caught several lately.
The posts are become somewhat insecure, two of my last Letters have been opened at Philadelphia, and a Letter from Captain [James] Wallace at Rhode Island has been absolutely taken away from a special Messenger; Other Departments of the Crown have experienced the same treatment. If this practice gains ground I shall be obliged to hire some good going small Vesels by way of Advice Boats to carry dispatches to the different Ships when opportunities do not offer by any Vessel of the Squadron; but I do assure their Lordships, that whatever Expedients the necessity of the times obliged me to, no Expences shall be incurred but such as the Safety of his Majesty's Squadron and the good of the Service make absolutely necessary.
As the Canceaux was aground in Piscataqua River last January, I have ordered her to Halifax to have her Bottom examined and then to proceed on the Survey; Lieut. [Henry] Mowat is also directed in his way to Halifax to put into Falmouth to protect a new Ship lately launched there, and another Vessel that has brought her Rigging Sails and Stores from England; both these Vessels are threatened with being burnt; I have therefore ordered Lieut. Mowat to get them round as soon as possible to Marblehead or Portsmouth where they can be secured from danger.
Lieut. [Thomas] Graves in the Diana with a Land Officer and a party of Soldiers in another Sloop, at the desire of the General, are gone to Penobscot to bring away certain quantities of Arms and Ammunition in the Fort that they may not fall into the hands of our Adversaries.
The Glasgow is again well repaired and afloat; we are using every means to get her fitted and ready for Sea.
I am anxiously expecting the Arrival of the Falcon; Their Lordships may depend upon my executing whatever Orders I receive by her with the utmost punctuality.
Sir &c