Came in his Majesty's ship the Acteon from Portsmouth for America, and his Majesty's bomb ship Thunder, from ditto for ditto; and this day his Majesty's ship the Solebay sailed express for Ireland from this place.
Yesterday his Majesty's ship Deal Castle, from Portsmouth, coming-to between the island and the Main, ran on shore at Easter-king Point, and was obliged to cut away all her masts; she... Continue Reading
Knowing the feelings of this Court and its desire to prevent that the American Rebels obtain war ammunition from France, I consistently follow my adopted principle which is to inform Your Excellency of any intelligence I receive with regard to this matter. I have just learned that there is presently in Dunkerque a vessel of 120 tons called the Charming Peggy, whose Master, going by the name of... Continue Reading
Having received two Letters from Vice Admiral Graves, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels in No America, the one dated the 8th of Novr giving an account of the Proceedings of Lieutenant [Henry] Mowat in destroying the Town of Falmouth, the other dated the 4th of Decr, relating the Particulars of an Expedition made under the direction of Captain Barkeley [Andrew Barkley] to bring... Continue Reading
Having received 3 Letters froin V.A. Graves Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels in No America, dated the 2d & 20th of Novr & 4th of Decr last, giving an account of his proceedings with the Squadron under his Command; We send Your Lordship Copies thereof, & of the several Papers inclosed therein for His Majesty's Information.
We also inclose Your Lordship a Copy of... Continue Reading
Whereas you have informed Us by your Letter of the 29th of last Month that Mr Robert Grant, who is under Contract with you for supplying His Majestys Ships at Nova Scotia, New England & Virginia with Sea Provisions and also at Nova Scotia with fresh Beef has represented to you that the disturbances in America have stopt the communication between the Colonies, and reduced every place to depend... Continue Reading
Letters from Philadelphia, of the 26th of November, say, "in about six Weeks or two Months we shall have upwards of twenty armed Vessels ready to sail from hence, two of which mount 24 Guns, besides a Number of Swivels.
The Homer, Dennet, bound for Hull from North Carolina, arrived at Dover, brings advice, that a large ship from St. Eustatia was arrived at Bath-town in the said province, with 400 barrels of gunpowder; and also a sloop from Eustatia, arrived off the Bar of Peacock [sic Ocracoke] with a quantity of gunpowder and musket balls, having information of two tenders belonging to his Majesty, sent by the... Continue Reading
The Bristol, Sir Peter Parker; the Acteon, Capt. [Christopher] Atkins; the Deal-Castle, and the Thunderer bomb, which had sailed from Spithead, are put into Cowes Road; the wind having shifted.
My Lord, I am very happy to find by Your Lordship's Letter No 20., that the manner in which I transmitted the Intelligence I received with regard to the intended Armament at Brest, has met with His Majesty's most gracious approbation.
Without seeming to have taken the least Alarm, I make that Armament a principal Object of my Attention. All the Secret Intelligence I have been able to collect,... Continue Reading
It is the King's Intentions that every Effort should be made to send Relief to Quebec as early as possible.
For this purpose three Ships of 180 Tons each, have been contracted for to carry Provisions; and I am commanded to signify to Your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure that one fifty Gun Ship, two Frigates, and a Sloop of War be forthwith prepared to accompany those Victuallers, and to be ready... Continue Reading
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received Intelligence of a Ship now on her passage from L'Orient to some Port in North America with 200,000 lb Salt Petre on board; I send you by their Lordships directions a Copy of the said Intelligence for your information, that you may give such Orders thereon to the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels under your Command as you may... Continue Reading
The Report gains Ground, that Admiral Shuldham was met by three of the Congress Frigates, and, after a sharp and sudden Engagement, was taken. We hope this may be premature.
Two American armed Vessels, with a Number of Provincials and one of the Delegates belonging to the Congress on board, are said to be taken by two Ships belonging to Admiral Greave's Squadron. 1
Two ships laden with wine, from Fyal, have been seized in the River St. Lawrence, belonging to London Merchants, and their cargoes have been used by the Provincials. 1
Yesterday expresses were sent to Portsmouth and Plymouth to open houses of rendezvous for entering soldiers and sailors to go on the American service.
The Rifleman who was taken prisoner at Quebec, and brought over here in the Liberty, Capt. Thompson, as mentioned lately, was on Saturday [December 30] discharged from his confinement, there not being sufficient evidence to detain him in gaol.
I forwarded without delay to M. de Sartine the letter which I had the honor to receive from Your Excellency on the 2nd Instant, And I am certain that this minister immediately sent orders to Dunkerque with regard to the vessel called the Charming Peggy.
You are hereby required & directed to proceed without a moments loss of time with the Ship you command to Boston in New England where you are to deliver the inclosed Packet to Rear Adml Shuldham or the Commanding Officer for the time being of His Majestys Ships in North America and putting yourself under his command follow his Orders for your further proceedings.
Having ordered Capt [John] Burr Commr of His Majts Ship Milford (by whom you will receive this) to put himself under your command & follow your Orders for her further proceedings, You are hereby required & directed to take him & the said Ship under your command & employ them as you shall find best for His Majestys Service entrusted to your care.
The Captains of His Majesty's Ships the Renown and Experiment having in their Letters dated at Fayal the 1st November last, informed their Lordships that in their passage thither they had seized five American Vessels bound to Falkland Islands on the Whale Fishery, and that being apprehensive they could not carry them in safety to Boston, they had sent them to England and put on board three Petty... Continue Reading
Letters from the Hague say, "the English Minister, Sir Joseph York, leaves no Stone unturned to prevent any Stores being shipped from any of o'ur Ports for America: English Spies are fixed at the Sea Ports to give the earliest Notice where they have a Suspicion of any such Intentions."
The Person appointed by the American Congress, Commodore of their Marine, is an Englishman, named Brice; he was... Continue Reading
Capt. Chevalier, of the Unity, who is arrived at Jersey from Canso, was stopped in the gulph of Canso by two armed vessels, fitted out from Beverly, but was released on account of the small value of the cargo, being lumber. These ships had in their possession many vessels, chiefly loaded with cod fish, and were waiting for others to send them all to New England. 1