I am commanded by My Lords Commrs of the Admiralty to desire you will be at the trouble to learn, and inform them, if any of the Transports, which will be first ready for Service, are intended for the reception of Horses, such Information being necessary with respect to the further Orders their Lordships may give for their Equipment. I am &c.
The Congress have appointed two Admirals, [Esek] Hopkins, a brave old seaman; and Brice, an Englishman. Also 300 marines and officers. They have sent Brice after Lord Dunmore, whom they intend to bring to trial for piracy. The Americans say, he has broken four of the Province laws, which he was bound by oath to preserve, any one of which is capital; therefore, in a paper printed there, "they just... Continue Reading
The naval force destined to act against America will, we hear, consist of fifty-six ships of war, from 50 to 15 guns each, besides sloops, bombs, &c. and will be manned by 16,000 seamen and 3000 marines; the expence of which will be 1,800,000 l. The army will consist of 34,000 effective men, which will cost 1,500,000 l. so that the whole of the armanent for America, by sea and land, for the... Continue Reading
I am commanded by my Lords Commrs of the Admty to send you herewith a Copy of their Order address'd to Vice Adml Graves or the Commr in Chief of His Majts Ships at Boston dated the 15th Octo last, directing him to Station one of the small Ships of His Squadron at the Bermuda Islands & another at the Island of Providence for the safety & preservation of the Ordnance & Stores belonging... Continue Reading
It is reported that Brice, the American Commodore, with three armed vessels under his command, which mounted from 24 to 28 guns each, had fallen in with his Majesty's ship Preston, of 50 guns, and two frigates, when the Commodore was taken, together with his squadron, wjthout exchanging one broadside, and carried into Boston. 1
Please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that agreeable to their Order of the 10th Instant I have sent the Seventy Prisoners from the Tartar on board the Centaur at Spithead; and as all of them were bare of Cloaths and some of them almost naked I took upon me to order each of them, except the Officers, to be supplied with a Suit of Slop Cloaths, to be washed and cleaned and... Continue Reading
Be pleased to acquaint their Lordships, that this evening His Majesty's Ship Acteon, Carcass Bomb Tender, and Earl of Darby, Ordnance Vessel arrived here; and that Captain [Christopher] Atkins inform'd me that the Solebay sail'd from Falmouth on Sunday the 7th instt with the Thirty four American Prisoners on board. 2 I am Sir [&c.]
I think it necessary to acquaint Your Lordship that information having been given me by two masters of English vessels, with their voluntary declarations on oath to the truth of what they affirmed, that an American sloop, under American colors, that put in here a few days since, by a contrary wind, from Barcelona bound to New York, had warlike 1itores on board, I thought it my duty to insist upon... Continue Reading
Whereas we think fit that the Complements of His Majestys Ships the Arethusa & Thetis shall be increased to Two Hundred Men to serve on board the said Ships during their present intended Voyage; You are hereby required & directed to cause Twenty Men each to be lent from the Guardships to complete the Complements of the said Ships to the aforementioned number accordingly their Captains... Continue Reading
Whereas we have thought fit that the Complement of the Ship you command shall be encreased to Two Hundred Men to serve on board during her present intended Voyage & having for that end given directions to Vice Adml Sr Jas Douglas Commr in Chief of His Majts Ships & Vessels at Portsmouth to cause Twenty Men to be lent from the Guardships at that Port; You are therefore hereby required... Continue Reading
Vice Admiral Sir James Douglas, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Portsmouth, having acquainted Us by his Letter of Yesterday's date of his having sent the 70 Prisoners brought to England in the Tartar, on board the Centaur at Spithead, & that they are desirous (the Officers excepted) of entering into the King's Service. We send Your Lordship a Copy of Sir James Douglas... Continue Reading
I have communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letter of yesterday's date, informing them of your having sent the Seventy american Prisoners from the Tartar on board the Centaur and that as all of them were bare of Cloaths and some of them almost naked you have ordered each of them except the Officers to be supplied with a Suit of Slop Cloaths to be washed and cleaned, and... Continue Reading
Having communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letter of the 15th Instant, transmitting in original a Letter you received from the Physician and Council of Haslar Hospital, with an order from Sir James Douglas addressed to the Agent directing him to receive into the said Hospital Seventy Prisoners from New England, and desiring that you may receive their Lordships directions... Continue Reading
This day sailed his Majesty's ships the Milford, Capt. [John] Burr, and Boreas, Capt. Thompson, with stores, &c. for the service of his Majesty's troops in America.
The Ship called the Washington (after General Washington) taken by one of his Majesty's Ships from the Provincials, with 70 Men and 17 Guns on board, is arrived in the Downs, and Notice of her received at the Admiralty. 1
Since my last the seventy-two Rebels that came home in the Tartar man of war, were ordered to be sent to Haslar hospital, and there to stay till opportunity will admit of their being sent back.
Yesterday the Juno frigate came out of dock.
The Hazard sloop is come out of dock, and is fitting for sea.
Sir, I had a conference yesterday with Lord Weymouth on the important matter which you entrusted to my care in your despatch of 31 December last. I depicted to this Minister all the dangers presented by the last bill 2 and I made use of the remarks which you sent me concerning the possibilities that might disrupt the harmony which subsisted between this court and ours; they produced... Continue Reading
The Navy Board having informed My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the Dorothy Transport, which is fitted to carry 100. Soldiers of the 29th Regiment from Sheerness to Plymouth, would have sailed the 14th if the great Quantitys of Ice iri the River had not prevented, and that the same Cause had made it impossible for anything to be done on board the Lord Howe and the Bute Transports,... Continue Reading
Having laid before the King Your Lordship's Letter of the 17th Instant, in dosing Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Sir James Douglas, stating his Proceedings in regard to the Prisoners brought home in the Tartar Man of War, and the Desire of all the private Men to return to their Allegiance and engage in His Majesty's Service; His Majesty, whose Magnanimity is only equalled by His Clemency,... Continue Reading
The difference between General Howe and Admiral Graves, at Boston, no matter from what cause originating, has arisento such a height, that the Admiral treats the military with great contempt. General Howe is obliged to repair the light-house with his own people; the Admiral refused to have any thing to do with it. The distress of the troops and inhabitants in Boston, is great beyond all possible... Continue Reading