You are hereby required & directed so soon as you shall have taken on board the Bomb Vessel you command her Guns, Mortars & Ordnance Stores to proceed without a moments loss of time to Spithead & there wait until you receive further Order.
Having received information that an American Vessel named the Betsy will fall down the River for Gravesend this Evening's Tide and proceed immediately from thence to the Downs having cleared out for Antigua, tho' really destined for North America, I am commanded by the King to signify to your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure that you do direct the Commander of any of His Majesty's Ships at the... Continue Reading
Ld George Germaine one of His Majs Principal Secretaries of State having acquainted my Lords Commrs of the Admty by Letter of this date that information has been received that an American Vessel named the Betsey whose description is on the other side hereof will fall down the River for Gravesend this Evenings Tide & proceed immediately from thence to the Downes having cleared out for Antigua... Continue Reading
There being reasons to believe that a Ship supposed to be now on her passage from Quebec may have on board some Rebells who have been taken Prisoners in that Province; I am commanded by my Lords Commrs of the Admty to signify their direction to you in pursuance of the Kings pleasure signified to them by Ld Geo Germaine that you give Orders to the several Captains of His Majestys Ships &... Continue Reading
Thursday the Emerald frigate, of 32 guns, was put into commission at this port, and the command of her given to Benjamin Caldwell, Esq. She is to go to America.
Friday a detachment of marines from this division, consisting of a serjeant, a corporal, a drummer, and 35 private men (all fine young fellows) under the command of Lieutenant Burn, embarked from hence on board his Majesty's frigate... Continue Reading
Decembr 1775
Saturday 9th
In Dover
Peer
Remarks &a Speedwell Sloop
[Moderate and Cloudy] Wr AM Arrived in Dover road the Greyhound Cutter with the Anna Catherina a danish ship detained from an Information of having warlike stores on board for the rebels in America 2 sent the Lieut Cook a mastrs mate & ten men & a pilot on bd to take Care of her
Sunday 10th
Do... Continue Reading
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received a Letter from Lieutenant Knowles, Agent for Transports going with Troops from Ireland to North America, dated the 10th instant on board the Myrtle Transport at Spithead, giving an account that the 32d and 36th Regiments of Foot were embarked on board the Transport Vessels named on the other side in order to proceed to Cork and were then... Continue Reading
About noon the Milford frigate, of 28 guns, Capt.[John] Burr, sailed from hence for America, but had to stop at Blackstakes to take in her powder and guns, after which she is to proceed on her voyage with the greatest expedition.
Sir With respect to the delivering up the five American Vessels that were seized and sent to Portsmouth by the Experiment and Renown, I am to acquaint you that their Lordships approve of your delivering up the said Vessels to their respective Masters upon their producing orders from Messrs Rotch and Smith, on whose application on behalf of themselves and Aaron Lopez of Newport in Rhode Island as... Continue Reading
Lieut Tonken, Agent to the Transports, going to Corke, having by his Letter dated the 1 lh instant in Milford Haven, informed my Lords Commissrs of the Admty that the preceding Morning at day light he sailed from thence with the Transports under his direction with the Wind at East, but by the time he got 15 Leagues to the Westward, the Wind came round to the WSW, and as it began to blow strong,... Continue Reading
You are hereby required & directed to proceed without a Moments loss of time, in the Ship you command to Corke in Ireland, & upon your arrival there, to put yourself under the command of Sir Peter Parker, & follow his Orders for your further proceedings
You are hereby required & directed to put yourself under the command of Sir Peter Parker upon his arrival at Spithead & follow his Orders for your further proceedings.
You are hereby required & directed to order Capt [John] Morris of His Majs Ship the Bristol to receive on board the Earl [Charles] Cornwallis Commr of the Troops under Orders to proceed to North America with his Attendants, Servants & Baggage and give them a passage to Corke and from thence to North America, victualling them during their continuance on board as the Ships Company. Given... Continue Reading
You are hereby required & directed to order Mr Richard Molesworth Deputy Paymaster to the Troops going to North America under the command of Earl [Charles] Cornwallis to be received on board such one of His Majestys Ships under your command as you shall think proper, together with his Cash, Servants & Baggage directing the Captain of her to Victual him & his Servants during their... Continue Reading
Having given directions to the Navy Board to supply the Ship you command with proper materials for giving her Boot hose tops, and also to complete her Provisions & Stores, on her arrival at Plymouth; You are hereby required and directed to cause Boot hose tops to be given her accordingly, and to use the utmost dispatch in receiving her Provisions & Stores on board, and having so done,... Continue Reading
We received news from America a few days ago and it gave rise to different rumors, among others an action which took place at Bunker-Hill near Boston; but the latter is unfounded. I know it from Mylord [Frederick] North and mylord Weymouth who gave me the following details concerning the state of affairs in America.
Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, left the ship on which he had been forced to... Continue Reading
News from the Ports.
Plymouth.
The corvette Wasp left for Ireland.
Portsmouth.
Nothing new concerning the ships of the line.
Deal-Castle arrived from the Downs. It is believed that this frigate will sail for Ireland with transport ships.
Sphynx received orders to keep in readiness.
Deptford.
Jersey and Blonde are out of dry-dock. The frigates Brune and Repulse are in dry-dock.
Emerald is being... Continue Reading
This day the Jersey, of 60 guns, was put into commission at this port, and the command of her given to Capt. Halsted.
The Blond frigate, of 32 guns, is likewise put into commission, and the command of her given to Capt. Pownall.
For the better maintaining a proper Government & strict discipline in the Squadron under your command; We do hereby authorize & empower you (from the time of your departure from England until you shall receive Orders from Rear Admiral Shuldham to put yourself under his command, or the Service you are going upon shall be at an end) to call and assemble Courts Martial in Foreign parts as... Continue Reading
You are hereby required and directed, in case of the death of any Officers belonging to the Ships and Vessels under your command, during your present intended Expedition, or the dismission of any of them by Court Martial before you put yourself under the command of Rear Adml Shuldham, to appoint such other Persons as by the quality of their Employments ought to succeed, to act in their rooms,... Continue Reading