European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
To the Rt Honble Molyneux Shuldham Esqr Vice Admiral of the Blue, hereby Appointed Commander in Chief of His Majestys Ships at Plymouth.
By Virtue of the power and Authority to Us given, We do hereby constitute and Appoint You Commander in Chief of His Majestys Ships and Vessels at Plymouth willing and requiring You forthwith to take upon You the Charge and Command of the said Ships and Vessels... Continue Reading
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Beas, Parry, of Liverpool, has taken a privateer of 12 guns, and carried her into St. Vincent's.
The Friends, Capt. Holmes, from London to the West Indies, is taken by a rebel privateer; six of the crew, to whom the privateer gave the longboat, are arrived at Barbadoes, and report, that two persons belonging to the Friends had entered on board the privateer, and taken with them a large sum of... Continue Reading
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I see, Sir, by the letter you have addressed to M. le Comte de Maurepas, that you lean towards believing that we could admit into our ports the Arrwrican privateers with their prizes. To determine your ideas on this subject I will ob~frve to you, that, all things being equal, nothing would prevent us permitting the Americans not only to bring their prizes into our ports but also to sell them; but... Continue Reading
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . . I am equally unfortunate in procuring Charts from Capt Weeks when the Courier returned he mentioned that he had sent them by him, but the man brought nothing. We have however found the Coast of New England but all to the southward we want. —
We have but one chance of getting the large Anchors, which is from a parcel that are expected from Spain every day. The weather has been intolerable... Continue Reading
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Vessels which I mentioned in my last, prove to be two ships from Philadelphia ー the last of them left Reedy Island the 12th ult ー they are loaded with Tobacco ー another sailed with them ー and seven more Vessels were loading with that commodity ー bound to this Kingdom.
The Delaware has been blocked up by three British ships of War for six Weeks ー they quitted the station for Chesapeake Bay ー... Continue Reading
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
There never were more pains to obtain the protection of the God Apollo than I have been forced to use to gain my point in respect to the Apollo under your command ー I have however succeeded in the Contest & you will receive sailing orders for Quebec forthwith. I have fought through ill humour, manoeuvre & cabal of all sorts; at last a Scotch banker had the modesty to declare it impossible... Continue Reading
Date: 23 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas the Merchants tradittg to Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean, have requested that a Convoy may be appointed to proceed with the Trade bound thither, from the Port of London, all of which it is expected, are now at Spithead, and that the said Convoy may be permitted to call at Falmouth, for the Out Port Ships which may be there in readiness to sail; And Whereas we think fit, that the... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This letter will be delivered to you by Mr Rowlby a very amiable friend of mine who accompanies a young midshipman, brother td Lord Moreton, in order to deliver him safe into your hands. The boy's looks speak in his favour; his character & talents will do so more strongly. I have congratulated Lady Moreton upon her good fortune in having her son placed in the Apollo among a set of spirited... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at New York, to his Friend at Glasgow, dated Feb. 2, 1777, brought by the General Howe.
"I arrived here this Day from St. Eustatia, where I saw many Rebel Vessels, and particularly a Brigantine called the Andrew Doria, (one of them that engaged the Glasgow Frigate last Summer) mounts 16 Guns and 104 Men, commanded by one Robertson [Isaiah Robinson], a... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On the 9th of February I fell in with an American privateer, in lat. 30. long. 76 west, being in company with Capt. Boze, of the ship Elizabeth's Blessing for London, and Capt. Baker, in a snow belonging to Bristol; he took Capt. Baker in the evening, and Capt. Boze the next morning; and chaced me from eight in the morning until night, when I got clear of him.
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I find myself obliged to urge you to give most prompt and serious attention to the ideas I communicated to you some days ago on the subject of a loan for America. Without this aid, it is impossible for us to answer for events, the outcome of which is nevertheless of almost infinite importance. Relying on your ability and on your zeal for the cause of the Americans and knowing how great and... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I beg leave to acquaint You that I have received from the Levant 72 Prisoners, most of them very ill of Billious Fevers, their disorders being much aggravated from the total want of Bedding & the extreme filth of the Privateer, insomuch that they are swarming with Vermin; I have taken every precaution possible to prevent any infection from spreading among Our Men, by keeping them intirely... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Remarks Monday March 24d 1777
[1 A.M.] Carried Away F. Top Sail Sheet
[4 A.M.] Fresh Gails & a Large Sea
[11 A.M.] hove too With the Mn T. Sail to the Mast,
Nothing More Remarkable this Day
Lattd in by Obsn 46 ..21. N
First part of these 24 hours begins With Fresh
Breezes & thick Cloudy Weather —
At. 2 P.M. The Brigg Dolphin Vear'd her papers on board In a Kegg, Examined the Same &... Continue Reading
Date: 24 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of the 21st inst inclosing the State & Condition of His Majts Ships & Vessels under your Command also a Letter to Mr Winn, a Merchant at Plymouth, giving an Account of the Albion being driven into Mounts Bay in distress, & informing their Lordships that the Somerset is Sail'd from Plymouth & that Lieut [James] Kinnaer... Continue Reading
Date: 25 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am still without any of your Favours which I confess gives me great uneasiness as I am apprehensive that my Letters have miscarried. The last I received from Mr Deane which was 23 days in coming encreases this Suspicion: if you have not recvd one by every post this must be the Case as I have written by every one.
I have the pleasure to inform you that the anchors are arrived from Spain and... Continue Reading
Date: 25 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Remarks Tuesday March 25, 1777
At. 1. A.M. Made a Sail & Gave Chace at. 2. Came up With the Chace, fir'd two Guns & She Struck,
At. 4. Sent the boat on board With Mr Bullfinch brought the Capt of the Ship & his hands on board all to one man & two boys, & three Gentn passengers & one Lady
At. 10. Man'd the prize & made Sail & Stood to the Eastd
Nothing More... Continue Reading
Date: 25 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are hereby required & Directed to keep Company with his Majesty's Ship Isis under my Command & Follow & Obey all such Signals as may be made from time to time on board her —
It is to be Observed that the Convoy are to be in the Center the Camel on the Starboard Wing the Bute on the Larboard Wing & the Swift in the Rear —
If I make the Signal for any of the Men of War to lead... Continue Reading
Date: 26 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
It is with the most profound respect, that the under-signed Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of their High Mightinesses, in consequence of the orders which he hath received, hath the honour to represent to your Majesty, that the memorial which your Ambassador hath presented to their High Mightinesses on the 21st of last month,2 hath touched them very sensibly; and that they find... Continue Reading
Date: 26 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Navy Board, having appropriated the Silver Eel Transport, of 14 Guns, to receive and carry to Quebec such part of the Stores as cannot be taken onboard the Proteus and Porpoise Sloops; And the said Transport being capable of receiving about 40 Soldiers with one or two Officers, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you therewith, for the Information of Lord... Continue Reading
Date: 26 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are hereby required and directed to receive on board the Ship you command, Major General Burgoyne with his Suite, Attendants, Servants and Baggage, and then putting to Sea with the first opportunity of Wind and Weaiher, after you shall have received on board, the Supernumeraries, and they shall be paid the Wages and Bounties herein after mentioned, make the best of your way with them to... Continue Reading
Date: 26 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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