Displaying 41 - 60 of 86
Things are in much the Same state as when I arriv'd here, No order to permit the exportation of the Tents, fusils, Cannon, &c.c. I know not on what terms the Ships are freighted but neither have enough at present to fill them, & not more than wou'd fill one, the Seine, as they call her. I wrote you what time it would take to make a different arran.gement. All allow the Romaine safe for...
Date: 19 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yours to the 22d I just this moment receivd. I hope what I have since wrote has sufficiently explained what you wishd to know. However I will repeat to you that in the 1st place without an order from Court the Vessel cannot sail. In the Second place the 19 peices of Cannon, carriages for the Cannon & matches & homes & bullets are chiefly in the Romaine & are stowd in such a manner...
Date: 24 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
All the Examinations, inquisitions and surveys of arms and Merchandise, Sir, have doubtless an object of great usefulness, since they have been thought necessary. They have at least Served to refute all the base Suspicions which have been feigned as to the excellence of the articles furnished; that is to say in good French, as to the honesty of Mr Hortalez. But was all this worth the time that it...
Date: 19 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I arrived last Evening in good Health with my Traveling companion, in spite of the bad roads and the hardships of passage. We began the Visit to the shipyards, and we shall immediately have a meeting with the best Builders in order to start the work; there is neither a lack of material nor of good labor; M B[aux] seems very satisfied with their way of working which he finds vastly Superior to...
Date: 27 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have receivd an. answer from the Court, thro the Duke de Grimaldi to this effect. That the reasons for wishing me not to come to Madrid are insuperable, that the States may depend on the sincere desire of Spain to see their Liberties establ1shd & ~o assist them as far as her own situation will permit. For this purpose i had only to direct the House of Gardoqui to supply us by every...
Date: 16 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...
Date: 22 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On my arrival here last Thursday I found the Cutter in the River, about 10 miles below this Place; we are much Plaged with the People that brought her round from Havre, the Men Say they wont go, that they were Shiped to go in her as A Packet to America, as Such they will go, & no other ways, the French Capt first told me he wou'd be very glad to go in her, if we wou'd make up his wages to him...
Date: 13 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I recvd your Favour by Mr Cunningham inclosing the Captains orders. — Mr Peltier & I are now agreed in every thing except one, which is relative to the disposal of the Ship after she arrives at St Domingo, you say that if the Capt can find Convoy he is to go directly thence to America Mr Montieu makes no such Condition on the Contrary gives absolute orders relative to loading the Ship back...
Date: 15 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have just recvd your favour of the 16 Inst. The Cutter will soon be in readiness Capt Nicholson keeps on board in order to hurry as much as possible, he desired me to present his Compts
I have got rid of all the French Crew with the loss of upwards of 50 Louis there was no avoiding this for the Admiralty would have compelled us. ー I have been obliged to employ the workmen this week in getting...
Date: 19 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Freedom Brig in the Service of the Massachusetts State arrived here the day before yesterday she sailed Mar. 10 so brings nothing fresh she has made 12 prizes 7 she sent into America 1 she gave to prisoners 3 she burned & one is coming into this River, this latter is a Brig from Bordeaux with Wine &c bound to Dublin. . . .
Date: 3 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt Wickes & my Self are Yet Waitg here with great impatience for the Arrival of the Lexington, Capt Johnson from Burdo [Bordeaux], we had determined on Wednesday last to go to Sea without him; for he informed us on his Arrival there from Nants, that he wou'd Sail from that Place last Sunday was a Week, & hearg nothing further from him Obliged us to beleave he was taken, or that some...
Date: 15 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
It is with great Concern we inform you that by an order from Court both the prises have been delivered up yesterday; the Brigg to Mr Stival, & the packett boat to Mr Frazer. we formed an opposition but unsuccessfully. the Judge wu'd not but give them up. Cap Cunningham with his Crew is still in Goal, & lives in hopes that Soon his liberty shall be given. I went to See him last night...
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt. Champlin, in a small sloop of Shaw's, brought from the Mole all the Macaroni's Powder, about four tons, arrived two days since; and [Captain William] Packwood tarries, expecting powder from France to the Mole every hour.
Date: 7 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Last Tuesday evening [September 19] the Man of War stopped the Amboy stage and took out an Ensign Tiley, of Gen. [David] Wooster's troops,. and a box. The former had the care of the latter, which was supposed to contain dispatches from Congress; but herein they were baulked. The papers relate only to an estate belonging to a prisoner of Gen. Wooster's. It is said Mr. Tiley is in irons. I can't...
Date: 21 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
. . . in my last I mentioned the building the flat Bottom Boats which are now almost compleated and the men are daily exercising in them, such as learning to Row ー paddle ー land & clime a precipice & form immediately for Action, ー they behave much beyond expectation, ー this exercise will be of great service if ever we land on the shore of our Enemies, which it seems they much fear as they...
Date: 16 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I wrote you last Post & inclosed you Cappy of a Contract made by Two of my Captains with Some Gentlemen at St Eustatia for fifty Tonns of Gun powder, I have Communicated the same to his Honor Our Govenreur & he gave me the inclos'd Letter to the Delegates, of the Honl Continental Congress, from this Colony ー to what I wrote you in my Last I have only to add, that I depend agreeable to the...
Date: 19 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
You are desired to repair immediately to the City of New York, and there purchase a Ship suitable for carrying 20 nine pounders upon one deck, if such a Ship can there be found. Also a Sloop, suitable to carry ten guns, which we would choose should be Bermudian built if such a one can be had. If you succeed in purchasing both, or either of these Vessels, you will use all possible expedition to...
Date: 7 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
In your last you requested I would give you an account of the progress of our machine, and whether anything may be expected of it. I now sit down to give you a succinct but imperfect account of its structure, which is so complicated that it is impossible to give a perfect idea of it.
The Body, when standing upright in the position in which it is navigated, has the nearest resemblance to the two...
Date: 9 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
You are desired to repair immediately to the City of New York and there purchase a ship suitable for carrying 20 nine pounders upon one deck, if such a ship can there be found. Also a sloop suitable to carry ten guns, which we would choose should be Bermudian built, if such a one can be had. If you succeed in purchasing both, or either of these Vessels, you will use all possible expedition to...
Date: 17 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Sir, ー I have to ask pardon for the wrong information I gave you. At the time of my last writing, I supposed the Machine was gone, but since find one proving the navigation of it in Connecticut River. The forcing pump made by Mr. Doolittle, not being made according to order given, did not answer; which has delayed him.2 The trials I mentioned to have been made since Dr....
Date: 22 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2