European Theatre from August 11, 1775, to October 31, 1775
Sir I have received their Lordships approbation of my detaining the Peggy since which the Surveyor of the Customs has received Orders by Express to stop her, and has put two Custom House Officers on board, and I shall give them any assistance they require with respect to her or any other Vessel, His Majesty's Ship under my Command is so stationed that no Vessels can possibly pass us after we have... Continue Reading
My Lords Commissrs of the Admty having received a Letter from Captain Dent of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa, giving an account of his having detained in the Downes the Hopewell, John Ayles Master, said to be bound to Tobago, she having about Five Casks of Gunpowder on board, and has no Licence from the Master General of the Ordnance; I am commanded by their Lordships to send you the inclosed Copy... Continue Reading
There being great reason to suspect that His Majesty's Rebellious Subjects in America, are supplied with Gunpowder, Arms and Ammunition from the Coast of Africa, to which large quantities of those Articles are sent from Europe in the way of Trade; It is the King's pleasure that one of His Majesty's Ships of War, such as your Lordships shall think fit, be Dispatched as soon as may be, to the Coast... Continue Reading
In Answer to your Letter of Yesterday's date, acquainting me, for the Information of Lord Dartmouth, that a Vessel named the Hopewell had been detained in the Downs on Account of her having about five Casks of Gunpowder onboard, I am directed by His Lordship to observe to you, that if it shall appear, that there is no Clearance from the Custom House in consequence of a Licence from the Privy... Continue Reading
The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majts Principal Secretaries of State, having acquainted Us, by his Letter of the 29th inst, that several Merchants of undoubted Loyalty & Attachment to His Majts Government & who have, or whose Agents have, Goods and Merchandize's lying in Warehouses & Shops at Boston in North America, exposed to certain damage & great hazard of total destruction... Continue Reading
Sir In consequence of their Lordships inclosed printed order which I received this day, with His Majts Order in Council revoking and making void all and every License and permission which had been granted before the 23d Inst: I thought it necessary in compliance therewith to stop and detain the Elizabeth, a Brigg, William Robinson Master from London, for Gibraltar, Minorca and Tetuan, who appears... Continue Reading
Messrs Bird and Weatherby two Merchants of London, having represented to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that they have freighted the Ship Julius Caesar Azariah Uzuld Master, to proceed to Boston with a Cargo of Fresh Provisions live Stock and other Necessaries for the use of His Majesty's Navy and Army at that place; Their Lordships, being willing to encourage a Speculation which may be... Continue Reading
As I have received Orders to hold myself in readiness to proceed on a Command to North America, I beg leave to represent to you, for their Lordships information, that in my Opinion it will contribute much to the preservation of the Health of the Seamen Employ'd in that Country (where we shall be cut off from all Supplys of Vegetables from the Provinces that are in Arms) if they would please to... Continue Reading
Once again I assured Myd Suffolk of the intentions of the King and his sense of Justice which would prevent His Majesty to ever encourage the disorders in America. I thought it was all the more necessary to insist on this point because I know for a fact that a British frigate seized a ship sent to Europe by the Americans and that among the papers they found a manifesto addressed to a European... Continue Reading
Tuesday 29 [August, 1775]. this Morning about 1 a Signel of distress on board the Acteon one of H.M. Ships, on Account of her being run on Ground on the Shingles, on which the Men of War sent their Boats to get her off, but before they could succeed they were obliged to throw her Provisions & Stores overboard, 3 of the Men belonging to the Speedwell was drowned in Endeavouring to get her off... Continue Reading
The Inhabitants of several of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America, Vizt in New Hampshire Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland Virginia North Carolina and South Carolina having traiterously combined together for the general purpose of resisting the Authority of this Kingdom and having, in a... Continue Reading
1775
2d Septr
Vice Admiral Graves was directed, in pursuance of the Kings pleasure signified by Lord Dartmouth on the 29th ult. to seize all Ships & Vessels belonging to, or owned by, the Inhabitants of New Hampshire, Massachusets Bay Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delawar Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina,... Continue Reading
Sir, After having, in my Separate Letter of this day's date said so much upon the ideas which have been adopted of the great risque & little advantage that are to be expected from the Army continuing at Boston during the Winter season, unless a more favourable Prospect opens, & having also repeatedly suggested the advantages of recovering possession of New York, I have... Continue Reading
As it is of great consequence to His Majesty's Service in the present State of Affairs in North America that His Majesty's Ships of War stationed there should not be employed in any other Services than those to which they are appointed by the Admiral; I am commanded by The King to signify to you His Majesty's pleasure that you do not take upon you to send to England any such Ships that may be... Continue Reading
Dear Sir Since my last, I have received your several favors of the 6th & 30th June, and 2d July the last of which came by the Adventure, who arrived about three Weeks agoe ー I am very sorry you was so Ill at Fredk Town and that you suffer'd so much in getting home from thence, But this Cursed Scheme of business we are engaged in conducted upon the Plan it has, and attended with the... Continue Reading
I have received and communicated to my Lords Commissrs of the Admty your Letters of the 16th & 18th of July, giving account of your proceedings up to that time; And in return I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that their Lordships very well approve thereof.
Their Lordships had previous to the receipt of the abovementioned Letters, signified to Capt. Montagu, their approbation of his... Continue Reading
1775
6th Septr
Order in Council to prepare Estimates of the Charge of 26,000 Men, including 5,964 Marines for the year 1776, & Orders given to the Navy Board the next day to prepare the same accordingly. NB. On the 27th another Order in Council approving of the Estimate & on the 2d of October the Navy Board was directed to order the Commissioners of Victualling to make Provision of... Continue Reading
By Hyde Parker Junr Esqr Capt of His Majesty's Ship Phoenix.
In Pursuance to Orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
You are hereby required and directed to put yourself under my Command and Obey all orders & Signals you shall from time to time receive and you are strictly to follow the form of sailing on the other side.
Given under my hand on Board His Majesty's Ship Phoenix... Continue Reading
You are hereby required & directed to Order the Captains & Commanders of the several Ships of Twenty four & Twenty Guns, and also of the Sloops under your Command, to encrease their respective Complements, the Ships by the addition of Twenty, and the Sloops by the addition of Ten Men each; and to continue such increased Complements until they receive further Order. Given &c 7th... Continue Reading
A Box containing Fifty Impressions of Mr Des Barres Chart of the Harbour of Boston, with as many Copies of the Nautical Directions, addressed to you having been sent to Commissioner [James] Gambier to be sent by the Phoenix, or if she should be sailed, by the first Ship that proceeds from Spithead to join you; I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you therewith,... Continue Reading
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