Volume 9
We are very sensible of the Protection afforded to us and to our Commerce since our Residence in this Kingdom, agreeable to the Goodness of the Kings gracious Intentions, and to the Law of Nations; and it gives us real & great Concern when any Vessels of War appertaining to America, either thro' Ignorance or Inattention, do any thing that may offend his Majesty in the smallest Degree. The... Continue Reading
Date: 17 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .Mr Deane was apply'd to Yestaday by a firm friend to America for a Blank Commission I mean to say a Commission thats only Signed & not filled up he for a long time Declared he had only two which was already engaged, however by the Gentleman pushing the matter he declared he had passed his word to this Court that he would not grant any more, within the space of two months, & after... Continue Reading
Date: 17 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Soon after I sailed from Plimouth, I received intelligence from Lieut [James] Norman of the Tender [Effort] bound to Cork, that two American Frigats and a Sloop were cruizeing off the Lands End: and next morning I chaced them, and found they were two Dutch Frigats of twenty four Guns Each, and a Cutter, who were waiting for their India Ships: they have cruized on that Station since April last,... Continue Reading
Date: 18 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Intelligence being received that several Rebel Merchant Ships bound to Hamburgh and Amsterdam are expected to come North about, Also that some Rebel Privateers are expected in those Seas; I am commanded by my Lords Commissrs of the Admty to signify their directions to You, upon the Arrival of the Pelican and Camelion in the Downes, to order their Commanders to return to their Station, and cruize... Continue Reading
Date: 19 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The following is an extract of a Letter from Holland to a Gentleman in Bristol:
"My friend's house at Nantz, I find by a letter from thence last week, corresponds directly with the Congress, receiving from them sugars, coffee, tobacco, indigo, &c. and returning them ammunition of all sorts, stores, hardwares, brandy, salt, &c. and this publickly, constantly and very largely. He writes me... Continue Reading
Date: 19 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Joseph Fuller, Master of the James & Henry Fishing Smack of this place, arrived here Yesterday afternoon from Dunkirk, & informed me that Cunningham's Vessel (a Cutter of about 130 Tons, carrying 20 Carriage Guns, &a great many Swivels, & full of Men)2 was towed out from thence into the Road last Thursday night between 8 & 9 o'Clock, & sailed at that time in... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The following information was taken from Joseph Fuller, Master of a Harwich Fishing Smack, Vizt
That he arrived at Dunkirk on the 8th Instant, wherehe found the Vessel (called Cunningham's Cutter) laying without the Gates ready to sail.
That the same day or the day after (he cannot be certain which) she was bawled within the Gates, her Sails were unbent and her Stores and Ammunition carried on... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received Accounts from Dunkirk dated the 18th Instant that the Greyhound Cutter2 sailed from thence the preceeding Night and was seen off Ostend the following Morning;3 I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you therewith that you may signify the same to the Captains of such of His Majesty's Cruizers as may sail from... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
My dear sir: On Tuesday the 8th instant, the usual day for the Ambassadors' audience, it seems that the English Ambassador2 expressed himself most vigorously to the Comte de Vergennes, complaining about the protection given to American privateers in French ports, which is so offensive to England, that her coasting trade has sustained injury, and even coal ships have been attacked: That... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I received your favour by Captain Taylor and must beg to excuse me for not takeing Notice of what you Mentioned in his favour before as I was much hurried, I have wrote to Paris in his favour and will do him every Service in my Power, if this Reaches you at Morlaix beg you would not leave that Port untill you receive orders so to do from the Honble Com missioners at Paris, but hold yourself in... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . Respecting the future protection of the British trade in this place; I hope that, considering the central situation of the coast, the appearance of the king's cruizing ships on this station in pursuance of the directions your Lordship has caused to be issued for their occasional call at Lisbon; will be frequent enough to answer our purpose of convoys, without the necessity of any regular... Continue Reading
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
July 1777
Sunday 20
St Marys [Azores] N2° 9 Lgs
AM at 4 saw a Sail to the NW, gave Chase Tked Occasionally, at Noon the Chase SW, about 4 Miles — Mod: 8c Cloudy, [PM] fired 11 Shot at the Chase, at 2 she hrought too, an American Schooner, from North Carolina,2 bound to Cadiz, sent a Mate & 6 Seamen onboard her, brought the Schooners People onboard the Ship —
Date: 20 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
On board the Brig Northampton taken this day you are to proceed to Bilboa in Spain and there address yourself to Messrs Gardoquie agreeable to the Letters hereinclosed which you are carefully to deliver.3
Be particularly careful to avoid every Vessel whatever least you should be retaken and if taken produce your true Commission only on the last Extremity. should you find it past your... Continue Reading
Date: 21 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Being on board the Continental Cutter fitted out at Dunkirk Called the Revenge G. Cunningham Commander came up with the Brigg Northampton, from Wyburgh belonging & bound to Lynn Brot her too, myself sent on board as Prize Master, Thos Hall the Master of the Northampton with his Crew sent on board the Cutter — I am ordered to carry her to Bilboa, the Cutter now it being 4 oClock (P.M.) in... Continue Reading
Date: 21 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
July 1777
Monday 21
St Marys [Azores] N58°W 15 Lgs
at 11 AM. gave Chase to the Southward. —
Light Breeze & Cloudy PM at 3 sent 2 Boats after the Chase, a Sloop, at 8 the Boats brought her too, an American from South Carolina,2 bound to Cadiz, sent a Midshipman, and 6 Seamen onboard, and brought the Sloops People onboard the Ship —
Date: 21 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Three vessels were taken last week, about seven leagues from Scilly, by the Civil Usage American privateer, mounting 14 carriage guns and nine swivels, with 70 men. One of the vessels was bound from London to Limerick, one from Bristol to the Madeiras, and one from Tinby to this port with bark; they were all sent to America. The Captains were landed here on Sunday last, who report, that they were... Continue Reading
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .I allow it to be provoking, to see the appearance of the Piratical American Vessels represented thro'out Great Britain & Ireland as spreading Terror along the Coasts, web all the foreign Gazettes re-eccho with Satisfaction; when a moment's reflexion must prove, that the novelty alone Surprizes, that when proper measures can have had time to be taken, such attempts must diminish every day... Continue Reading
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .I am of opinion the American fleet2 will cruise in small squads of sufficient strength to overmatch our single cruising frigates, first about the coast of Newfoundland to do all the mischief they can, then will look out for the West India convoys. If they divide as I have supposed, there is a chance for the Raisonable to fall in with some of them; and on hearing of the numbers in... Continue Reading
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .I last night read the dispatches from V. Admiral Montagu containing the Account of the Fox being taken by two American Rebel Vessels, and giving but too much reason to expect that mischief will be done to fishery; but I trust if Lord Howe has sent the two frigates applied for by the Governour, that the gang of Pyrates will soon be driven off. I am engaged in an unpleasant though necessary... Continue Reading
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have particularly examined the Prisoners taken in the Grace, and have no reason to believe that Robert McCaver was detained against his Inclination on board the Rebel Privateer as set forth in his Petition, but rather active in their Service — Had it been otherways many Opportunities had offered to favor his Escape since he left Philadelphia, and particularly as she has used no other Ports than... Continue Reading
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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