Volume 9
Always preoccupied with never causing a delay in the King's order, because of rumors of an impending war, I have given orders to all of my Ships to make an inventory of all the provisions that remain on board and to replenish themselves for three months. I have informed the intendant so that he can give orders for the provisions, and also the captains to have the necessary provisions for their... Continue Reading
Date: 28 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letter of the 27th Instant acquainting them with the Advices Lord Wemouth had received from Mr Elsdon of the Capture of several Vessels in the North Sea by a Rebel Privatier Sloop or Cutter called the Pegasus Captain Allen, but supposed to be the Vessel commanded by Cunningham, which lately sailed from Dunkirk; I am commanded by... Continue Reading
Date: 30 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[1777] July the 30th four more broke out at 12 oClock in the day one got off clear and the [other] three was re-taken and brought back and put into the Black hole viz Christr Cleark, William Tryon, John Cockren Boatswain of the Yankey from Boston there [they] was kept for 40 days half starved allow'd neither bed nor beding to lie on but the soft side of a good Plank
Date: 30 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . I am writing to Comte d'Orvilliers, who informed me as did you of the Privateer General Mifflin of Boston putting into Brest, which, according to the examination which has been made, proved to need some repairs, that I expect, that as soon as this Ship is set right again, she will go to sea and away from our Coasts. You did well to pay no attention to the proposal that has been made to you... Continue Reading
Date: 30 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . [I then spoke] of what has passed at Dunkirk. Notwithstanding my repeated Representations on the Subject, notwithstanding all Your Excellency [de Vergennes] Said to me when You mentioned the Expedient You had proposed to M de Sartines, which would Have effectually ended the Business, nay more, Notwithstanding the most positive Assurances given to me by M de Maurepas that the Greyhound... Continue Reading
Date: 30 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . During the passage I saw three English ships, all of whom sent a boat with an officer alongside. On the coast of England the Lynx of 16 Guns, off Cape Ortegal the Royal Oak of 74, and off Cape St. Vincent the Enterprise of 24 guns. All three were cruising against the Americans; all three seemed astonished at our build; they thought us bound for America; my replies left them undecided. The... Continue Reading
Date: 31 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . Though the most exact observance of their promises was not expected from the French Ministers, yet such an apparent shew of truth was supposed, as would in some measure secure the European Seas from the depredations of the American priveteers.
Cunningham's vessel immediately on sailing from Dunkirk has taken several prizes. He had a considerable number of French subjects on board; This fact... Continue Reading
Date: 1 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . I have acquainted Your Excellency in my Dispatches by Mann of the supposed intention of the American Privateers to carry their Prizes into the Ports of Spain. This is fully confirmed by the Instructions given, by Cuningham commanding a Privateer to his. Prize Master,2 which I inclose to Your Excellency, as well as copy of the Letter from Cuningham to Gardoqui of Bilbao, by which... Continue Reading
Date: 1 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .the Commissary of this Port, received orders Yesterday in Conjunction with the Judge of the Admiralty not to Suffer us to depart the Port on any Consideration Whatever, without pirmission from the Minister of Marine at Paris & I have been obliged to give my Parrole not to depart without Orders —
We are now Compleatly fitted & Shall be ready to go to Sea, as soon as we Can be Suffered... Continue Reading
Date: 1 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
A letter received yesterday from Capt. [James] Jones, of his Majesty's ship Beaver, dated, St. Kit 's, June 15, by a Gentleman in London, confirms the account of his having taken the Oliver Cromwell American privateer,1 as mentioned in our last, with the following additional particulars:
"I had a very narrow escape indeed; I received a musquet ball through the fore part of my coat,... Continue Reading
Date: 2 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have received, Sir, the letter which you wrote me on the 25th of last month . . . I learned with pleasure that the Privateer from Boston [General Mifflin] which had put into Brest in order to make repairs has sailed from the roads.2 I have the honor to be very perfectly, Sir [&c.]
Date: 2 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
After the circular Letter which you must have received from me, Sir, by which I made known to you the intentions of the King on the Subject of American Ships (Privateers or prizes Only), I have had reason to be shocked that there still remains uncertainty about the conduct to be taken in regard to them. Read over that Letter carefully and follow punctually the orders of his Majesty, which I am... Continue Reading
Date: 2 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have just received your favour of the 28th Ulto and shall take care to observe all your Directions with the greatest Exactness, but I must first inform you of a most vexatious turn our affairs relative to the Due de Chartres are about to take, unless we can sufficiently oppose the Design. When I bought this Ship the Condition was, that if she was previously sold at the Day of the agreement with... Continue Reading
Date: 2 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
4th [August] 3 More Prisoners retd from the Hospt, On the 18th of Last month begun to Mine a Passage under ground from the Long Prison in Order for An Elopement but As I'm so low by the Small pox I Don't Expect to Elope — This Night favour'd their Design &at 11 P.M. began to Open the Hole thro which 32 passed before Day without being Discover'd, they was not Miss'd till about 10 A.M. We... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . In answer to the memorandum presented by My Lord Stormont to this Court to deplore the alleged favor granted by France to the Rebels, and to their merchant ships and privateers, both by affording haven in its ports and by clandestinely giving them freedom to sell their prizes, this Court replied: that regarding merchant vessels, it did not wish to prejudice the commerce of French subjects;... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
A very handsome sum was collected at Whitby for the relief and support of the sailors belonging to the Whitby ships lately taken by the American privateers, who have passes granted them; and the Liverpool sailors are expected here this evening on their way home.
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . I am assured, that fifty four sail have been taken, going from & to the Colonies, to & from St Eustatia in about Six Weeks; which has given the most sensible Shock to the Traders here — & stopped at once all the Adventures preparing for that quarter. . . .
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Your petitioner setteth forth that The Principe Masserano a Brigantine of about 130 tons burthen Thos Wharton master from North Bergen to Venice Loaden with stockfish a neautral property was of[f] Cape Finistere taken by the Warren privateer of 10 Carriage [guns] and 10 Swivils and 45 men Capt Jams Ogilvie, and the aforesaid Brigg was carried into Bilboa in Spain your petitioner as being owner... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .Thinking that the Duede Chartres is lost from us & knowing the necessity of having a Ship immediatly I have been trying every means of getting one, There is a Ship on the Stocks that is now so advanced that 6 weeks only is required to Launch & deliver her in the mean time her Riggen Sails & every thing may be getting Ready & be Compleat in time She is between 4. & 500... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
On Tuesday the 29th past arrived at Marstrand [Sweden], a free Port in the neighbourhood of Gottenburgh; a brig of about 160 tons burthen, called the Molly, ——, Master, from Philadelphia, laden with rice, and indigo, to a person formerly of Scotland, but now of Gottenburg, which Gentleman dispatched for the Congress last January, from Marstrand, a cargo of gunpowder and other implements of war;... Continue Reading
Date: 6 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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