Displaying 161 - 180 of 183
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having by their order of this date, addressed to Vice Admiral Graves or the Commander in Chief for the time being of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels in North America, directed him to give the most positive orders to the Captains of the several Ships under his Command to burn and destroy every armed Vessel that shall appear to be fitted out by the...
Date: 23 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Dear SirーI take the chance of catching you at Plymouth to apprise you that five regiments from Ireland are ordered to embark without delay; and as the transports are already engaged, will probably sail the beginning of December. Their destination is to North Carolina, in order to take possession of that province and to make a powerful diversion by that means to the attacks of the rebels in the...
Date: 24 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I had the honor, Sir, to write you a private letter concerning the news that arrived from Canada and I took advantage of the immediate departure of a reliable person. I received more information in the course of the evening, according to which I consider Canada as lost for this country, because it is already an accomplished fact, or, which is the same, because it cannot be prevented. These...
Date: 24 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I am to acquaint you of my arrival here this day in His Majesty's Ship Chatham, and as soon as her Party of Marines is Embarked and the Provision and Water completed, I shall not fail of making use of the first Opportunity of proceeding to Sea agreeable to my Orders. I am, [&c.].
Date: 24 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
The present situation of America, and my constant desire to have your advice, concurrence, and assistance on every important occasion, have determined me to call you thus early together.
Those who have long too successfully laboured to inflame my people in America, by gross misrepresentations, and to infuse into their minds a system of opinions repugnant to the true constitution of the colonies,...
Date: 26 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
In answer to some strictures made by the noble duke2 who spoke last, he defended the conduct of the naval officer who commanded on the American station, and seemed to hint some degree of censure upon the operations on shore. He confessed, that things were much altered, and that it was necessary to considerably augment our navy; that he had already taken every precaution in his power;...
Date: 26 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
We were assured last year, that upon the appearance of a re-inforcement which could protect them from the insults of the mob, a considerable party would declare themselves in favour of the mother country: that there is no reason now to flatter ourselves with such an expectation is too obvious to be insisted upon. It was said too, in the spring, that the Americans would not, some indeed were...
Date: 26 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
. . . What my worthy friend (Mr. Burke) said last year of their industry, may now be applied to their warlike achievements. Consider the power of such materials in the hands of a minister who knew how to encourage their industry, and apply their courage to the purposes of national defence: but all the secret of our colony government is now reduced to mere force, the baneful engine of destructive...
Date: 26 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to signify their direction to you (notwithstanding former Orders) to remain at Corke with the several Transports under your Command which have the 28th & 46th Regiments on board until you receive farther Orders, and to dispose of the said two Regiments in such manner as His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland shall signify to the...
Date: 26 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Whereas, His Majesty was pleased, by His Orders in Council of the 23d of August and the 27th of September last, to direct that no Person or Persons whatsoever should, at any Time, during the respective Terms therein mentioned, presume to transport out of this Kingdom, or carry Coastwise any Saltpetre, Gunpowder, or any Sort of Arms or Ammunition, (except the Master-General, Lieutenant-General, or...
Date: 27 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
The advantages that may attend the sending immediately a Force to the assistance of the Friends of Legal Government in the Four Southern Provinces of Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Georgia, are so apparent, and have been so fully stated by yourself & the Governors of the other 3 Provinces, that the King has thought fit to order, that a Body of His Majesty's Forces, consisting of...
Date: 27 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I have forwarded, Sir, to the Prince of Masseran the same information which I had the honor to send you. We share the same views and we hide nothing from each other. I feel rather fortunate that my inclinations in this matter are in harmony with the execution of the King's orders. This Ambassador has recognized the consequences to which an establishment on the Mosquito Coast will lead.2...
Date: 27 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Following your request which Thad the honor to receive with your dispatch dated on the sixth of this month, and following the remarks addressed to you by the Count of Vergennes, with which you were so kind to acquaint me, I gathered the most exact information with regard to the unlading of foreign ships presently in this port. I found that the schooner Charming Polly of 70 freight tons, from...
Date: 27 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Everything we hear in various places seems to confirm our doubts concerning the rumored expedition of Russian troops to America. But since in matters concerned with facts, conjectures can only be vicious, it will be most wise to wait until the events actually take place before we know what to believe and before we come to a decision.
If the contract which the government is said to have signed...
Date: 28 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
As the Chatham and Orpheus were Short of Complement, I have thought proper to give Captain [Thomas] Graves, Senior Officer of the Guard Ships at this Port,2 an Order to Discharge Sixteen Men which arrived here a, few days ago from Bristol, where they were raised for His Majesty's Service, and were to be Enter'd on board the Nonsuch as Supernumeraries, into the said Ships Chatham and...
Date: 29 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
I find that the Comptroller of the Navy is well acquainted with the harbour of Cape Fear, & that he is of opinion that ships even of twenty guns cannot get over the bar; it seems therefore absolutely necesary for us to be informed what kind of naval assistance will be wanted for the debarcation of the troops; for if it is expected that their landing should be covered by men of war, I much...
Date: 30 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
In addition to the Order which you will receive herewith from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for proceeding to North Carolina, I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to send to Governor Martin, as soon after your arrival as possibly may be, to apprize him that you have the Pacquet for him mentioned in the above Order, and to know in what manner it can be...
Date: 30 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
after a passage of 5 Days [from El Ferrol] I dropt Anch'or the 27th in Port Lorient, & being Sufficiently Acquainted with a Few Gentlemen, I made every Necessary Inquiry Respecting my outward bound Cargoe' and Nearly found my self in the Like situation as in Spain, Differing only in Two points ー First a free Exportation of saltpeter to holland in any Bottom, But american ー Second Nants had a...
Date: 30 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
It was a disagreeable and dangerous business I was on, for I was not acquainted with any person in France, and after an article that was prohibited from being sent out of the country. I had some letters with me from my old friend Pasquer,2 but they were written long before I had any thoughts of going to France. As I knew Mr. Pasquer had an uncle in Nantes, I brought these letters, and...
Date: 30 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
My Lord Since I had the honour of attending your Lordship, I have employ'd my thoughts with much anxiety, on the plan of operations intended for North Carolina. I wishd to reduce them into writing. I will lay down a few facts as the foundation of what I wish to propose, that it may at once appear whether my oppinions arising from these facts are well or ill founded.
In the province...
Date: 31 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2