(Copy)
My Lord,
I do myself the honor to acquaint your Lordship that the American Privateers I had the honor to mention in my last sent by way of France, being fitted at Breha upon the Coast of Britany and another Cruizing a few Leagues to the Westward of Guernsey, have evidently fixed their Station to watch Vessels coming from or going to the Westward; and to intercept the Trade of these Islands to and from England thro' the Race of Alderney and the Caskets; one of them a Schooner of Six Guns2 on Friday afternoon the 6th Instant took a Brig of about one hundred and Twenty Tons, bound from Holland to Guernsey, and has carried her to Cherbourgh, The Mate and Crew are sent to Guernsey the Master remains there to try what he can do; of this I have informed the Admiral at Portsmouth, by a small Lobster Boat that Sailed yesterday in Ballast, trusting to their not being worth taking; I have beg'd of the Admirai to give us that small Force requisite to Protect the Trade of these Islands, which at the same time will enable me to make use of His Majesty's leave to go to England, without which I must remain here blocked up by these Boats, as my attempting it without Protection would be rather imprudent; — Should the Admiral be obliged to have recourse to Superior Authority may I hope for the honor of your Countenance in this Application, both as to the Trade and that I may not fall into their Hands. —
If a Cutter, Sloop of War, or other Armed Vessel was ordered to call in here at least once a Fortnight, many informations that come to me, might be usefull, which by delays are of no use; The Privateer now at or about Cherbourgh has a French Pilot, and most of their Crews are French. I have the honor to be &c.
Jersey 11th June 1777.
P.S. The Anchoring Ground is good, and proper Pilots may be had in this Island. —
P.S. I open My Letter again to acquaint your Lordship that by a Boat this moment arrived from Carteret, within Six Leagues of Cherbourgh, I am informed the Prize is Seized by the Commissaire de Guere, so far as to prevent her being Sold in that Port, that the Captain is gone to Paris about it, that they have a French agent in that Port who seems confident they'll carry their Point, and be allowed to sell there; By my accounts this is the smallest of three Privateers that are in these environs, it is not Thirty Tons, has but two Guns upon Carriages and four Swivels, and about Twenty five Men, mostly French; — It is strongly suspected the French are the promoters of and concerned in this place, for the Americans could never think of these bye Ports, nor could they come in so small a Vessel.
M. Corbet, Lt Govr
Jersey 11th June 1777.
Jersey 14th June 1777.
A Letter from a Gentleman of undoubted veracity in Guernsey, dated 11th Instant, says, "Last night Samuel Goodwin of this Island coming from England, was brought too by an Armed Vessel of Eighteen Guns, between the Coast of England and Cape La Hougue, They asked him for a Pilot to go into Cherbourgh, and as they spoke French and English, they suppose him an American Privateer; They searched the Vessel but finding nothing but Ballast, they let him go.—
M. Corbet, Lt Govr
