[Extract]
The news from America is not very good. You will find the detailed description of a military action, which is not very important in itself, but which shows the capabilities of the rebels. The Ministry insisted yesterday that it had not been informed of that action; I had it confirmed by the supporters of the Americans and the facts are true. I will do my best to arrange for some connections among these gentlemen. I believe that they inform me of what happens in America more promptly than Mylord Rochford.
This Minister, however, spoke to me yesterday freely and in great detail. The decision has been made and the order given to confiscate all the ships belonging to the American rebels or to those who would trade with them. The army will occupy New York, Boston and all the ports and there will be no action on land except in last resort. They are convinced that in this manner they will starve the Americans by blocking their access to the sea and reduce them to obedience. For this purpose they will recall the warships now used on the coasts of America and replace them with frigates, corvettes and other types of vessels more apt to keep close to the coast and seize shallow-draught ships. This solution which consists in starving the Americans, if it is at all possible, which I doubt very much, is certainly the best in as much as it will end the quarrel sooner. This endurance test will cause the loss of America to the mother country which needs a people of merchants, not warriors.
Mylord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, was threatened by the rebels. In his turn he threatened to free all his slaves if they did not carry out his orders to the smallest detail. This threat made them come to their senses; but is it not a pity that a Nation of Merchants be reduced to freeing the slaves in order to protect its Colonies against its own Colonists!
They expect to draw many recruits from Ireland, maybe two thousand men within a month at most. Mylord Rochford told me that a regiment, among others, cut down to 20. men was being recalled from America with only its officers and colors in order to be brought up to strength with these recruits. This is the major drawback of regiments as weak as these British regiments. The smallest defeat is a fatal blow to them, and they are destroyed, so to speak, before they even go into action. If they send for Hanoverian troops, they will send them to relieve the garrisons at Gibraltar and even Minorca which they will then use in America.
The Ministry is relying entirely on the Canadians. I do not doubt in the least that all necessary steps have been taken to this effect. I had not yet heard such positive statements on this subject. . . .
News concerning the Ports.
The five reserve vessels in Plymouth have only four hundred and six men in their crews. As a matter of fact, none of these ships has on board more than the required number of men to man her boats.
All the carpenters of Portsmouth and Plymouth are refusing to work. After firing all shipwrights the Count of Sandwich now has to negotiate with them. He has asked their Committee to send their requests in writing. They are asking for about two shillings and six pence per day. Captain Bennet has sent a message to Portsmouth from Newfoundland saying that the supplies are very scarce. The garrison had only four pounds of bread per man per week, and at the time the letter was sent, there was enough bread left to last a week. Chicken cost one guinea each. A marine writes from Boston that there is no bread and that mutton costs one shilling per pound. In Plymouth, the ship chandler has received the order to bake biscuit in all his ovens for the ships in America.
Arethuse and Lizard are in dry-dock and have the greater part of their crews; Marlborough and Resolution are ready to sail for Spithead. These two ships and the corvette Alderne are the only vessels laid up in Plymouth. Barfleur, Centaure, Kent and, the corvette Raven are in Spithead. The ships Phoenix with 44 cannons, Roebuck with 44 cannons, Experiment with 50 cannons are being laid up. The first in Portsmouth, the second in Chatam, the third in Deptford. There are six Russian ships in Motherbane.
The 40th regiment is going to be increased from 477 men to 1164. It is certain it will be sent to Northern America as soon as it is brought up to strength.
[Enclosure] Description of an Action in America.
In the morning of 27 May, around 11 o'clock, a party of provincials were carrying out their orders which took them from Chelsea to the Islands of Hogg and Noddle in order to remove the livestock from the said islands. They were interrupted on their way by a schooner and a corvette detached from the fleet stationed in front of Boston and by about forty marines who were under orders to keep watch over the live-stock. Nevertheless, the Provincials managed to take a few cows and horses, killed a few and set fire to a barn and a farm. Meanwhile, the two warships and a large detachment of marines from these ships which had been lowered in boats fired upon the Americans. The latter took refuge in a ditch near a marsh and remained hidden there until they had the opportunity to fire on the marines, which they did, killing three and wounding one of them. They proceeded then to the Isle of Hogg where they were joined by the other members of their party and where they drove away all the live-stock: three or four hundred sheep, a few cows, horses, etc. Both camps kept on exchanging gunfire.
After cleaning up the Island of Hogg, the Provincials marched to the Point of Chelsea where they drew up in battle array and sent for a reinforcement of three hundred men and two four pounders. This reinforcement arrived around nine o'clock in the evening, and a while late, General Putnam shouted to the schooner saying to the men who manned this ship that if they wished to surrender they would be granted quarter. He was answered by two cannon shots which were immediately returned. Then violent firing opened on both sides which lasted until eleven o'clock in the evening when the schooner stopped firing. The crew had to abandon ship and take to the boats which had been sent in great number to their rescue along with a large detachment of marines which had taken position on the Island of Noddle with two twelve pounders.
Without her crew, the schooner ran aground and, at daybreak, the Provincials set fire to her. At this time the two twelve pounders opened a violent fire.
For his part, General Putnam blazed away at the corvette and battered her to such an extent that the greater part of her crew was killed and she had to be towed by boats. All firing ceased then except for a few random shots between Chelsea and Noddle Island.
During this long action, the Provincials did not lose a single man. They had only four wounded, one of them by his own gun which exploded. They removed from the Schooner four four pounders, twelve blunderbuss, most of her sails and rigging, also clothes and money, etc. On the other side there were 20. killed and fifty wounded.
