Eagle Rhode Island
March the 16th: 1778.
Number 55.
Sir,
In my Letters No: 49 to 53 inclusive, and by a subsequent Dispatch of the 4th. of last Month, of which You will receive Duplicates by this Conveyance, I communicated the material Particulars regarding the State of the Fleet and my Proceedings from the Time I left the Delaware last Year, until the Departure of the Chatham, in which those Letters were sent to England. I am now to report the later Occurrences, with the Changes made in the Disposition of the Ships since that Period. And proposing to return immediately to the Delaware, I leave these Dispatches to be forwarded in the Grampus.
The Cabot having been detached from Halifax early in January to convoy some Vessels with Necessaries for the Garrisons at Rhode-Island and New-York,1 I was advised by Sir George Collier of the Appointments and State of the Ships under his Orders, added in the enclosed General Returns. No Opportunity offering in the meantime for sending Captain Mason2 to refit the Fox, pursuant to my Instructions for the Detention of that Ship, Sir George Collier ordered Captain Fotheringham3 to proceed with her to England: And contrary to my Intention, having taken the same Resolution with regard to the Milford, in consequence of some Damage sustained by parting her Cable in a Gale of Wind, and grounding in Halifax Harbour. The Dunmore Store-Ship was then arrived.
By an Accident similar to that of the Milford, the Amazon was forced so near the Shore in this Port, that it was necessary to cut away all her Masts to save the Ship. And I have the Concern to be informed by Letters from Commodore Hotham4 of the total Loss of the Liverpool upon Long Island the 11th: of last Month, on Captain Bellew's5 passage with Sir William Howe's Dispatches from the Delaware to New-York: But the Ship's Company were safely landed from the Wreck. The Misfortune being recent, no Particulars could be added with respect to the Stores that could be preserved.
I received at the same Time an Account of the Violences committed by some of the Inhabitants of Bermuda, described in the Copy You herewith receive of the Report delivered to the Commodore by the Complainant.6
Tho' I suppose the Particulars may be credited, I am unable in my present Circumstances to make any Arrangement which would effectually restrain those criminal Excesses. The Daphne was intended to have been stationed at Bermuda, in Conjunction with the Nautilus. But I had not heard of Captain Chinnery7 from the Time he left New-York last July, until he was met at Sea a few Days since on his Return to that Port.
The Amazon was fitted with Jury-Masts to remain for Port-Service at New-York, until she can be more adequately provided for her passage to England, which is become necessary, as well in respect to the large proportion of Stores that would be required for refitting her abroad, as that her Bottom will need Examination; Having struck several Times on the Rocks in the Situation before-mentioned.
The Cerberus was substituted in place of the Amazon to attend the Transports designed for Boston with the Juno.
They sailed for Cape Cod Harbour the 15th. of last Month. But Intelligence being since received of the Resolution the Rebels had taken not to adhere to the terms of the Convention of Saratoga as recited in the enclosed Extract of their public Declarations;8 Orders were sent by the Centurion for Captain Dalrymple9 to return with the Cerberus and such of the Transports as would be of Burthen requisite to take and bring back all the Victualling Stores from the other Transports, to this Port. The rest of the Transports which were too much out of Repair to remain longer in this Country, are to proceed on immediately to England; with the Agent Lieutenant Dickinson,10 by whom Captain Brathwaite11 was to advise You of the proceedings in those Respects. The Juno and Cerberus, which are not in Condition for Cruizing Service, will be appropriated for those current Port-Duties at Rhode-Island or New-York To set at Liberty such other of the Frigates as, with Reference to their general State of Repair, may be less unfit to cruize on the New-England Coasts.
The Rebels taking Advantage of a favorable Alteration of the Weather, put to Sea in one of the 32 Gun Frigates named the Warren, towards the end of last Month; By attempting the Narragansett Channel, and passing the stationed Ships in the Night.
According to the latest Information obtained from some of the well-affected Inhabitants in the New-England Provinces, the Two-decked Ship building at Portsmouth12 is not expected to be finished before the Autumn. Some of the Rigging and Half of the Guns have been received from France; supposed by the Heureux, which arrived towards the End of the last Year.13 The Cables, Canvass for the Sails, and Remainder of the Rigging and Guns, were daily expected from Europe. But no Part of the Ship building at Boston was said to be planked, nor any Appearance of Urgency observed for having her soon completed.14
The Assortment of Cordage received by the last Store-Ships, proving insufficient for immediate Use in the Fleet; I have directed a Quantity to be taken by Agreement from an unlicensed British Vessel15lately brought into this Port. The Particulars are transmitted herewith.16 But the Property of the Vessel being yet undecided, the Conditions of the purchase have not been finally determined.
By Letters from Captain Onslow,17 I am informed that between the 14th. and 28th. Ultimo, the French Ships named the Ferdinand and Lyon, said to mount 44 Guns each, with another Frigate built Ship under the same Colours, intended for the Ports of Virginia, have been chased off from that Part of the American Coast; And the Comte de Veaux of 24 Guns intercepted;18 by the Ships stationed at the Entrance of Chesepeak Bay.19
The Lyon, favored by a Continuance of this foggy Weather, is believed to have since been arrived at New-London.
In consequence of the Intelligence Captain Onslow had collected, to the purport as in the Paper enclosed,20 I have countermanded his Return to join me in the Delaware, until the Middle of the next Month.
A French Officer onboard the Comte de Veaux, professing himself to be the Viscomte de Sabron, is sent to England in the Grampus, for being further disposed of as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty shall direct.
The Naval Stores remaining in the Grampus being removed into the Townshend Ordnance Transport for being conveyed to New-York, the Grampus sails for England immediately from this Port. And the Townshend will be also dismissed, as soon after as the King's Service will permit.
Captain Griffith21 will be left with the Care of the Naval Services on this Station. And as it has been requisite to replace the Milford by the Diamond, Captain Feilding22 will have the Conduct of the Division of the Fleet assembling at Halifax. Both these Officers are directed, upon obtaining any Intelligence meriting their Lordships' Notice, to transmit the same to You by the earliest Opportunity.
I am, with great Consideration, [&c.]