Emerald In Delaware River 23d May 1778.
Sir
From your representation of the Isis, I sent the Master (Mr. Ballardie) of this Ship, to sound about her, and find a Channal to move her,1 and in whom I have rea-son to have the greatest Confidence. He is of opinion, he can move the Ship with safety; and I send him to take Charge accordingly, from the Pilot, untill she is brought into the Channal, between the Brandywine and Brown,2 then your Pilot to resume his Charge.3 I am [&c.]
B.C.
LB, UkGrNMM, Benjamin Caldwell Papers, CAL/110 Letter Book(May 1776–June 1779), p. 39. Addressed at the bottom “To/Captain Raynor/Isis.”
1. In his journal entry for 22 May, Raynor wrote that he had boats from H.M.S. Isis “Sounding For the Channele, could not find out a Safe Channele For the Ship, Judged the Channele we came thro to Be nothing but a Swash leading thro the Brandy Wine Shoals, having Very Shoal Water Boath to the Northen and Southen; of the Swash and not a Ship Chanle..” UkLPR, Adm. 51/484, part 2.
2. That is, between the Brandywine Shoals and the Brown Shoals in Delaware Bay.
3. In his journal entry of 24 May, Raynor recorded that “the Master of the Emerald took Charg of the Ship As pilot & Weighd and Workd into Another Channele, at 8 AM anchd with the Bt Br. in 6½ fm.” Ibid.
