Cronna [Corunna] may 21st. 78.
Sr
Please to render An Account of the following prizes that Lay with you at your Disposall to william hodge As directed by mr. Deane1 to say to the Amt. of four thousand Dollars On A act. of the Brig Black prince the rest to Lay in your hands to be payd According to the list each man producing A certificate Signd. by me Accidents excepted Such as death in this Case the Agent for the Vessell Certificate will Answer. The Brig two Brothers and Syren the Nt. proseeds to William hodge. Dispatch and ship Brothers the sum on the List being Rl.100500 to W. hodge the Other part for the Crew to be paid According to the list by producing A certificate in same Manner As before—2
The Brig Maria the half of Nt. proseeds for the Owners the Other half for the Crew to be paid and settled with them by producing A certificate in same manner as the rest. You will please to Give notice when you have made Out this Vessell Act. in Case the seamen being over paid so as it can be stopd Out of Any Other prizes the[y] may be concernd in the Owners half must Lay in your hands to the property of the Revenge3 is known Acquaint the Commissioners4 and William hodge for your safety, I am [&c.]
G.C.—
LB, UkLPR, H.C.A. 32/441/7, pt. 1. Addressed at top: “Mr. Lagoanere.”
1. Silas Deane
2. In his memoirs, Conyngham wrote: “About the 6th May 1778 put into the Groine to refit and clean his Vessel—here the Governor gave strict Orders that the Vessel should not remain longer in Port than the time absolutely necessary to refit. The Crew took advantage of this Order and made extravagant demands for Prize Money &c. threatening to leave the Vessel if they were not complied with—the necessity was such as obliged him to comply with their demand by making advances and doing every other thing they were pleased to ask.” “Narrative of the Proceedings of Captain Gustavus Conyngham, Commander of the Revenge Cutter, ScHi, Henry Laurens Papers. By “Groine,” the author meant Groyne, the bay on the west side of the peninsula on which Corunna is situated. The Governor was Don Felix O’Neille.
3. Continental Navy cutter Revenge.
4. The American Commissioners in France.