Philadelphia
June the 10th: 1778.
Number 64.
Sir,
By the Cumberland Packet,1 on the 31st: past, I received your Dispatches of the 25th: of March and 2d: of April:2 Respecting the Appointment of the Grenadier Company of Marines serving with this Army, and the Return of Monsr: de la Mothe Piquet3 with a part of the French Squadron he commanded, to Brest, the Remainder of that Squadron, with several American Store-Ships, having continued their Route for Boston and Chesepeak Bay.
On the 6th: Instant I was advised of the Arrival of the Trident with the King's Commissioners in the Delaware,4 the same Day; And of Rear Admiral Gambier,5 with the Store-Ships and Victuallers under his Convoy the 26th: past at New York. By that Opportunity I received your Dispatches of the 9th: 10th: 11th: and 21st: of March and 11th: of April;6 The Orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the 10th: of March, respecting the future Appointment of the Rear Admiral and the Store-Ships, and vigorous Prosecution of the War by Coasting Operations; Together with their Directions dated the 11th: of April relative to the conditional Detention of the Trident, dependent on the probable Stay of the Commissioners in this Country.
On the 28th: past the Isis, Emerald, Solebay, Richmond and Senegal joined me in this River from Chesepeak Bay;7 preparatory to their further Appointment conformable to the Tenor of my Instructions of the 21st: of March.8 The Greyhound being left off of the Capes of Virginia to bring Intelligence of the Arrival of the French Squadron I was then daily to expect, Captain Dickson9 intercepted a French Frigate-built Ship, mounting twenty-two twelve-pounders and carrying one hundred and fifty Men,10 with European Commodities from Bordeaux. The Number of Prisoners then assembled in the Greyhound, rendered it necessary for Captain Dickson to proceed for depositing them at New York. But I have not yet had Account that any of the Store-Ships which sailed from Europe with the French Squadron are arrived.
The Isis, as will be seen in the enclosed Return,11 requires the same Assistance of Men, which has been necessary for the other two-decked Ships intended to compose the detached Squadron under Commodore Hotham, the Preston12 excepted.
To procure the suitable Re-inforcement, an Embargo was laid on the Trade at New-York, and a general Impress of Seaman ordered in the Port; Wherefore if the Evacuation of this Town by a Retreat through the Jersies as now proposed, does not soon take place, I expect to be joined by the Commodore in the Preston with the Somerset and St. Albans13 off of the Entrance of the Delaware. But as the Naval Force then assembled would still be in no degree correspondent to the Appointment for the separate Service in the Secret Instructions directed;14 I cannot yet judge of the precise Time when the Armament may be ready to proceed according to the King's Intentions. And being unassisted by Advices of the Ability of the Enemy, in Opposition to which a due Provision is to be made, I am no better able to determine, for meeting their Lordships' Idea of the Force to be deemed adequate on that Occasion.
Concluding nevertheless that their Lordships will have framed their intended Disposition of the Ships of His Majesty's Fleet generally, in the persuasion that they may reckon upon having the Force assigned for the Secret Service in question, fixed to the particular Station, I mean (after the Commodore shall have put to Sea with the Armament from New-York) that the rest of the Ships of the stated Classes should be forwarded in Succession without Delay, for having the appointed Number completed with the greatest Dispatch.
Accounts, not properly authenticated, have been received that the Galatea and Carysfort15 are on their Return from the Southern Coasts to New-York, And that the Hinchinbrook (the Commander, Lieutenant Ellis,16 having been lost a short Time before in his Boat) together with an Armed Sloop17 fitted by Governor Tonyn's18 Direction, had been lately taken by the Enemy, in St. Mary's River. The Governor communicating to me his Belief that an Invasion was meditated upon East Florida, the Perseus and Otter19 were ordered directly to St. Augustine; Attended at the General's Request, by a Naval Victualler with a Supply of Provisions for the Garrison, which could not then be spared from the Stores of the Army.
The Phœnix20 being returned from Antigua, I shall be soon able to send off a Detachment of the Frigates ordered to Europe. Captain Botham,21 who commands the Renown, took that Opportunity to acquaint me with his Hopes of having the Ship in readiness to leave Antigua on his return also to this Coast, by the Commencement of this Month. But I have no Information from Vice Admiral Young,22 of his Intentions thereon. I am, with great Consideration, Sir, [&c.]