Plan for Expeditions.—
As the first proposed plan will be impeded for some time1 in the interval a great Variety of projects present themselves; some of which might be adapted, and might prove of a great Utility to France and America, by distressing their Common Enemy at a small Expence.—
Three very fast Sailing Frigates with one or two tenders might enter the Irish Channell and Burn at Whitehaven from two to three hundred Ships, besides the Town which Contains Fifty thousand Inhabitants:—this alone would render it extreemly difficult, If not Impossible to Supply Ireland with Coal the ensuing Winter.—
The same Force would be sufficient to take the Bank of Air2 in Scotland and to destroy the Town—or perhaps the whole Shipping in the Clyde might be destroyed with the Towns and Stores of Greenock and Port Glascow; provided no Alarm were first given at other places—The Fishery at Camletown3 is an object worth Attention—and in some of the Ports of Ireland Ships might perhaps be found Loaded with linnen, worth from 150,000 to £200,000 Sterling each.—
It might perhaps be equally expedient to Alarm Britain on the East side—which might be effected with equal or perhaps an Inferior Force by destroying the Coal Shipping of New Castle &c: which would occasion the utmost distress for Fuel in London; and there are many Towns of Consequence on the East and North Coasts of England and Scotland which are defenceless, and might be either burnt or laid under Contribution.— The Success of any of these or the like Enterprizes on the Coast of Britain will depend on Surprizing well, and on dispatch both in the Attack and in the Retreat, Therefore it is necessary that the Ships should Sail remarkably fast and that their force should be Sufficient to Repel any of the Enemies Cruizing Frigates two of which may perhaps be meet with at Once.—
It is scarcely conceivably how great a panic the Success in any one of these projects would occasion in England—It would convince the World that their Coasts are Vulnerable—and would Consequently hurt their public Credit
If Alarming the Coast of Britain should be thought unexpedient; to intercept the Enemies West India or Baltic Fleets—or their Hudsons Bay Ships—or to destroy their Greenland Fishery are Capital Objects, which promise Success if well Adopted; and any one of them might be furnished before the first can take place:—