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Dr. Franklin's Privateer, in her Passage to Nantz, made Prizes of two British Merchantmen. The Conduct of the Court of France, respecting the Restitution of these Vessels to the proper Owners, will be a better Comment on their political System, than all the flimsy Colourings of a deceived and deceiving Ministry 1
A Vessel belonging to Bristol has been brought into Bilboa, by an...
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
As an Instance how far the Americans are strenuous to become a naval Power, we have certain Accounts that seventeen Ships, from ten to twentysix Guns, have been built at Rhode Island only in the Course of two Years.
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Letters from Halifax gave an account of the Milford frigate having brought three prizes into that port in one week.
The Friendship, Broomstone, a victualler from Corke to New York, is taken by the rebels, and carried into Connecticut.
A new ship from Baltimore, loaded with 500 tons of corn, is taken by the Olive Branch, Miller, and two other victuallers, and carried into New York.
Date: 4 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Two Men of War are ordered from Portsmouth with the greatest Expedition to cruise off the Coast of Ireland, it being asserted as a Fact, that two American Privateers have for several Days, previous to the Accounts being sent to England to Government, been hovering off the Coast, as it is thought to intercept the Transports lading there with Provisions, &c. for General Howe.
Date: 6 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The French Ambassador has been given to understand that any French Ships coming out of the American Ports, that are taken by his Majesty's Cruizers, will be deemed lawful Prizes, and condemned as such: The Dutch have had the same Caution.
The last two capital Captures made by the Provincial Privateers are valued at 160,000 I, one laden with Cloathing for 20,000 Men, the other with 80,000 I. for...
Date: 9 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A few evenings ago the son of a tradesman in Fetter-lane, with another young fellow, an intimate companion, returned to their friends after having been absent from the 14th of last month, during which time, though repeatedly advertised, no tidings of them could qe heard. The account they gave of themselves was as follows: That they went on the day they were missed to Brentford, and returning in a...
Date: 11 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A Gentleman arrived in Town from Dunkirk informs us, that about ten Days since 500 Barrels of Gunpowder were shipped off from that Port for America.
Date: 13 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Port au Prince, an American schooner, a prize, laden with rice, taken by the Duke of Cumberland packet-boat, was carried into Plymouth the 12th instant.
Date: 16 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
An officer of the King's, who had been a prisoner, was lately brought through the post of Ticonderoga, and reports that the rebels were at work upon their fleet for next season, and says that they had laid the keels of 26 boats, large and small. The General [Carleton] has, on our part, laid the keels of six, one of which is to be a 20 gun ship. Little is to be apprehended from these preparations...
Date: 16 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A French Ship landed at Gibraltar the 19th of Dec. Part of the Crew of the Juno, Capt. Orr, taken on the Banks of Newfoundland by the General Lee Privateer.
Advice is received from New Providence, that a Hurricane had happened at the Bahama Islands, which had driven on Shore an American Privateer of 40 Guns, foreign built, and a great Number of Bermudian Vessels.
Date: 17 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Pat[t]y and Peggy, Capt. ———, is seized at Lisbon by one of our men of war. She was chiefly laden with salt and cleared out; but being suspected to have made a false entrance was searched by the Captain of the man of war, when a box of letters was found directed for America, and some gunpowder, on which he thought fit to make a prize of her.
Date: 17 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A Letter from Portsmouth, dated Jan. 16, says, "Yesterday was discovered, by the removal of some Hemp, in the great Hemp Warehouse at our Dock-yard, a Piece of Wood hollowed out, and filled with combustible Matter (which was covered with Tin full of Holes to admit Air) and a Tube and Match at each End. This Instrument had been conveyed under some refuse Hemp, in order to set fire thereto. There...
Date: 18 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Dr. Franklin is at Paris, and certainly came from the Congress for the Purposes easier guessed at than explained.
It is said that Lord Weymouth, by a proper and spirited Memorial, demanded the Restitution of the Ship Vine of Hull, which was laden at Charant (a French Port near Rochefort) with Brandy, Lintseed, &c. for Hull, and was taken by the American Privateer which brought Dr. Franklin....
Date: 20 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Provincial privateers have taken to the amount of
West India ships ー
£ 1,069,000
Newfoundland —
58,500
African —
187,000
Canada and Nova Scotia ー
16,500
Transports, victuallers, and storeships ー
167,000
Irish —
3,500
Mediterranean ー
14,000
Sundry traders ー
60,000
£ 1,575,500
Mr. Dean, Agent for the Congress at Paris, has received blank commissions from them for...
Date: 20 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A letter from Alexander M'Daniel, late master of the ship Leghorn Galley, hound from Jamaica to Liverpool, but taken by an American privateer, and carried into Philadelphia, from whence he was arrived at Nantz in the Mary and Elizabeth, Peter Young master, in 38 days, to his owner Mr. Thomas Earle, of Liverpool, dated Nantz, Dec. 19, 1776, says,
"Here is the Enterprize [Reprisal] Capt. Weeks [...
Date: 21 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A true Briton observes, that the Fire at New York, the Fire at Portsmouth, the Fire at Bristol, and the burning the Hemp Warehouses on Monday Night at Southwark, have had a very odd Effect on many People in this Country, who before were disposed to favour the Americans; ー in short all these Fires have served to cool those mistaken Zealots, who had espoused the unnatural Cause of ungrateful...
Date: 23 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On Wednesday Capt. George Montagu, son of Vice Admiral Montagu of the Fowey, was at Court, and had the honour to be introduced to his. Majesty, who received him most graciously. As this gentleman took the first American privateer,1 was at the attack at New York, and has been engaged in many active scenes for six. years past, the King spent much time in asking him many interesting...
Date: 25 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Thomas, Bell, lately mentioned to be taken, is carried into Providence. The Captain was wounded in the engagement, and is since dead.
Date: 27 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
They write from Jamaica, that a Number of Pirates, who do not act immediately under the Authority of the Congress, have made their Appearance in those Seas: They are chiefly commanded by French and Dutch Rovers, and do incredible Damage.
The same Letters add, that the Keith, an armed Ship, fitted out by the Merchants at Port Royal, had just brought in one of those Vessels; the Commander of which...
Date: 29 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A letter from Lisbon, dated Jan. 9, says, "The Zephyr sloop of war has brought in here two prizes; one of them the Argo, Captain Ward; and the other the schooner Betsey, Lebras, with 1100 quintals of Bachalaw, bound from New England to Bil boa, on account of the Congress."
The Lords of the Admiralty have promoted Captain George Montagu, of his Majesty's ship Fowey, to the command of the Romney, a...
Date: 29 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8