Displaying 1 - 20 of 98
You may have been informed, My lord, that the Frenchmen who were in Philadelphia and about whom there was a great deal of talk in this country were captured upon their return on an American vessel and brought to Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who sent them here on board the vessel that was shipwrecked off Cape Lizard. There were three of them. The youngest one perished. The other two were...
Date: 30 May 1776
Volume: Volume 6
After the Royal Army decided to abandon Boston for reasons already explained, there was a rumor that its Commanding General Howe had sailed for Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia; however, such information has now become doubtful. Some persons who believe themselves current with the military deployment of this Court in America maintain that after the fleet of transports had arrived at a certain...
Date: 31 May 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Letters from South Carolina, brought by a ship that is arrived at Nantz, mention, that on the 8th of April last, four large ships were then loading at Charlestown with indigo and rice, for a foreign market, they mounted from 20 to 30 guns; and that a transport, laden with porter, had been brought into [South] Carolina by two American privateers, who had taken the cargo out, and were then...
Date: 31 May 1776
Volume: Volume 6
There was an action at sea between the Frigate Glasgow and some American Privateers that dared attack her. The fight was obstinate, but both parties separated without much damage. The frigate returned to a port of Rhode-Island, and the Privateers to the Port of New-London in the province of Connecticut.2
The number of horses being embarqued for America amounts to thirteen hundred at...
Date: 4 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
A severe naval engagement likewise was fought about the same time off Philadelphia between the Glasgow man of war, with two frigates, and the provincial Commodore Hopkins's fleet, consisting of five ships mounting together 100 guns and all ably manned: after an obstinate fight, of four glasses, one of the Commodore's fleet was taken, another sunk, and the rest were driven in the most tattered...
Date: 4 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
An old Seaman remarks, that the Provincial Squadron cannot be very formidable, since the Glasgow, an old 20 Gun Ship, engaged and beat the whole Squadron: However, none of them are taken, as was at first reported.
The Glasgow Man of War, of 20 Guns, and 160 Men, was attacked by Commodore Hopkins's Fleet on the 20th of April [sic April 6] off Newport in Rhode-Island; and notwithstanding the...
Date: 5 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Having received a Letter from Vice Adml Gayton Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels at Jamaica, dated the 30th of March last, enclosing one he received Express from the Chief Justice of His Majesty's Island of [New] Providence, giving an account of the proceedings of Esek Hopkins Commander in Chief of an Armament fitted out by the Rebel Americans, for the purpose of possessing...
Date: 7 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My lord, we cannot mark without justifiable alarm the daring acts of which the English Sea Officers are capable. As the war gets hotter, they will become more dangerous; and their avidity for spoils will increase as they get used to firing their guns. If the English people are generally proud and greedy, it can be said with them maritime pride exceeds national pride by several degrees and that...
Date: 7 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
On Thursday night advice was received, by express from Falmouth, that the Glasgow man of war was arrived there from Halifax. She was sent with dispatches from General Howe, which were carried to the Secretary of State's office. She sailed from Halifax the 12th of May.
The following letter was received yesterday at Lloyd's Coffee-house, dated Bristol, June the 5th:
I hereby certify, that I sailed...
Date: 8 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Information received from Canada is becoming clearer. An officer, dispatched from Quebec on the 16th of last month on board the Corvette Hunter, brought yesterday letters from General Carleton dated on the 14th of the same month. They indicated that, upon the arrival of the first reinforcement brought by the ship Isis and a few Frigates or transport Ships, the Americans, numbering about three...
Date: 11 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
By Letters from Captain [Charles] Douglas, of His Majesty's Ship the Isis, dated Quebec the 8th and 15th of May, received Yesterday by Captain [John] Hamilton, late of the Lizard, who arrived from thence in his Majesty's Sloop the Hunter, it appears that the Isis, which sailed from Portland on the 11th of March, having Succours on Board for the Relief of the Place, made the Island of St. Peter's...
Date: 11 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Orders are sent for the men of war now fitting out as a reinforcement to Admiral Gayton's squadron on the Jamaica station, to be in readiness for sailing by the beginning of next month.
Date: 12 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday a full Board of Admiralty was held, when Capt. [John] Hamilton, of the Navy, who arrived with the Quebec news, was promoted to the command of a ship of 64 guns.
Date: 14 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
It was yesterday reported in the city, that Commodore Hopkins, with nine ships under his command, had landed in the island of Bermudas, and carried off all the valuable goods he could meet with whilst he staid, which was three days.1
Date: 20 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
In Cyphers
The Army of England in America consists of forty thousand Men and their fleet of one hundred Ships, of which but two are of seventy four Guns. Their Officers both by Sea and Land, and Engineers are good; they are well supplied with Artillery and Stores. Consider then, Sir, how diffucult it will be for the Americans to resist such forces, "if they are not assisted by France with...
Date: 21 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
When we consider the forces of a Nation we ordinarily distinguish her own from those she derives from her alliances. The combination of these means is the measure of her power and determines to what degree she may impress rival nations. I doubt that, if England considers us under both these views, she will find the balance to tip in her favor. But I shall leave these speculations to her...
Date: 24 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Capt. Charles Douglas, of the Isis, who arrived so critically at Quebec, after passing thro' a most dangerous navigation, is appointed a Commodore.
Date: 24 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday, there was a conference at Lord Weymouth's. I took this opportunity to discus with this Minister various matters about which I had already conversed with Lord Suffolk:...
As to the liberties taken by their cruising vessels, I also read to him the letters from Messrs. d'Ennery and d'Argout, and I observed to him that I did not officially request M. [Robert] Keeler's punishment, but that...
Date: 28 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
A private Letter from Philadelphia has the following Article:
"...We have now fifty Sail of armed Ships from twenty to forty guns, well manned and well stored; and we have larger ships building, besides what are in other Parts; so that in a short time we shall have a very powerful Navy."
Date: 28 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Vice-Admiral Shuldham, in his Letter dated the 20th of May last, gives an Account, that the Cruizers of his Squadron had intercepted and taken Twenty-four Ships and Vessels belonging to or trading with His Majesty's rebellious Subjects in North America, in Addition to those mentioned in his Letter of the 25th of April, among which was The Lyon Schooner, bound from Cape Francois to Rhode Island,...
Date: 29 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6