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Gentlemen Having considered the state of the River Delaware since I had the pleasure of examining part of it with you yesterday, I am sorry to say any effectual defence thereof, so as to protect this city from an Insult by water, appears to me very difficult, tho' not impossible, but fear the expence of doing it to good purpose will be thought too heavy.
Little I apprehend can be expected from...
Date: 6 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Gentlemen, As the Defence of this City and suburbs from an attack by Water is at present the Concern of its Inhabitants, I beg you will excuse one of them for offering with the greatest Deference to your better Judgment, a Model for a Boat or Gundalo.
This Model is nearly proportioned to a boat of 45 feet Keil, 11 feet Beam & 3 feet 6 inches deep in the Clear from Ceiling to the top of her...
Date: 26 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
This morning Reced Afew Lines from the Committee on Board the province Shallop off the High Lands Christeen at ½ past Seven Last Night which Arrived here at two oClock this Morning for a Demand of Powder & Shot which I have Dispatch'd 141 Rounds Powder & Shot from the fort, Capt Davidson2 has Sent the Greatest part of his also which I hope will come to them in time we are now...
Date: 9 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Yours came to hand of ½ past five, according to yours of the 8th half after nine have Dispatch'd the Powder out of your Ship, before I got your Last, we have had no boat from below since Last Night, by your Last Determination, it distresses me much the want of Powder in the Ship, having but Six Rounds for Each Gun on Board, will take the first oppertunity to get throo the Cheavex De frize, as the...
Date: 9 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Mr. [Arthur] Donaldson & Mr. [Thomas] Penrose came on Board and gave me the following account, the Ships are afloat and the galleys Playing about them, the situation we are in for want of Seamen is Terrible, that the Pilot got us a shore and the Reprisal Run on Board we Carried away his Jibb Boom. I do think and I believe that our Best station is above, to guard the pass and to get their as...
Date: 9 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Yours I Recd late last night & Sent down the night Before 120 Rounds with out orders which I hope will meet your approbations, with Consent of Captn Reed took Wm Roden with a Sloop which had aqunty of ammonition in & put all My powder 27 dubl head Shot 6 dozn Wads on Bord found the wind likely to fail loaded one of My Boats & procdd down on My getting into the fleet found them well...
Date: 10 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I should be extremely glad that you would furnish us with the stores you have Indent of, as we can do nothing without, the Carpenter has no kind of Plank on Board. Mr. [John] Nixon has a Memorandum of Several things that he is convinced we greatly want, the Chains and Anchors for Mooring, as I am sure our Bowers will not hold us athwart the tide when the wind blows up or down; the powder sent...
Date: 11 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Sir, I have herewith Inclosed a Return of Stores Recd at this place for the use of the Battery and fleet, with the Disbursements, also an Acct of the Amunition as Ordered formerly by the Committee to the Commissary, which is not Recd. The tann'd Hides I have not Recd and the powder is in much want of Airing. Lieut Simons [Jeremiah Simmons] brings with him the pay list and Master Rolls, which you...
Date: 12 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
This Day, about noon, Came down the Bay, and anchored in our Road, the Roebuck, Leverpool & two Tenders, and as I tho[u]ght it my Duty to let you Know it, I have sent of[f] this Express that you may Govern your selfs Accordingly. Excuse me for Dictating to you, but I think it would be Necessary for to have some of your Arm'd Vessels under Cape May for to Protect your Vessels from the insults...
Date: 15 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
In pursuance to yr Resolve, we have made Inquiry for two, such Vessels ー as you describe,2 & are of Opinion That one under the Care of Arthur Donaldson wd be fitt for an Ammunition Vessell & a Schooner belonging to Thos Hollingsworth for a Victualling boat. the former is Valued at Three hundred twenty Five pounds Capable of Carrying four hundred Barrels ー the latter at Two...
Date: 16 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I Once more Petition that honourable Board hoping that in your Wise Councils you may think your Petitioner Worthy a Lieutenantcy in the River Fleet when A Vacancy Shall Offer either in Som Gondola that is or hereafter may be built or in the Marins Your Compliance with my humble Request Shall be Gratfully Acknowledged by a Sincer freind to the Amaricain Cause [&c]
Date: 16 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have been so exceeding ill ever since my Return from below, & the weather is so intollerably bad for my disorder That I cannot without certain injury to my wretched health Stir abroad today: Therefore I am in hopes the committee will indulge me unless there is an absolute necessity for my presence wch I can hardly think will be the Case
Upon considering the business as it now stands I am of...
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
We came to this place on Saturday evening where we learnt that Commodore Hopkins was at Newport in the Fly therefore delivered the Order of Congress to Danl Tillinghast Esqr as directed who advisd us to proceed to Newport where we should meet the Commodore, Sunday evening we delivered him the Order, he informs us he left 34 of the Cannon mostly heavy at N London & brought only 12 24 & 12...
Date: 21 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The appointment you were lately pleased to honor me with of Commodore of the Naval Armaments on this River, was accepted on my part from the same motives, which now induce me to resign ー The service of an Injured Country.
Confined to my bed by a severe Illness, I am wholly disabled from executing the duties of such an important trust. The preservation of this city depends on the defence of the...
Date: 25 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Agreeable to a resolve of your Board, we have purchased two Vessels, one of which is now fitting up for an ammunition Vessell, the other undergoing some little repair, to make her fitt for a Victualler, both will be ready in three days.
Your directions are to man and fitt them, but it might be necessary to ascertain what Number of men you judge proper, and the Wages to be allowed to the...
Date: 27 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
In my last Letter to you, I acquainted you of Roebuck and Liverpool being in our Road, but on sixteenth they made sail and went to sea, and on Wednesday morning the 22, the Liverpool returned into our Road; on Friday 24, there came in sight a Snow, which the Liverpool took, altho' we gave her all the Signals that we could, she appears to be in ballast, and I think she does not belong to your Port...
Date: 27 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
By a decree of Court marshell held yesterday on Thos. Moore, found him guilty of mutiny and calling the officers of the fleet a set of Rebels, & threatening his entering on Board the first King's Ship he can get on Board of, the court have decreed him thirty Nine lashes, & to Be Impson'd during your pleasure. Gentlm'n, I Remain, [&c.]
Date: 30 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The Sloop Peggy Capt [Thomas] Patton is loaden for acct of the Continent & as the Hornet Capt [William] Hallock is Stationed at Cape May & the Wasp Cruizing in the Bay they will be able to protect her against Tenders or give Notice of greater danger. I hope therefore you will grant her a pass & Pilot [&c.]
Date: 1 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
As the Marine Committee have recommended me to Congress for the Command of one of the Continental Frigates building in this port, I must beg the favour of your Board to Accept my Resignation of the Commission you were pleased to honour me with for the Ship Montgomery, belonging to this Province; this Request proceeds from a wish to be in a situation to take a more active part in the present...
Date: 5 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
we have Belonging to the Ship, Hamilton Hazelton an Armourer Since the 25th March and was ordered a Chest of Tools by Capt [Robert] White for that Purpose. on Enquiring his pay from Mr [John Maxwell] Nesbit there is no such Person mentioned, he is a Very usefull and Industrious man on Board, If you think proper to Continue him, to fix his pay, or order the payment for what time he has been on...
Date: 7 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5