Displaying 1 - 20 of 86
Dear Sir on the 13th Inst. we Recd letters from [Bernard] Romans representing the Garreson at Ticondaroga in a feeble State both as to men & provisions requesting Men & Money ー at the Same time the Govr. Recd a letter from [Ethan] Allin of like Import ー whereupon we rallied Sent Col Charles Webb & Col Joshua Porter & Mr Barn[abas] Dean with £ 500 money escorted with Eight marines...
Date: 25 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I returned here last evening from Crownpoint, which place I left on Monday last [May 29] . . . Col [Benedict] Arnold was very busy in fixing the Sloop [Enterprise] and Schooner [Liberty] in the best manner for guarding the Lake. He has mounted in the Sloop six six-pounders and fourteen swivels, and in the Schooner four four-pounders and eight swivels, and is fixing swivels in two Perriaugers. He...
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I am now to inform you that there is a 20 gun ship and two tenders in the Sound. They have begun their work, that is, to intercept the trade of our vessels. Yesterday they run a vessel ashore off Seabrook, which had duck, &c. on board, but [this] was hove overboard before the Barges boarded her. She is now south from this harbor. Capt. Trobrige told me that a man of character and truth told...
Date: 10 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last night we had a brush with the Asia ship of war, tho' but little damage done, considering the guns fired. Particulars are, that it was last night concerted to remove the cannon and warlike stores from the Battery, of which the ship was previously informed by some of their good Tory friends here; and being [provi]ded with a spring on her cable, and every necessary for engagement, at about long...
Date: 24 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I congratulate you on the plentiful Year with you as well as with us. It makes me smile to see in the English Papers, the Ignorance of some of their Political Writers, who fancy we cannot continue the Non Importation Agreement; because if we do it must starve us.
I lament with you the Want of a naval Force. I hope the next Winter will be employ'd in forming one. When we are no longer fascinated...
Date: 27 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Yesterday morning we heard cannon firing and supposed it was off Block Island, and at eleven o'clock had advice that one man of war and three cutters were cannonading the houses at the Point in Stonington. The firing continued until 5 o'clock P.M. with very little cessation. We hear their landing was opposed by 200 men. Immediately on the first advice, I advised Major [Jonathan] Lat[t]imer to...
Date: 31 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I had great satisfaction in receiving your favours of 26th April and 3d May, from B[ermuda,] as I think there was little risque in the rest of your voyage & I flatter myself you have arrived safe previous to this date
This goes by Wm Bingham Esqr a young Gentn who has for some time Acted as Secretary to the Committee of Secret Correspondance. he carrys with him triplicates of your Credentials...
Date: 5 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have already wrote you a Political letter & intend this as Commercial: Since you left us the Men of Warr have given us an oppertunity of trying the use of our Galleys or Gondola's, the Roebuck of 44 Guns & Liverpool of 28 Guns came up the River opposite to Wilmington Creek for fresh Water, our little fleet checked them there but not knowing their own strength or not having sufficient...
Date: 6 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Sir The Committee of Secret Correspondence having honor'd me with the Appointment of their Agent in the West Indies to transact their Affairs, both in the commercial & political Line, have instructed me to inform you of it, & to cooperate with you in giving them constant Intelligence & Advice concerning every Matter that may be connected with the Interest or improved to the Advantage...
Date: 5 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The Above is a Copy of our last, which went by the Dispatch Captain [Peter] Parker.2
The Congress have since taken into consideration the heads of a Treaty to be proposed to France, but as they are not yet concluded upon, we cannot say more of them per this conveyance.
You will see by the Newspapers which Accompany this, that the expedition against South Carolina is foiled by the...
Date: 7 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Dear Sir I have been so exceedingly harrassed with Public business'of var-ious kinds that it has not been in my power to be so good a Correspondent to you as I always intended, but as you know my situation you'l make allowances & excuse it. I am much Concerned that we have been so unfortunate in our Remittances to you. One ship whose Cargo Cost £6000 Curry and upwards has been taken sometime...
Date: 11 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The Reprisal, the Vessel which was appointed to bring me here, sailed a few Days agoe; tis Said that several Vessels of War are laying in Wait for her; I have no reason to believe She will be taken; but if She was, I am confident She would meet with very rough Treatment...
The General promised me, that one of the French Frigates should convoy the Reprisal beyond the Track of the British Cruizers...
Date: 29 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We had the Honnour to write you the 26th ulto advising the safe arrivall here of the Brigg Elisabeth Captn John Palmer from New York last from New London, We returned you at the Same Time your Letter for your Brother Mr Simeon Deane said Gentleman having remained in America. By the Inclosed Letter from Captn J. Palmer to you, you'll see that in the present Circumstances he thinks with reasons,...
Date: 1 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I don't know, sir, if you have any body with you, whom you may trust for translating the French letters, which treat on important affairs. On my part I shall not be able to treat with security in English, till after the return of a person whom I expect at this moment from London, and who will be an interpreter between us, meanwhile I have the honor to inform you, that I had for some time past,...
Date: 18 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Your most esteemed of the 14 Instant from Paris we have duely received. We Obsere that you are of the same Opinion with us to Postpone the sending of the Elisabeth & her Cargoe, till the first of September next, to which your advise we have resolved to adhere and herewith we remitt you a Copy of the Agreement we have passed wih Captn John Palmer which we bagg to peruse and give us your...
Date: 24 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
... It seems necessary to me that we shoud have an interview to settle a plan with more safety than can be done by Letter, even in Cypher. For this purpose I woud come to you immediately, but that it being now in the middle of our Law Circuit, my quitting it abruptly woud be remarkd. That will be over the 10th of next month; when I will set out to meet you, unless you shoud think it improper. I...
Date: 28 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Sir, I could not sooner send you the enclosed samples of the same cloth which I have sent to the Continent. I can deliver one hundred thousand ells of this material in different colors at 5#.2 6#. 7# per ell in French money. You will not be able to judge the quality and beauty of this cloth from the samples alone, but they will show you the colors.
We have also twenty thousand wool...
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
... You will see by the Papers that a Total end is put to Lord Dunmore's Piratical Depredations; many hundreds of the Whites & Negroes which he had assembled being cut of[f] by sickness; above twenty of his Vessels taken or burnt, and the rest all dispersed & removed from that part of the Continent. So may the Enemies of America always prosper. The distresses of Barbadoes have extorted a...
Date: 20 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
ー Capt John Lee of a Letter of Marque Schooner of eight Carriage & 14 swivel Gunns, belonging to my Friends Jackson, Tracy & Tracy of Newbury Port2 (New England) arived here the Evening before last ー On his passage he made Prize of 5 British Vessels and sent them back to America, one of them was a Transport ship mounted with 16 Carriage Gunns besides swivels & 18 Hands ー...
Date: 2 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Sir You will receive herewith Copy of what I wrote you the 11th Ulto & by this Conveyance I remit the 2d bills of those setts mentioned in that letter. I have bought a considerable quantity of Tobacco but cannot get suitable Vessells to carry it, you cannot conceive the many disapointments we have met with in this Respect however I expect a Ship is now taking in about 400 hhds as I wrote two...
Date: 12 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6