Displaying 1 - 20 of 22
I think many of the people of this country begin to think they have gone too far. The behaviour of the New York people will have a very good effect: the General thinks he sees it already, and all the friends to Government are of opinion that vigorous measures at present would soon put an end to this rebellion. The deluded people are made believe that they are invincible. A very impudent...
Date: 14 February 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord I had the honour to write to your Lordship about three weeks ago: nothing very material has occurred since. The battalion of marines are getting the better of their drunkenness. I hope we sha 11 be all well soon. I assure you my Lord I have had a disagreeable time of it: I have lived almost night and day amongst the men in their barracks for these five or six weeks past, on purpose to...
Date: 4 March 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord The 17th. Inst. part of the Troops at Boston to the Number of about two thousand being Order'd to attack a Redoubt and the very Strong holds which the Rebels had in this place, the First Battalion of Marines being Included, Major [John] Pitcairn took the Command and Order'd me from the 2d. Battalion to Serve under him on this Occasion. I have now the honor to inform your Lordship that...
Date: 21 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Lord I did myself the honor to write to your Lordship the 21st Inst. acquainting you with the Success of his Majesty's Troops over, and what Share the first Battalion of Marines [had] in the Victory, tho' with the loss of many brave and worthy Officers; a Return of which I then Inclosed, since which those that were then Inserted Missing have been found to be Wounded, I have therefore made...
Date: 24 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Lord Sandwich ー Your letter accompanying those received from Major Pitcairn is just arrived: that officer's conduct seems highly praiseworthy. I am of his opinion that when once those rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit; and no situation can ever change my fixed resolution, either to bring the colonies to a due obedience to the legislature of the mother country or to cast them off!...
Date: 1 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I esteem it a Duty incumbent on me to make use of the Opportunity which presents itself (by Lieut Breyntons return to England from the Pembroke,) of paying my Respects to your Lordship & of acquainting You with the present State of Affairs in this Province.
Apprehending a probability of the Rebels attacking Halifax, Lord Howe was pleased to give me Orders to proceed here with his Majestys...
Date: 21 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
My Lord — I have done myself the honour since I sailed from Spithead of writing several letters to your Lordship, which I presume have been received. I should be sorry to be thought troublesome; but as your Lordship, from your knowledge of sea affairs and of the nature of conjunct expeditions, must be sensible how necessary the most perfect harmony is on such occasions, it may not be...
Date: 11 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I was told yesterday that the allotment of the Apollo for my passage to Canada was changed for that of the Ariadne: But as I had no intimation from your Lordship of the necessity for such alteration I was unwilling to believe so marked a slight was intended me.
It will probably be useless to state the difference which space and accommodation make to a landman in a long voyage, in his comfort,...
Date: 20 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I was in hopes I should have had the honor of acquainting your Lordship that our army was far advanced on the Lakes, but the delays occasioned by a want of pitch & tar, and caulking the battoes is the apparent reason, why they are not yet embarked; General Burgoyne left Quebec the 14th Inst to Joyn the Army, and put it in motion, but as the several corps stationed over the country have not...
Date: 28 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Lord Sandwich ー I never doubted that your great activity would soon vanquish any apparent difficulty in engaging the number of transports required for the two present services, and I trust that will secure their being with the utmost expedition fitted out and sent out of the River.
It is but right to be grateful when kindly treated: it is that makes me rejoice that Portsmouth is the first dock...
Date: 13 August 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Lord Sandwich ー The letters from Vice-Admiral Graves seem to convey his being attentive to his duty. The more frigates can be speedily sent to reinforce his squadron the better. I approve of the directions for seizing all American vessels in the Mediterranean, the coast of Africa, or trading to the ports of foreign powers in the West Indies.
Date: 25 August 1775
Volume: Volume 2
My dear Lord ー I know you are so zealous in our cause against the American rebels that I should not act with that confidence I have in you, if I concealed from you the bitter complaints that have come home against Admiral Graves. Officers of distinction have written a state of facts that cannot be contradicted: such as, that many of our vessels have been taken, officers killed, men made prisoners...
Date: 8 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Lord Sandwich ー I have just received your letter enclosing Rear-Admiral Byron's, who declines on account of his health serving as second in command in North America: he is too gallant an officer to pretend illness without sufficient reason; therefore I expect, when you see him, that he will not change his opinion; in which case I am clear that Sir Peter Parker is the properest person you can...
Date: 18 September 1775
Volume: Volume 2
My Lord ー by the dispatches from Vice-Admiral [Samuel] Graves which Mr [George] Jackson forwards, you will see an American vessel of war is taken. Her commander's commission from the Congress and his instruction from their general shows how their forces by sea and land are formed, and that their proceedings at sea is at present limited against ships and vessels employed in the service of the...
Date: 6 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
m/33 pt 10.A.M.
I sincerely condole with You on the melancholy event that prevents Your coming before Sunday to St James's.
Sir Hugh Pallisser's letter shews he has not been idle during Your absence, and I trust Your activity will instill that vigilance into the inferiors in Your great department that no delay in sending out the Succours in the Spring will arise from the short notice You have had...
Date: 11 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
My Lord By not having had any sort of small Vessel under my Command, it has wholly been out of my power to forward Intelligence to Vice Admiral Graves, the present event of Lieutenant [Hugh] Robinson's going to England is So favorable to transmit to your Lordship the inclosed Pieces of Intelligence which I am led to believe are mostly authentick, that I think it might be deemed negligent was I to...
Date: 6 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Your Lordship will be surprised and concerned to hear how fast the armed vessels of the rebels have multiplied lately; how many of our storeships and victuallers they have taken; and how successfully they have defeated all our force, vigilance, and attention, by their artifice, but more by their being too early in possession of all the harbours, creeks, and rivers, on this coast, most of which...
Date: 13 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
My Lord — I have been honoured with your Lordship's letter of yester day from Hampton Court, for which I feel myself much obliged. Your Lordship's time is of too much consequence to be taken up in corresponding with me, but I must beg leave once more humbly to represent to your consideration the grounds upon which I have, in the name of the merchants, formerly applied and did lately apply to...
Date: 7 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Sir Thomas Pye having examined the prize master of the Liverpool ship2 brought in here by the Prince George's tender,3 I conclude the Admiralty acquainted with that conversation and therefore do not trouble them with the circumstances of the seizure. It may be useful, however, for your Lordship to know that on the 23rd of June, when this ship was taken, there were in the St...
Date: 7 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .I am of opinion the American fleet2 will cruise in small squads of sufficient strength to overmatch our single cruising frigates, first about the coast of Newfoundland to do all the mischief they can, then will look out for the West India convoys. If they divide as I have supposed, there is a chance for the Raisonable to fall in with some of them; and on hearing of the numbers in...
Date: 22 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9