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A motion made by Lord Chatham, to withdraw the Troops from Boston, at the first Step towards a conciliatory Plan, was rejected; and the Ministry have declared, in both Houses, the Determination to enforce Obedience to all the late laws. For this Purpose, we understand that three Regiments of Foot, one of Dragoons, seven hundred Marines, six Sloops of war, and two Frigates, are now under Orders...
Date: 5 February 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee of Safety for this City & Province being informed on Saturday last [August 12], that a Ship from Cork had come up to Gloucester with some passengers, Officers of the Ministerial Army, and a quantity of Cloathing for that Army at Boston, immediately sent down Capt [Thomas] Bradford with thirty Men to take those officers prisoners, and at the same time an Armed Boat, to bring up...
Date: 17 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
I received yours of the 15th Instant, acquainting me with the Loss of the Mail; and proposing a new Route for the Post, to prevent Such Accidents hereafter. In that you will take the Advice & Direction of the principal People in your Government. The Comptroller will Soon be along your Road, for the purpose of establishing all the Stages & Offices as he shall be advis'd & find best. I...
Date: 27 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir By Col: [Donald] Campbell, who arrived here early this morning from Quebeck, we are informed that two men of war, two Frigates, & one Tender arrived there early on monday the 6th instt about eleven o'clock the enemy sallied out, to the number, as is supposed, of one thousand men. Our forces were so dispersed at different posts, that not more than two hundred could be collected together...
Date: 10 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
We arrived here safe yesterday Evening in your Post Chaise driven by Lewis. I was unwilling to give so much Trouble, and would have borrowed your Sulkey & driven my self; but good Mrs Schuyler insisted on a full Compliance with your Pleasure, as signify'd in your Letter, and I was oblig'd to submit; which I was afterwards very glad of, part of the Road being very Stoney & much gullied,...
Date: 27 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Sir: The bearer, Mr. Joseph Belton, some time since petitioned the Congress for encouragement to destroy the enemy's ships of war by some contrivances of his invention. They came to no resolution on his petition, and, as they appear to have no great opinion of such proposals, it is not easy, in the multiplicity of business before them, to get them to bestow any part of their attention on his...
Date: 22 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
It is possible that a Line from Lord Howe may be left for me at your good Mother's, as I have appointed to be there to morrow Morning, in order to meet a Notice from his Lordship relating to the Time & Place of a proposed Interview. If it should come there to night, or very early in the Morning I could wish you would set out with it on horseback so as to meet us on the Road not far from hence...
Date: 10 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I have just arrived on board the 'Reprisal,' Captain Wickes, a small man of war belonging to Congress. We lie in the bay of Quiberon, awaiting a favourable wind to go to Nantes. We left the Cape on the 29th October and have only taken 30 days from land to land. I staid on board three days after we anchored, hoping to be able to proceed to Nantes with the vessel; but, the wind continuing contrary...
Date: 4 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
After a short but rough Passage of 30 Days we anchor'd in Quiberon Bay, the Wind not suiting to enter the Loire. Capt Wicks did every thing in his Power to make the Voyage comfortable to me; and I was much pleas'd with what I saw of his Conduct as an Officer, when on suppos'd Occasions we made Preparation for Engagement, the good Order & Readiness with which it was done, being far beyond my...
Date: 8 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I arrived here about two weeks Since, where I found Mr Deane. Mr Lee has since join'd us from London. We have had an Audience of the Minister, Count de Vergennes, and were respectfully receiv'd. We left for his Consideration a Sketch of the propos'd Treaty. We are to wait upon him tomorrow with a strong Memorial requesting the Aids mentioned in our Instructions. By this Advice, we have had an...
Date: 4 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt. Wickes is return'd to L'Orient with 5 Prizes, taken on the Coast of Portugal: One a Packet from Falmouth to Lisbon, with 18 Guns & 50 Men. The others a Ship from Pool with Fish one from Shetland with Barley, one from Ireland with Flour, & one for Bristol with Wine and Brandy. He has made near 100 Prisoners. At his Request we have proposed, to the English Ambassador here, an Exchange...
Date: 2 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We send you herewith, the draught of a Frigate, by a very ingenious Officer 2 in this Service, which appears to Us peculiarly suitable for Our purpose, ahd We are in hopes of being able to ship Cordage and Sail Cloth, & Anchors &c Sufficient for Five or Six such Frigates, by the time you can have them built.
Though deprived of any intelligence from you since the first of last ...
Date: 4 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We are ordered to borrow if we can 2,000,000£ Sterling on Interest. Judge then what a Piece of Service you will do, if you can obtain a considerable Subsidy, or even a Loan without Interest.
We are also ordered to build 6 Ships of War. It is a Pleasure to find the things ordered, which we are doing without Orders.
It will be well to sound the Court of Spain on the Subject of permitting our arm'd...
Date: 21 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I left in your Excellency's Hands, to be communicated, if you please, to your Court, a Duplicate of the Commission from the Congress, appointing me to go to Spain as their Minister Plenipotentiary. But as I understand that the Receiving such a Minister is not at present thought convenient, I am sure the Congress would have nothing done that might incommode in the least a Court they so much...
Date: 7 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I received your Favour of Feb. 25. by Capt. [John] Adams ー I congratulate you on his safe Arrival with others of our American Ships, it being rather wonderful that so many get in through all the English Men of War actually cruizing in the channel & Bay of Biscay to prevent them. I make no doubt but Messrs Penet & Morris will take proper Care in disposing of the Cargo and Shipping the...
Date: 1 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Commissioners from the United States of America desire to represent to his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, that they have received intelligence of a Vessel belonging to the States having been taken by the Culloden, an English Ship of War, close on the Coast of France; and that the same Ship of War chased another Vessel belonging to the States so near to the French Shore as to be herself in...
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Our Privateers & Cruisers in the Channel have rais'd the Insurance in London. One of my Friends here lately paid 10 P Cent between Dover & Calais. Capt. Conyngham imprudently returning into Dunkirk with two Prizes, was apprehended with his People at the Request of the Court of England, and put into Prison, on pretence of Piracy, but having a Commission from Congress, they are discharged....
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We are threatned from E. [England] with a very powerful Force to come next Year against us. We are making all the provision in our power here to oppose that force, and we hope we shall be able to defend ourselves. But as the Events of War are always uncertain, possibly after another Campaign we may find it necessary to ask aid of some foreign Power. It gives us great Pleasure to learn from you,...
Date: 12 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
We refer the Committee to ours to You of the 26th ulto of which we sent Duplicates, should either arrive, but apprehensive of the Contrary, we send You the Substance in this. The Brittish Commerce in Europe, especially in the North, is unguarded, the Greenland Whale Fishery & the Hudsons Bay Shipps in particular. Could two or three of our Frigates accompanied by lesser swift sailing Cruisers...
Date: 2 June 1777
Volume: Volume 9