Displaying 1 - 20 of 20
There has been a gallant Battle, in Delaware River between the Gallies and two Men of War, the Roebuck and Liverpool, in which the Men of War came off second best ー which has diminished, in the Minds of the People, on both sides the River, the Terror of a Man of War....
It gives me great Pleasure to learn that our Rulers are at last doing something, towards the Fortification of Boston. But I am...
Date: 12 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Our Misfortunes in Canada, are enough to melt an Heart of Stone. The Small Pox is ten times more terrible than Britons, Canadians and Indians together. This was the Cause of our precipitate Retreat from Quebec, this the Cause of our Disgraces at the Cedars. ー I dont mean that this was all. ー There has been Want, approaching to Famine, as well as Pestilence. And these Discouragements seem to have...
Date: 26 June 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Your Favour of June 17. dated at Plymouth, was handed me, by Yesterdays Post. I was much pleased to find that you had taken a Journey to Plymouth, to see your Friends in the long Absence of one whom you may wish to see. The Excursion will be an Amusement, and will serve your Health. How happy would it have made me to to have taken this Journey with you?
I was informed, a day or two before the...
Date: 3 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The Disign of our Enemy, now seems to be a powerful Invasion of New York and New Jersey. The Hallifax Fleet and Army, is arrived, and another Fleet and Army under Lord How, is expected to join them. We are making Preparations to meet them, by marching the Militia of Maryland, Pensilvania, and New Jersey, down to the Scene of Action, and have made large Requisitions upon New England. I hope for...
Date: 7 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
...You say I must tell you of my Health and Situation. As to the latter, my Situation is as far removed from Danger, I suppose, as yours. I never had an Idea of Danger here, nor a single Sensation of Fear. Delaware River is so well fortified with Gallies, fixed and floating Batteries, Chevaux de Frizes, Ships of War, Fire Ships, and Fire Rafts, that I have no Suspicions of an Enemy from Sea,...
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
A french Vessell, a pretty large Brigantine, deeply loaden, arrived here yesterday from Martinique. She had 50 Barrells of Limes, which are all sold already, at such pricks, that the Amount of them will be sufficient to load the Brig with Flour. A Trade We see, even now, in the midst of summer is not totally interrupted, by all the Efforts of our Enemies. Prizes are taken in no small Numbers. A...
Date: 12 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We have nothing new, but the Arrival of a large Ship from Havre de Grace with a very valuable Cargo of Duck, Powder, lead, and dry Goods. ー This is all which has happened here to distinguish, the anniversary of the 14 of August the Birth day of American Independence.2
Date: 14 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We are now approaching rapidly to the autumnal Equinox, and no great Blow has yet been struck, in the martial Way, by our Enemies nor by Us. If We should be blessed this Year, with a few Storms as happy as those which fell out last Year, in the Beginning of September, they will do much for Us. The British Fleet, where they now lie, have not an Harbour, so convenient, or safe, as they had last...
Date: 25 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
... I am obliged to General [Benjamin] Lincoln for his Information, concerning the Fortifications, which I hope will be effectually attended to, as I am not clear, that Boston is yet Secure from Invasion.
I hope, the Disasters at Long Island, and New York will not dispirit our People. The Ways of Providence are inscrutable. I have strong suspicions that these Disasters have saved Boston from...
Date: 4 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
This day, I think, has been the most remarkable of all. [Major General John] Sullivan came here from Lord Howe, five days ago with a Message that his Lordship desired a half an Hours Conversation with some of the Members of Congress, in their private Capacities. We have spent three or four days in debating whether We should take any Notice of it. I have, to the Utmost of my Abilities during the...
Date: 6 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday Morning I returned with Dr. F. [Benjamin Franklin] and Mr. R. [Edward Rutledge] from Staten Island where We met L[ord] H[owe] and had about three Hours Conversation with him. The Result of this Interview, will do no disservice to Us. It is now plain that his L[ordshi]p has no Power, but what is given him in the Act of P[arliament]. His Commission authorises him to grant Pardons upon...
Date: 14 September 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday, I took a long Walk with our Secretary Mr. Thompson [Charles Thomson] to a Place called Fells Point, a remarkable Piece of Ground about a mile from the Town of Baltimore. It is a Kind of Peninsula which runs out into the Harbour, and forms a Bason before the Town. This Bason, within thirty Years, was deep enough for large Tobacco ships to ride in, but since that Time has filled up ten...
Date: 10 February 1777
Volume: Volume 7
"A Plott! a Plott! an horrid Plott, Mr. A." says my Barber, this Morning. ー "It must be a Plott 1. because there is British Gold in it. 2. because there is a Woman in it. 3. because there is a Jew in it. 4. because I dont know what to make of it."
The Barber means, that a Villain was taken up,2 and examined Yesterday, who appears by his own Confession to have been employd by Lord Howe...
Date: 28 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . A poor fellow, detected here as a Spy, employed as he confesses by Lord Howe and Mr. [Joseph] Galloway to procure Pilots for Delaware River, and for other Purposes, was this day at Noon, executed on the Gallows in the Presence of an immense Crowd of Spectators. His name was James Molesworth. He has been Mayors Clerk to three or four Mayors.
Date: 31 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
By a Letter of 17. Jany. Dr. Franklin, Mr. Deane and Dr. Lee, met in Paris, and on 28. december had an Audience of the Count de Vergennes, Secretary of State and Minister of foreign Affairs; laid before him their Commission, with the Articles of the proposed Treaty of Commerce; were assured of the Protection of his Court, and that due Consideration should be given to what they offered. Soon after...
Date: 2 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The fine new Frigate, called the Delaware, Capt. Alexander, has sailed down the River. I stood upon the Wharf to see the fine figure and Show she made. They are fitting away the Washington, Captn. Reed [Read], with all possible dispatch.
Date: 11 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Upon my Return from my pensive melancholly Walk, I heard a Piece of disagreable News ー That the ship Morris, Captain Anderson from Nantz, with Cannon, Arms, Gunlocks, Powder &c. was chased into Delaware Bay by two or three Men of War ー that she defended herself manfully against their Boats and Barges, but finding no Possibility of getting clear, she run aground. The Crew, and two French...
Date: 13 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We have no News here except what We get from your Country. The Privateers act with great Spirit, and are blessed with remarkable Success. Some Merchant ships are arrived this Week from Maryland. They were first chased by Men of War, in attempting to get into Cheasapeak Bay ー they run from them and attempted Delaware Bay ー there they were chased again. Whereupon they again shifted their Course for...
Date: 7 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
There are four Men of War and four Tenders in Delaware Bay. The Roebuck, and a Fifty Gun ship, and two other Frigates, are the Men of War. They come up the River a little Way to get Water sometimes with Fear and Trembling, and dare not come up far enough to get fresh Water, but content themselves with brackish Water.
They go on shore sometimes to steal some lean Cattle, if any happen to wander...
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Upon an Invitation from the Board of War of Pensilvania, a Committee was appointed a few days ago to go down Delaware River and take a View of the Works there, erected with a View to prevent the Enemy from coming up to Philadelphia by Water. Mr. [William] Duer, your humble servant and Mr. [Arthur] Middleton made the Committee.
Yesterday we went, in three Boats, with Eight Oars each. Mr. [David]...
Date: 8 June 1777
Volume: Volume 9