Displaying 1 - 16 of 16
We now know, My Lord Count, the reasons for the impressment. It is a question of manning an observation force of 27 ships of the line whose rendez-vous point is off Spithead. It is reported that the force will be under the command of Admiral Keppel; however, he has not yet been appointed. The Admiralty's order, sent out the evening before the opening of Parliament, states that full complements...
Date: 1 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The ship Romney, commanded by Admiral Montagu, arrived from Newfoundland to Portsmouth on the 12th of this month. The Admiral left two small schooners on that island in order to prate.ct it from incursions by American privateers. Impressment continues in the interior with the greatest animation, but all of the seamen are hiding, and they are abandoning the ships to the point where they are...
Date: 15 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
You recall, Your Excellency, all that occurred at the time of the naming of Lord Howe to command the fleet in America. That of Admiral Keppel brought down a new affront on the part of this officer who was summoned to the King last Monday. His Britannic Majesty told him that he would be given command of the fleet which was being formed, that he was asked not to stand aside and to keep himself...
Date: 22 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
. . . Lord Suffolk stated to the Prince of Masseran [Masserano] that our intentions may not be turned toward 'war, but that England could not look upon a departure of our [Brest] Fleet for America without being perturbed; that they are persuaded that France will not at all support the insurgent Americans, but that the confidence these same Rebels will gain at the sight of foreign forces in their...
Date: 6 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
. . . Lord North. flattered himself that the most recent instructions sent to Gen. Howe would prevent any sort of involvement by America with other powers. Many persons assert that there is a willingness to permit the Americans to trade with other nations. But nobody yet dares to say that they are thinking of recognizing their independence. Nevertheless nothing would be more to the point, and be...
Date: 17 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
. . . I had an opportunity to see Mylord Sandwich Sunday past. He did me the honor of coming to dinner, and I found the proper time to ask him if it were true that when Parliament reconvenes there would be a Bill to give commissions to privateers operating against Americans. Mylord Sandwich confirmed that there is such a Bill, and this is how he explained it.
The future enactment to grant private...
Date: 27 December 1776
Volume: Volume 7
It is but too true, Monsieur le Comte, that our preparations must constitute a serious charge on the King's finances. We have not, however, any other means, either to repulse the first attacks with which we are threatened, or to avert war, if there still remains any hope of doing so. I confess that my hopes grow weaker in proportion as I follow the progress of this country. Through the different...
Date: 31 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have awaited the instructions of my Court to resume with Your Excellency the last topic of my conversation with You concerning the Seizure of the French Ship Thamas Koulikan, which is presently at Portsmouth, taken in the Gulf of Gascony by the English ship of the line Hector. The enclosures are documents which protest the injustice and harm done to this Ship. Your Excellency will please permit...
Date: 24 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . It has been learned from the latest news from America that forty ships had departed in one single day from Philadelphia bound for various ports in Europe and the West Indies. At the same time a ship entered the Delaware River loaded with ten thousand Barrels of Salt, ari article that is greatly needed by the Colonies. This cargo, added to those from successive Prizes which the Americans...
Date: 4 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I am completely convinced of the importance at this time of keeping abreast of additional forces which England can procure through the issuance of Letters of marque. It is a subject to which I shall continue to give all the attention I can . . . .
I have always thought, M. le Comte, that with the coming of Spring, and the resumption of navigation, there could be only two ways by which we...
Date: 11 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I venture to assure you, Monsieur le Comte, that you will never grant me any mark of confidence, which I shall not seek to deserve, either by the well considered use which I shall endeavor to make of it, or the value which I shall never cease to attach to it. You were kind enough to inform me by the private letter with which you honored me on the 11th of this month, that the counter-armament,...
Date: 18 April 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . The Exeter of 64 returned to Spithead with the Culloden and reported meeting off our coast with the King's ship Robuste of 74, Accompanying her for a few houn; that the Captain of the French Ship Told Captain Moor, commanding the Exeter, that he had orders to protect all American or other Vessels coming to Trade in our Ports; not that the Government intended to encourage the Americans, but...
Date: 2 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I told him [Lord Weymouth] that. . . without awaiting express orders from my Court, I could give him the Confirmation which he desired concerning the fixed determination of the King, my master, to observe all the provisions included in the Treaties; not only because He regarded them as a strict obligation, but also because He wished to give personally to His Britannic Majesty special proofs...
Date: 25 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . I come now, M. le Comte, to the details of the conversation that I had yesterday morning with Lord Suffolk. I went over with him the various matters upon which you had had the goodness to give me clarification, and the Instructions which it remained for me to implement. I spoke again of Mr. Cunningham, and I gave equally plausible reasons for both his detention and his Release. As for his...
Date: 29 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
J'ai reçu, Monsieur le comte, la lettre No. 4 que vous m'avéz fait l'honneur de m'écrire le 31 du mois passé, et à laquelle j'ai trouvé joint un nouveau rapport relatif à des excès commis par trois Chaloupes angloises dans les Parages de la Martinique contre un Bâtiment françois nommé la Cerès.1 La connaissance de ce grief ne m'étoit point encore parvenue, quand j'ai été...
Date: 6 February 1778
Volume: Volume 11
. . . Plus je souhaitois, Monsieur le Comte, de voir hier le Lord Weymouth . . . . il se présente un nouvel incident que pourvoit prévoir le Lord Weymouth, s'il a été exactement instruit de ce que j'ai annoncé à son Collegue le Lord Suffolk. Je le prévins, ainsi que j'ai eu l'honneur de vous le mander qu'en faisant la reclamation du Thamas Koulikan, je ne me preterois pas à ce que le Sr....
Date: 6 March 1778
Volume: Volume 11