Displaying 1 - 20 of 20
Dear Sir I hope this will meet you safely arrived at the Grand Scene of Action, where you will have a most important part to act.2 The conduct of the Yorkers seems to have given the Ministry hopes of effecting a Division in the Councils of America, imagining that a Majority of the Assembly speak the sense of the people, from some late proceedings in the House of Commons it would...
Date: 2 April 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Govr [Josiah] Martin went in incog a few weeks agoe to Fort Johnston and there he still remains The writ of Election mention the meeting of the Assembly to be on the 12th July no doubt to have laid before them [Frederick Lord] North's olive Branch you know the Spirit of this province so well as to believe it will be treated with every mark of Contempt. I am asham'd of my Countrymen in England...
Date: 28 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I had the honour of writing you the history of our Cruise in the Fleet from the Capes of Delaware 'till our Arrival at N. London the 14th Ulto inclosing an inventory of all the stores taken at N. Providence &ca ー the letter contained a particular account of the Action with the Glascow in an Extract from the Alfred's Log Book ー it also contained some free thoughts on Certain Characters in the...
Date: 19 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have not lately heard from Cape Fear nor do we know with any kind of certainty what number of Troops may be there, by the last advices there were about seventy sail of Vessels in the River of different Burthens, some of them large Transports, it was likewise said that two large Ships supposed to be Men of War of fifty Guns lay without the Bar. It is difficult to conjecture their meaning or what...
Date: 23 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I advisd you in my last that Capt Nicholson was ordered with the Defence to Annaps where he intended to give up the Ship to the Council of Safety if they coud get a proper Comdr for her, after which he purposed to go up & wait on your Board; at which time my Brar or I woud accompany him, it being now high time that every particular Arangemt of the Frigates Outfit shoud be settled, and...
Date: 27 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The intention of this is to introduce to you my very worthy freind Captn James Nicholson, who agreeable to what I lately wrote you goes up to wait on your Board2 receive their Instructions &c about the Outfit of the Frigate.3 Captn Nicholsons Merit both in private Life & as an Officer is very great, & Justly deserving the Esteem of all who know him. ー I hope a...
Date: 1 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I should have sailed from hence this Morning had I not been prevented by a Gale of Wind at S. E. with thick Weather ー this is the first leasure time I have had Since my Arrival here in the Providence the 7th Current ー And I with pleasure embrace it to acknowledge the Singular Obligations which I lay under to Mr Hewes. ー Inclosed you have a short Account of my late Cruise. ー When I put"in here...
Date: 31 October 1776
Volume: Volume 6
[Extract]
One of the frigates Biddle's will have 14 Guns onboard on monday and will be ready in every thing, men excepted, in a fortnight, the additional encouragement to Seamen in the continental Service by which they are put on a footing with Privaters & have the whole property of armed Vessels which belong'd to his British Majesty will soon make up that deficiency. The Effingham [John]...
Date: 1 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Now for your own department. A House of rendezvous is opened, Biddle has all his Guns on board & by the latter end of this Week will be ready for Sea 3 — The other Ships will be prepared as soon as possible and proceed upon business.4 The Congress have appointed [John] Nixon & [John] Wharton Commissioners to execute the orders of the marine Committee & compleat...
Date: 16 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
In Lat. 32. Long. 70. A man just arrived at Baltimore saw 160 large Vessells steering SW. & WS.W, were these intended for Chas'town, you know before this, it is suspected that they are a fleet which Burgoyne with Men is carrying to the Southward 2 — Rise My dear Carolina Men — Rise to A Man, to the Southern Provinces is reserved for aught I know the glorious task of rescuing...
Date: 30 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I was favoured with two letters from you by Capt Alton. I lament your hard fortune, and unless some measures are immediately taken to prevent the infamous practices of the Privateers, America will soon be in a state of general confusion — One Part warring against another, and the defenceless Southern colonies become a devoted prey to their more formidable Eastern neighbours. I laid your letter...
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 7
Inclosed I send a copy of my last to you before I left Rhode Island with the Alfred and Providence 2 Since, as I now understand, you were not at that time returned from Carolina to Congress so that the original hath not perhaps found it's way to your hands. — I would not wish the Sentiments in it to escape your perusal for tho' I have expressed myself with a freedom becoming an honest...
Date: 12 January 1777
Volume: Volume 7
Inclosed you will receive a Letter which is wrote by order of the Provincial Council, which met at Johnston Court-House the 17th of last month, the Absurdity of having two Regiments of men in pay without a possibility of their being of any Service for want of Arms and Ammunition was too striking to escape the observation of any one several Schemes were proposed to remedy this inconvenience, as...
Date: 6 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Dear Sir Your Express found us here last night in Council, so there was no time lost in laying your dispatch before them. They were well pleased with having an Express from you and with the intelligence he brought, many of the things recommended by you were under their Contemplation and they are endeavouring to take some steps to protect our Inlets from Tenders with which they have of late [been...
Date: 21 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Dear Sir I Left Edenton the 26th Novr and Arrived at Sandy hook the 16th Inst where I was Stopt and Detained by Capt Parker of His Majesties Ship Phoenix, 2 and all our Chests Searched for Letters, I happened to have a great Number which were all taken and Carried on Board the Man of War where about one half of them were opened when they were Returned to me next Day, one only was...
Date: 22 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Our Governor has sailed for some time from Cape Fear it is thought for Charles Town he had some of the Council to meet on board the Cruizer the 20th but we have not yet heard of his return, he has by some means or other kept up a Communication with the Regulators to the Westward they are very Insolent in the County of Chatham no one will accept any command in the Militia the Committees below here...
Date: 22 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I leave this early tomorrow morning, I have been detained here all day writing, fishing for intelligence of Genl. Clinton's destination. What the inclosed conveys I think you may be depended upon. Therefore write all your friends to stand forth & to exert themselves. Pray press the matter on Mr. Thos. P [Jones?] urge him to call forth the back Country.
In the letters you write you need not...
Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Inclosed you have sundry letters &c which you are at liberty to use at discretion — for I can unbosom myself to you with the utmost Confidence, — you have laid me under the most singular Obligations, & you are indeed the Angel of my Happiness; since to your Friendship I owe my present enjoyments, as well as my future prospects. — I will not attempt to thank you by letter, but endeavour to...
Date: 17 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Inclosed you have copies of sundry Letters &ca which I forwarded to you the 17th Ulto under cover to Messrs [Abraham] Livingston and [William] Turnbull and which I fully expected would have reached your hands in Boston but by carelessness or otherwise the Packet hath never reached their hands and is I fear entirely lost. — inclosed you have also the copy of my letter of 24th to Mr Morris and...
Date: 1 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
To all People to whom these Presents shall come Greeting: Whereas Brazilla Smith of the State of Massachusetts Bay Mariner & Commander of the Privateer Schooner Eagle in and by a certain Bond or Obligation became bound with Sureties to the Honorable John Hancock Esquire President of the United States of America in the penal Sum of five Thousand Dollars to be paid to the said John Hancock Esqr...
Date: 13 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9