European Theatre from May 26, 1776, to October 5, 1776
By Letters from Captain [Charles] Douglas, of His Majesty's Ship the Isis, dated Quebec the 8th and 15th of May, received Yesterday by Captain [John] Hamilton, late of the Lizard, who arrived from thence in his Majesty's Sloop the Hunter, it appears that the Isis, which sailed from Portland on the 11th of March, having Succours on Board for the Relief of the Place, made the Island of St. Peter's... Continue Reading
Date: 11 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My lord, In conformity with the instructions you sent to M. de la Porte in your dispatch of 31 May last, I fruitlessly made the most rigorous investigation in order to discover the Dutch ships which sailed recently from Amsterdam with a cargo of 40 thousand pounds of gunpowder destined for New England according to the English Minister Plenipotentiary.
Since the instructions which you had sent... Continue Reading
Date: 11 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Orders are sent for the men of war now fitting out as a reinforcement to Admiral Gayton's squadron on the Jamaica station, to be in readiness for sailing by the beginning of next month.
Date: 12 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I have the honor, Sir, to send you the reply which I received from the Navy Commissioner in Nantes concerning 45 thousand pounds of powder which recently left Amsterdam and which the Court of London believes to be destined to New England. However, you will see that M. Doyard does not believe it was part of the shipments received in this port during the month of May and that he will take great... Continue Reading
Date: 12 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
On Monday morning arrived here a schooner, which sailed the 14th of May from Squam (it is a creek on the N .E. side of Cape Ann, a few leagues from Boston) commanded by Captains [William] Wood and [John] Robinson, whose ships, the Jenny and Nelly, were taken by the Provincials; as were also the James, [William] Littledale; the Norfolk, [Jonathan] Grindall; and the Happy Return, [James] Hall, all... Continue Reading
Date: 14 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday a full Board of Admiralty was held, when Capt. [John] Hamilton, of the Navy, who arrived with the Quebec news, was promoted to the command of a ship of 64 guns.
Date: 14 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Having communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of Yesterday's date, desiring to know for the Information of the Lords of the Treasury the Names of such Ships as are to Sail soon to join the Fleet with General Howe; I am to acquaint you that His Majts Ships named on the otherside hereof are intended to Convoy the Troops against their Names expressed from Spithead to the places of... Continue Reading
Date: 15 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
There can be no better way of showing to the King of England our desire to perpetuate the good intelligence which exists than that of presenting to him the actions of subordinates which might disturb it. The English cruisers take certain liberties which might determine commitments against the wishes and will of the two Courts. I believe that it was not in a manner of reproach that Lord Suffolk... Continue Reading
Date: 15 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Several masters of American vessels, in order to deceive His Majesty's ships of war, have of late made fictitious sales of their ships to British and Irish merchants established in this kingdom, and thereby continue their navigation with safety. An Irish merchant established at Ferrol acquainted me last week that he had made a purchase of the ship, the King of Prussia, of 300 tons burthen,... Continue Reading
Date: 15 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Jahleel Brenton, Esq; is appointed to the command of his Majesty's ship Pembroke of 60 guns, now fitting out at this port, to serve as a hulk in America.
Thursday last [June 13] a detachment of marines of this division, consisting of one corporal and 20 privates, embarked on board the Hound sloop at the Nore, commanded by John Walters, Esq; Lieutenant of the said marines, who is bound for America... Continue Reading
Date: 17 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Came into the harbour to dock and refit, the Hunter sloop of war, lately arrived from America. As the Light Horse arrive, they continue to ship them on board the transports for America.
Date: 17 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
His Majesty having decided that the Frigate la Renommée will cruise off the coast of St. Domingue, he issues these particular instructions to Captain de Monteil in order to acquaint him with the nature of his mission and the line of conduct he will maintain with respect to the command of his frigate, his Crew, the victuals and the salutes.
As soon as the said frigate is ready and the winds are... Continue Reading
Date: 17 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
You are hereby required & directed to send to North America by theShips mentioned on the otherside hereof, in the proportions against their Names express'd, One Hundred of the Landmen borne as supernumeraries on board the Guardships at Spithead, to serve on board such of the Ships under the command of Lord Howe, as his Lordship shall judge proper towards completing their respective... Continue Reading
Date: 18 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Lord George Germain being gone into the Country for a few days, it is my Duty to send Your Lordship the inclosed Copy of His Lordship's Letter of 22d May,2 which will inform Your Lordship of the Loss of your Dispatches by the Duke of Cumberland Packet; and I have the honor to acquaint you, that this Packet is principally dispatched for the Purpose of affording Your Lordship, and His... Continue Reading
Date: 18 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I have this morning seen M. de Gribauval,2 who, interesting himself much in the fate of our friends in America, into whose secrets he has been initiated by the Count de St Germain, is very uneasy on their account because of the advance of the English by way of Canada. He fears lest they may be forced to bend beneath the yoke of the Mother Country if they are not promptly and... Continue Reading
Date: 19 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We have now 29 Ships of the Line compleatly fitted as Guardships, which, with the aid of a Press, might be all at sea in a Fortnight.
There is one additional Guardship of 74 Guns ordered to be got ready to receive Men.
All our Frigates (that do not want considerable repair) including Ships of 50 Guns, and Two of 64, are in America, or appropriated for the American Service, so that we have nothing... Continue Reading
Date: 20 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
By the Advices from Rotterdam and other Intelligence received, it appears
That the French have now at Sea a Squadron consisting of
1 Ship of
74 Guns
2 ———
64
6 Frigates
6 Sloops &
2 Cutters.
manned as in time of War
That orders are sent to Brest de pourvoir a leur besoin, or, to forward, so as that they may be ready to sail in 15 days after receiving the definitive Orders... Continue Reading
Date: 20 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
It was yesterday reported in the city, that Commodore Hopkins, with nine ships under his command, had landed in the island of Bermudas, and carried off all the valuable goods he could meet with whilst he staid, which was three days.1
Date: 20 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Lords Commissioners, Admiralty, to Captain Maximilian Jacobs, H.M.S. Amazon, Spithead, June 21, 1776
Mary and Ann
George and Molly
Mediator
Favourite
James
British Queen
Whereas it is intended that the Transport Vessels mentioned in the Margin[*] having on board 44 7 German Recruits and also a Detachment of His Majesty's British Troops consisting of Six Officers and Sixty Private destined for the several Regiments of Foot serving under the Command of General Carleton in Canada, shall... Continue Reading
Date: 21 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
In Cyphers
The Army of England in America consists of forty thousand Men and their fleet of one hundred Ships, of which but two are of seventy four Guns. Their Officers both by Sea and Land, and Engineers are good; they are well supplied with Artillery and Stores. Consider then, Sir, how diffucult it will be for the Americans to resist such forces, "if they are not assisted by France with... Continue Reading
Date: 21 June 1776
Volume: Volume 6
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