European Theatre from May 26, 1776, to October 5, 1776
Letters from Jamaica, of the 26th of May, mention that Capt. [Alan] Gardner, of the Maidstone Man of War, had just brought into that Port an American Ship under French Colours, having 20 Tons of Gunpowder on board, with 1200 Stands of Arms, and a great Quantity of other warlike Stores.1
Date: 26 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Last Night arrived the Mercury, of Nantucket, for London, taken the 25th of July [sic June] by the Cerberus, Captain Symonds [John Symons] , off Block Island, from her Return on a Whale Voyage; she has also on board a Cargo of a Schooner which had been also a Whaling, which the Cerberus burnt: The Master of the Prize is Henry Spencer, who says the Cerberus has taken sixteen Prizes;
Date: 26 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Vice Admiral [John] Montagu, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships at Newfoundland, having acquainted us that having purchased at St Johns, a Bermudian Vessel & Commissioned her by the Name of the Penguin; and it being impossible to get any Guns for her in that Island, he intended to send for 10 or 12 Guns, three Poundrs left in the Charge of Mr Andw Pinson, a Merchant at York Fort, on... Continue Reading
Date: 27 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday an accunt was received that the following ships are absolutely taken by two Provincial privateers, called the Revenge and Montgomery, viz. the brig Henry, Blyth, from Barbadoes to Halifax, taken the 28th of May, laden with rum; the Rover, Hun[t]er; from Antigua to Dublin, taken the 13th of June, laden with ditto; The Isabella, Kirk, from ditto, for ditto, taken the 13th of June, loaded... Continue Reading
Date: 27 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Mons. ー Chauont, a very wealthy person, and intendant for providing clothes, etc. for the French army, has offered me a credit on account of the Colonies to the amount of one million of livres, which, I have accepted. I have in treaty another credit, which joined to this, will purchase the articles directed in my instructons; the credit will be until May next, before which I hope remittances will... Continue Reading
Date: 27 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
... It seems necessary to me that we shoud have an interview to settle a plan with more safety than can be done by Letter, even in Cypher. For this purpose I woud come to you immediately, but that it being now in the middle of our Law Circuit, my quitting it abruptly woud be remarkd. That will be over the 10th of next month; when I will set out to meet you, unless you shoud think it improper. I... Continue Reading
Date: 28 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
This morning sailed from Spithead, the Perseus frigate, Capt. [George Keith] Elphinston, with all the transports and victuallers under her convoy for America.
Date: 28 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I send this purposely to inform you, that this Morning arrived here a Coaster, the Master of which declares, that Yesterday he met with a Topsham Pilot-boat, who told him, that between the Start and Torbay he met with an American Privateer, mounting twelve Carriage Guns, spread a great deal of Canvas, full of Men, and is painted Black. He asked the Pilot many Questions; and among the rest, what... Continue Reading
Date: 28 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The nine English Ships, mentioned in Saturday's Paper, were all taken by two Provincial Privateers, with the greatest Ease, after they had been convoyed 150 Leagues from the Ports they respectively sailed from, and left by the Men of War under a Supposition that they were totally out of Danger. The privateers which took them were but thinly manned, and weakly armed. One carried ten and the other... Continue Reading
Date: 29 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
By Letters received from Captain Douglas, of His Majesty's Ship Isis, dated at Quebec the 26th and 27th of last Month, it appears, That immediately after raising the Siege of Quebec, of which he gave an Account ー in his Letters of the 8th and 15th of May, every proper Measure was taken to facilitate the farther Operations against the Rebels, by sending down the River all the Pilots which could be... Continue Reading
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
When the Advice arrived on Friday last, relative to the Captures made on our Shipping by the Americans, all the West-India Merchants immediately locked up their Warehouses, as not knowing what Value to set on Rum and Sugar, and the other Commodities produced in the American Islands.
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Sir, I could not sooner send you the enclosed samples of the same cloth which I have sent to the Continent. I can deliver one hundred thousand ells of this material in different colors at 5#.2 6#. 7# per ell in French money. You will not be able to judge the quality and beauty of this cloth from the samples alone, but they will show you the colors.
We have also twenty thousand wool... Continue Reading
Date: 30 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
A private Letter from Philadelphia, which came by the Way of Ireland, says, that the General Congress have sent Agents to Genoa, and other Ports, to purchase Ships of War from 40 to 80 Guns;1 and have ordered, in every Port they have, large Ships to be built as fast as possible, as they intend next Spring to have a very powerful Fleet.
Date: 31 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
On Monday [July 29] about Twelve o'Clock, a Sloop arrived in the Downs, having on board Capt. Risden [Keylock Rusden], and a Part of his Crew, his Ship and Cargo being taken by a small Provincial Privateer the latter End of May, at the Mouth of the Gulph of Florida;1 the Captain being put on Shore, had, by the Assistance of some Friends, purchased the above Sloop, in which he returned... Continue Reading
Date: 31 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We beg you wil acquaint the Rt Hble the Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty, that the Ship Zachary Bailly from Jamaica bound to London, and Creighton from Antigua for America (with Rum for the Use of His Majesty's Forces) whereof we were Masters, was taken by the Privateer Yankey [Yankee] of Boston, Henry Johnson Commander, of Nine four Pounders, Sixteen Swivels and forty three Men; the former was... Continue Reading
Date: 31 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The Zachary Bayley, from Jamaica for London; and the Creighton, from Antigua, with rum for the army, were taken by the Yankee privateer, Captain Johnson, carrying nine four pounders, 16 swivels, and 43 men. The prizes were sent to New England, and the masters together with a midshipman of the Experiment man of war, who was a passenger, and eleven seamen, were taken on board the privateer. On the... Continue Reading
Date: 31 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My Lord As great Latitude is left me, in the Execution of the order transmitted me, in Yr Lordships Letter No 29,2 and as the Business is of considerable Nicety, as well as Importance, I will venture to state to Your Lordship, ー What has occurred to me upon it, after turning it much in Thoughts, and weighing it with all the Attention I can. ー The objections to an unfavourable answer,... Continue Reading
Date: 31 July 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Whereas we have received information that several Vessels belonging to His Majesty's Rebellious Subjects in North America, have arrived in the Ports of Holland & other Northern States; And whereas there is reason to believe that some of them will attempt to return to North America, North about with Cargoes of Gun Powder & Ammunition, for the use of the Rebels; You are hereby required... Continue Reading
Date: 1 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Whereas Lord George Germain, One of His Majts Principal Secretaries of State, hath desired that an Officer and sixty Recruits which are at present assembled at Portsmoutff, in readiness to embark for North America, may be carried thither in, the Ship you command, You are hereby required and directed to receive the said Officer and Recruits on board, and with the first opportunity of Wind and... Continue Reading
Date: 1 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday Morning arrived in the River the Baltimore, Capt. Bennett, from New Providence, which ship brought home Capt. Stevens [Christopher Stephenson] of the Lady Juliana, and Capt. Rusdan. [Keylock Rusden] of the Reynolds, Jamaica Ships, which were taken by the Provincial Privateers.
Date: 1 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
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