European Theatre from May 26, 1776, to October 5, 1776
I beg the favor you will acquaint the Right Honble The Lords Commissioners of the Admty that I arrived at our Moorings below Ratcliff Cross with the Privateer Sloop Yankee Inclosed you will receive the Captains Commission and Instructions and shou'd be glad to be Honored with their Lordships directions relative to the Disposal of the Prisoners and Vessel I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]
Date: 1 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
You know, My lord, that Lord Weymouth mentioned our armaments only once and without pressing the matter. The more lightly he treated this matter, the more concerned he was, as I realized. Since then, he did not mention it to me any more. The other Ministers never spoke to me about it. Silence in such delicate matters is always suspicious; consequently I am more attentive than ever to all the... Continue Reading
Date: 2 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I should have sent this off earlier, but delayed on account of hearing something more directly, if I might depend on certain articles for which I was in treaty; I am now assured I may, and the whole will be ready to ship in all the month of October. My next labor will be to obtain a convoy, which I do not despair of, though it is a delicate question, and I have only sounded at a distance, yet I... Continue Reading
Date: 2 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Yesterday Morning Insurance on Ships from Jamaica for London was done at 20 l. and from the Leeward Islands at 15 per Cent.
Date: 3 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We have Recd the honor of your first letter of the 23d April By Capt [Gideon] Crawford, who arrived at Nantes In the Ship happy Return,2 we have made the Best Returns we Could of his Cargo. However we have not Sold to such advantage as we could have wish'd, but we hope nevertheless you will find your account in it, & that you will be Entirely Satisfied with Merchadize we Send you... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
We have the Honour to write you by Capn Crawford of Rhode Island that Mr [Nichols] Brown of Providence consign'd to us at Nants, whoom we have dispatched with a Cargo of Powder Muskets salt peter &ca, who promis'd to deliver you this.
I had the honour to inform you in May last at my arrival in Europe of the success of my opperations, and of the advantageous dispositions I met with, now I will... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
There have arrived hre within this week past seven of our merchantmen from the Havanna: One of these vessels brought two English Sailors, being part of twenty-two British Sailors belonging to three vessels of their nation, who were taken off the island of Cuba on their homeward-bound passage from Jamaica by two American privateers, who gave the above twenty-two men leave either to go to America,... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Three vessels from New York, and one from Philadelphia, have come into the Garrone within these last twenty days; the order of the Court of Lisbon2 has done us the favour of their visits, and they are no unwelcome guests, as they either bring cash or very saleable commodities.
Date: 4 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I was last week on board the American privateer called the Yankee, commanded by Captain [Henry] Johnson, and lately brought into this port by Captain [George] Ross, who commanded one of the West-India sugar ships, taken by the privateer in July last; and, as an Englishman, I wish your Lordship, who is so happily placed at the head of this great city (justly famed for its great humanity even to... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
It is said Capt. Stephenson, Commander of the Ship Lady Juliana, which was taken by the Provincials, was coming Home with his Lady, whom he had married Abroad, and had received a considerable Fortune with her, the Whole of which was seized by the Provincials.
By a private Letter received in Town from Philadelphia, dated June 28, we find that two Ships had arrived from Holland, and four more were... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
This day sailed down to St. Helen's the Pembroke man of war, and the Bologne frigate, there to wait for a fair wind for America. ー Went out of harbour to Spithead the Centaur man of war, having been docked.
Date: 5 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I have received and communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your three Letters of the 13h and 31st. May and 1st June,2 with their respective Inclosures giving an account of your proceedings with the Squadron under your Command and of your having caused the Brigantine you have purchased to be commissioned and called the Endeavour, and appointed Lieutenant Francis Tinsley... Continue Reading
Date: 6 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Admiral Gayton's Order for the Merchantmen to rendezvous at Blue Fields, and to be convoyed from thence an hundred and fifty Leagues on their Passage to England, was certainly communicated to the Provincials, as the Ships which were taken were met with by the Privateers, not twenty four Hours after they were quitted by the Men of War.
There being so many of our Ships of War on the American Coast... Continue Reading
Date: 6 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I beg you to send suitable orders to the Geeral Director of the Docks in Nantes so that he will not stand in the way or cause difficulties with regard to the embarkation of War ammunition by M. Penet in Nantes. This Director, by the name of M. de Guerton, is a very honest men, but he needs to be warned because the embarkation is urgent.2
Date: 6 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I have received your Letter of the 20th of May,2 enclosing the Commission you had signed for Lieut Wm Young to be Commander of the Pomona upon the Vacancies occasion'd by the dismission of Captn Gordon from the Argo, and desiring for the reasons therein given, that it may be confirm'd, And having laid the same before my Lords Commrs of the Admty I have it in command from their... Continue Reading
Date: 7 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
By another Letter from Glasgow we are informed, that the Oxford Transport from Clyde, with Part of the 42d Regiment, has been taken by the Provincials. As she was standing in for Boston a Vessel with 16 Guns bore down upon her, took out all the Officers and Arms, and put some of their own Sailors on board to navigate her. The Highlanders were no sooner out of Sight of the Privateer than they... Continue Reading
Date: 7 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
Whereas we think fit that you shall be employed to raise Voluntier Seamen & Landmenat Waterford for the Service of His Majesty's Fleet in the room of Lieut Cunningham, You are hereby required & directed to repair forthwith to that place, & in the execution thereof to observe the following Instructions Vizt:
1st
You are to hire a proper Room for a Rendezvous & to apply yourself... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My Lords Commrs of the Admty having received a Letter of this date from Mr Knox, Secretary to Lord Geo. Germain, informing them that his Lordship has received Intelligence that a large Schooner, called the Gunticanute, one Gregg Master, is now taking in at Amsterdam a Cargo of large Corpage, proper for rigging Ships of War, & proposed to be cleared out for the Island of St Eustatia, but that... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
The Yankee Privateer, taken from the Americans, we are informed, is going to be fitted as a Tender to carry the Seamen, that enter at the Houses of Rendezvous, to the Ships of War at the different Sea Ports.
Sunday Morning at Three o'Clock twenty of the Prisoners taken in the Yankie Privateer were conveyed by Water to be lodged in Dover Castle. Among these twenty there are only three Native... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having thought it may be propr for the Ship, which you shall appoint for the Octor & Decr Convoys, to proceed with the said Convoy to England instead of the limits mentioned in their Lordships directions of the 17th of February last; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to order the Ship you shall appoint for the said... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
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