European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
From the Account you gave of publick Transactions in the Islands under your Governmt., in your Letters to me by Mr [Thomas] Lyttelton, and from the Apprehensions you expressed in those Letters, of the Consequences of such Transactions, I thought myself precluded from all Consideration of any Civil Arrangements, in respect to which it was apparent, from what you stated of the Temper &... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have received and communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admiralty your Letter of the 30t last past transmitting the State of the Case of the 9 Prisoners as represented to you by Captain [Stair] Douglas whom he brought home in the Squirrel and informing their Lordships that the Violence of the Weather and Confinement under the Situation and Case of the American Prisoners that were brought to... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having since the Letter I had the honour to write you of the 5 Septemr last received your several Letters one of the 25 July Two of the 5th August1 Two of the 3d of September, one of the 8th of October, and one of the 4th of November last giving an account of the proceedings of the Squadron under your Command and having read the same as they came to hand to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Since the Letter I had the honor to write you of the 3d of October last in answer to yours conveyed by His Majesty's Sloop the Weazle I have received a Duplicate of your Letter of 30t September (the original of which is not yet come to hand) inclosing four Papers, and giving an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's Ships under your Command up to that time all which were immediately... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Dr. Franklin's Privateer, in her Passage to Nantz, made Prizes of two British Merchantmen. The Conduct of the Court of France, respecting the Restitution of these Vessels to the proper Owners, will be a better Comment on their political System, than all the flimsy Colourings of a deceived and deceiving Ministry 1
A Vessel belonging to Bristol has been brought into Bilboa, by an... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
From London, January 1 [1777]
Despite the fact that all orders for Impressment have been executed punctually, more than three thousand sailors are lacking for the most pressing needs of service at sea. In the port of Yarmouth more than forty merchant vessels are held up due to the impossibility of filling crew complements because of forced enlistments for war vessels the number of impressed... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
pursuant to the encouragement given me by your Excellency at the first, & subsequent interviews I had the honor of having with your Excellency I had engaged a Number of Brass Cannon thro. the agency of Mr Beaumarchais, & had the same transported to different ports in the Kingdom of France, & Vessels engaged for the transporting the same to the place of their destination, having thus... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I inclose a duplicate, of my Letter by Lord Fitzwilliam, least by any Accident, He should have been detained upon the Road.
I have received, through a Secret Channel, the following Intelligence, which I can by no means warrant, but think it deserves some degree of Attention.
Doctor Franklin certainly was at Versailles soon after his Arrival here, (some accounts Say, that he stopped there in his... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Two American Privateers, have put into Blaye near Bourdeaux, and desired to purchase Ammunition, which I am told has been refused them.
I have received a letter from Mr Delamain, one of the proprietors, of an English Vessel, called the Vine, which as I have already informed Your Lordship, was taken by an American Privateer.2 He tells me, that He cannot learn where his ship is, but is... Continue Reading
Date: 1 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Your Lordship is hereby required and directed to put to Sea in the Ship you command, with the very first opportunity of Wind and Weather, and proceed off Cape Ortegal, and very diligently cruize from thence to Cape Finisterre for the protection of the Trade of His Majesty's Subjects, and to intercept, seize, or destroy any Cruizers or other Vessels belonging to the Rebellious Colonies of No... Continue Reading
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are hereby required and directed to put to Sea in the Ship you command, with the very first Opportunity of Wind and Weather, and make the best of your Way off Cape Finisterre, and from thence to the Rock of Lisbon; between which Places you are to cruize very diligently for the Protection of the Trade of His Majesty's Subjects, and to use your best endeavours to take, or destroy, any Cruizers... Continue Reading
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas we intend that the Ship you command shall convoy the Trade bound to Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean; You are hereby required and directed so soon after the 6th instant; as the Wind shall have been fair for 24 Hours to bring Ships from the Downes, to make enquiry for and take under your Convoy all such of the said Trade as may be assembled and ready to sail, and putting to Sea with... Continue Reading
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
As an Instance how far the Americans are strenuous to become a naval Power, we have certain Accounts that seventeen Ships, from ten to twentysix Guns, have been built at Rhode Island only in the Course of two Years.
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have received your letter dated 30th of Last Month objecting to the expence of Stores supplied to the Mary American Schooner by His Majesty's Ship Pallas late under my Command —
I beg leave to acquaint you that I was ordered by the Admiralty last year to seize all Vessels belonging to the Colonies that were in rebellion, to prevent their carrying Powder & Arms to America taking all such... Continue Reading
Date: 2 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I had the honor of receiving your favors, announcing to me my appointment as one of the Commissioners from the Congress of the united States of America.
I cannot express how greatly I am oblig'd to that most respectable Body, for giving me an opportunity of showing how much I prefer the service of my Country & of her present cause to every other pursuit & situation in life.
I had the... Continue Reading
Date: 3 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Letters from Halifax gave an account of the Milford frigate having brought three prizes into that port in one week.
The Friendship, Broomstone, a victualler from Corke to New York, is taken by the rebels, and carried into Connecticut.
A new ship from Baltimore, loaded with 500 tons of corn, is taken by the Olive Branch, Miller, and two other victuallers, and carried into New York.
Date: 4 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I arrived here about two weeks Since, where I found Mr Deane. Mr Lee has since join'd us from London. We have had an Audience of the Minister, Count de Vergennes, and were respectfully receiv'd. We left for his Consideration a Sketch of the propos'd Treaty. We are to wait upon him tomorrow with a strong Memorial requesting the Aids mentioned in our Instructions. By this Advice, we have had an... Continue Reading
Date: 4 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Congress, the better to defend their Coasts, protect their Trade and drive off the Enemy, have instructed us to apply to France for 8 Ships of the Line, compleatly mann[e ]d, the Expence of which they will undertake to pay. As other Princes of Europe are lending or hiring their Troops to Britain against America, it is apprehended that France may, if she thinks fit, afford our Independant... Continue Reading
Date: 5 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas we intend that you shall be employed to procure Men at Haverfordwest and in the Neighbourhood thereof for his Majesty's Fleet, and you will receive herewith a Press Warrant accompanied with printed Instructions for your guidance; You are hereby required and directed to repair forthwith to that Place and, in the execution of the said Service to observe the following Instructions, Vizt
1st... Continue Reading
Date: 6 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Two Men of War are ordered from Portsmouth with the greatest Expedition to cruise off the Coast of Ireland, it being asserted as a Fact, that two American Privateers have for several Days, previous to the Accounts being sent to England to Government, been hovering off the Coast, as it is thought to intercept the Transports lading there with Provisions, &c. for General Howe.
Date: 6 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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