European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
I received yours of last Evening and should have waited on you this Morning but for a Violent cold attended with a slight Fever which confines Me to my Chamber. I had before the receipt of Yours the disagreeable Intelligence of the Return of the Amphitrite into L'Orient and of the orders from Court forbidding her or any other of the Vessels to proceed to America. Your Chagrin and vexation on this... Continue Reading
Date: 6 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On my returning to Paris & informing my Agent that the Counter orders were taken off, & that the Cannon might be imbarked I was informed that Monst Sartine would not permit them to be shipp'd but in American Vessels, You will remember I told You that I had procured French Vessels, who would clear out as if bound for St Domingo to which I understood there would be no Objection ー as every... Continue Reading
Date: 7 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having submitted to The King Your Lordships Letter of the 1st, and Mr Stephens's of the 7th Inst, respecting the Nine American Prisoners brought into the Harbour of Portsmouth, by Capt [Stair] Douglas of the Squirrel, I am to signify to Your Lordships His Majesty's Commands, that these People be detained in safe Custody, as was directed in my Letter of the 2d Deer, with regard to the Men brought... Continue Reading
Date: 7 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas we have signed a Commission appointing you Master and Commander of the Swallow Pacquet Boat; You are hereby required and directed not to hoist any other Colours worn in His Majesty's Fleet, besides a Red Ensign, Jack and Pendant on board the said Pacquet Boat, at any time, or, on any Account. Given &c. the 8th January 1777.
Date: 7 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I beg leave to refer to what I had the honour of writing your Lordship the 28th Ulto ー The Memorial I gave in to our Governor concerning the American at Marstrand, Occasion'd his Writing to the Commandant there, In Answer he sent in the Vessells Hamburg Pass, of which I Inclose a Copy, the Owner therein Named is a Brittainer. ー the Commandant & Burgomr of Marstrand granted the American evry... Continue Reading
Date: 7 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I told him,2 which is true, that I have intelligence from America, which says, that Franklin is come with his Pocket full of Letters of Marque, and that his Intention is to engage french Ships, fitt those Ships with Men of this Country, anp by putting an American or two on board, and giving Lettres de Marque try to make these Vessels pass for American Privateers. I spoke of this... Continue Reading
Date: 7 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We have just received advice from Beerhaven that two boats, from two American privateers, had come on shore there, armed, but that they had not offered any violence to the inhabitants, but paid for every thing they bought, which was live-stock, such as sheep, hogs, fowls, &c.
Date: 9 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. having transmitted to the Earl of Suffolk the Case of Nine American Prisoners brought to Portsmo by Captain [Stair] Douglas of His Majesty's Ship Squirrel (which case came inclosed in your Letter of the 30th past) and desired to receive His Majesty's Pleasure respecting the said Prisoners, and his Lordship, having, in return signified the Kings Pleasure,... Continue Reading
Date: 9 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The French Ambassador has been given to understand that any French Ships coming out of the American Ports, that are taken by his Majesty's Cruizers, will be deemed lawful Prizes, and condemned as such: The Dutch have had the same Caution.
The last two capital Captures made by the Provincial Privateers are valued at 160,000 I, one laden with Cloathing for 20,000 Men, the other with 80,000 I. for... Continue Reading
Date: 9 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
No 2 handed to the King in the presence of Count de Maurepas on the 9th January 1777. His Majesty approved it with his own hand.
Account has been given to the King of the contents of the memorial from the deputies of the American Congress. His Majesty would wish that circumstances might permit him to give up some of his vessels;
he would willingly make the sacrifice gratuitously, but... Continue Reading
Date: 9 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On the 24th last Month between Twenty and Thirty Leagues West of Cape Finisterre, I fell in with and took an American Brigantine, Privatier, cal'd the Dalton, Eliazer Johnson Commander, Mounting Twenty Carrage and Twenty Swivel Guns, and one hundred and Twenty Men, Equiped for a Cruize of Six Months, she belonged to Newbury in the Massachusets Bay, left that place on the 16th of Novr last, and... Continue Reading
Date: 10 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The situation of the United-states, require an immediate supply of Stores of various sorts, of which a proportion of Military for the opening and supporting the coming Campaign
Vessels or Ships belonging to the United States cannot be procured, and if they could, the Danger and Risque would be very great.
Difficulties have arose at the different Ports, where Military Stores have been collected... Continue Reading
Date: 10 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A few evenings ago the son of a tradesman in Fetter-lane, with another young fellow, an intimate companion, returned to their friends after having been absent from the 14th of last month, during which time, though repeatedly advertised, no tidings of them could qe heard. The account they gave of themselves was as follows: That they went on the day they were missed to Brentford, and returning in a... Continue Reading
Date: 11 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Immediately After the Rect of your favor of 26th Deer I Set out for L'Orient & have Executed the Business you Desird there in the best manner The time & Surcumstances Would Admitt I have no Great Appinon of the 60 Gunn Ship As Shee is an Ould Ship& A very Slow Sailer Another Very Great Objecktion is her Draft Water being to much for our American ports very few of our ports Would have... Continue Reading
Date: 11 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This Morning arrived here from St. Maloes, Capt. Hill, of the Generous Friends, which was laden with Provisions for New York, and was taken by an American Privateer call'd the America, Capt. [Thomas] Nicholson; and Captain M'Donald, of the Leghorn Galley, from Jamaica for Liverpool, taken by the Wasp, John Baldwin; and the Surgeon of the William, Capt. Bond, from Jamaica for Liverpool, taken by... Continue Reading
Date: 12 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The ship Nancy and Betsey, Captain Norman M'Cloud, from Quebec, is arrived at this port with a cargo of wheat; she mounts six carriage guns, six pounders and eighteen men, and informs us, that between the 31st of December, and 1st of January, in this road, in the night, he was attacked by an American schooner privateer, of eight carriage guns, some swivels, and full of men. Captain M'Cloud had... Continue Reading
Date: 12 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
January 1777.
Satury 11.
Palma 2 N. 61° 26 Et Distant 257 Leagues.
At 10 AM hoisted the Cutter out, and exchanged two Men, with the Hanover Planter the Master having complained of these being exceeding Mutinous.
Moderate amd fair.
At 4 pm made the Signal to close the Convoy, and made the Hornet's signal to lead, and carry a light, and the Beaver to bring up the Rear. Shortned Sail... Continue Reading
Date: 12 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A Gentleman arrived in Town from Dunkirk informs us, that about ten Days since 500 Barrels of Gunpowder were shipped off from that Port for America.
Date: 13 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The excuse for the present letter is to send you the inventory of the frigate, the Comte de Maurepas, which you will find herewith enclosed. I have decided to sell her if I can get 400,000 livres for her My conditions will be ,to turn the vessel over to you ready to receive her cargo or rather to take in ballast and provisions. If you fit her out, I can furnish you a couple of officers who are... Continue Reading
Date: 13 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On the 17th of last Month, I had the honor to receive by His Maj'ts Ship Active your Lordships Letter of the It Novr with a List of the Transports ordered to return to England under Convoy of that Ship & the Fowey, two days after I received the Original & Duplicate of your Lordships Letter of the 23d Octr the former by the Post from Ireland the latter by the Fowey; And on the same day... Continue Reading
Date: 14 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Pages
