European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
The Milford frigate, commanded by Capt. Mowat, during the sickness of Capt. Burr (who is since dead) cruised off Boston Harbour from the 26th of October to the 25th of December, in which time Captain Mowat took and destroyed twelve of the Rebel vessels, three had been taken by their privateers, and were upwards of 30,000 I. value; and six Capt. Mowat burnt in the Bay of Boston, in sight of the... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have the honor to fit out, for the service of Congress; by the way of Hispaniola, the ship Amelia, loaded with field and ordnance pieces, powder and leaden pigs. As the season is too far advanced, that the ship might go straightway to your ports, I have charged M. Carabasse, my correspondent at Cape Francois, to reverse the whole cargo on Bermudian or even on American ships, if he finds any at... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I wrote at my Departure from Nantz which I hope Came safe to hand & now imbrace this oppertunity of informing you of the Success of my last Cruize, We Captured five Sail, none of which will be very Valueable brought them all Safe in here. One of them Swallow Packet from Falmouth bound to Lisbon in Ballast engaged 45 Minutes before she Struck We had one Man Kill'd & My first Leiut had his... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . the principal intention of this is to inform you that Mr [Thomas] Morris has sold four of the prizes 2 (all except the packet Boat) Vessells Cargoes &c &c for about 90,000 Livres, all risque of reclaim & every difficulty to be the purchasers. Mr M tells me he has recvd the Bills for the amount & so finished the Business.
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The following ships were taken with the Swallow packet boat by an American privateer, and carried into L'Orient, viz. the Polly and Nancy, Keniesbear, from Pool to Cadiz; the Hibernia, Jefferson, from Dublin to Lisbon; the Generous friend, Duncan, from Shetland to Cadiz; and the Betty, Campbell, from Bourdeaux to Londonderry. 1 Capt. [Charles] Newman, of the Swallow, writes word that... Continue Reading
Date: 1 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In the several Memoires which Mr Deane had the honor of presenting previous to the arrival of his Colleagues, the history of the dispute, between the United States of America, & Great Brittain, was brought down, to the Time of presenting The Memoires, the situation, & resources of the United States justly stated; and Conjectures as to the issue of the Campaign, then depending were made,... Continue Reading
Date: 1 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
[1777] March 1. Myself and one of my shipmates have again been upon deck to work. We made a chest for the master-at-arms, for which he gave us some biscuit. We mended, also, a table for the ship's cook, for which he gave us a supper and s me spare bread and meat. It is i'n the paper that the ship which brought Dr. Franklin from Philadelphia to France, as she was returning, took a brig laden with... Continue Reading
Date: 2 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt. Wickes is return'd to L'Orient with 5 Prizes, taken on the Coast of Portugal: One a Packet from Falmouth to Lisbon, with 18 Guns & 50 Men. The others a Ship from Pool with Fish one from Shetland with Barley, one from Ireland with Flour, & one for Bristol with Wine and Brandy. He has made near 100 Prisoners. At his Request we have proposed, to the English Ambassador here, an Exchange... Continue Reading
Date: 2 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The King's Assent having been this Day given to "an Act of Parliament to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with or suspected of the Crime of High Treason committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy" and there being a Clause which makes it "lawfull for His Majesty by Warrant under His Sign Manual to... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . a warm Diversion upon the Coasts of the Massachuset's Bay, and New Hampshire, would not only impede the Levies for the Continental Army, but tend much to the Security of Our Trade, and indeed, it scarcely admits a doubt but that these Benefits must inevitably result from such an Arrangement; For as, on one hand, it is scarcely to be expected that those Provinces will part with men when... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have this moment fallen upon the' exact state of the Busyness which is the immediate object of A Lee's journey to Madrid. The delegates at Paris, assisted by the Count d'Aranda, & the Weverial Minister I before described, had Adopted a scheme suggested by a M. de Rulle Cour to give the Congress an Establishment convenient for an admiralty Jurisdiction in Europe or rather Africa. The... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Arrived here his Majesty's ship Liverpool, Capt. Henry Bellew, from America, th e ship which has been so fortunate in retaking many West India ships from the rebels.
[Printer's note] It is said that the crew of the Liverpool man of war have received upwards of 40 I. each, prize money, for captures they have made since their being on the American station.
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I see our Seamen disdain such trifling game as Privateers, but lett me assure you exclusive of the prejudice they do your trade they hurt the credit of your Marine & induce the French to enter willingly into these Ships for prize money. You see Weeks [Lambert Wickes] has never found a difficulty in disposing of his prizes in the ports of France notwithstanding any thing that Court may... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Cutter Sloop was built at Folkstone bought at Dover from Factor, and paid for by Hynson. She will have a French Captain and Crew on board and will clear out for some French Foreign port Capt Hynson will pretend being a passenger, and will answer to his name. He is a lusty and a black looking Man.
She will sail the first fair wind from Havre after the tenth of this Month in an Evening so as to... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
tho' I Receiv'd no answer to the first letter I have had the honour of writing you this last month, give me leave to Send you this Second.
I was yesterday at !'orient where I have Seen the embarquations taken By one of your privetears: one of them is fit to be arm'd as a privetear, and if you please to trust me with the Commandement of it, I'll Sail in Company with the other, or else I'll go with... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
As a matter of fact the Court has ordered that the English vessels captured by the American frigate must leave the port, but there is reason to believe that our Commandant has received other private orders because these prizes; instead of really leaving the roads, have merely changed their berth by placing themselves outside the harbor. Neverthless, in order that everything shall appear to be... Continue Reading
Date: 3 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I had the honor to receive on the 23d ultimo by the Bristol your Lordships Letter of the 12th and 18th of December last, giving accounts of the disposition you had made of the Ships and Vessels under your Command; and having laid the same before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that they entirely approve thereof; I at the same time received... Continue Reading
Date: 4 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In addition to the Albion, by which your Lordship will receive this Dispatch, I have it in Command from My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that the Somerset, Nonsuch Augusta & Raisonable of 64 Guns each, are nearly ready for the Sea & will be sent seperately to reinforce the Squadron under your Lordships command without loss of time.
I have the honor to be &c
Date: 4 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We send you herewith, the draught of a Frigate, by a very ingenious Officer 2 in this Service, which appears to Us peculiarly suitable for Our purpose, ahd We are in hopes of being able to ship Cordage and Sail Cloth, & Anchors &c Sufficient for Five or Six such Frigates, by the time you can have them built.
Though deprived of any intelligence from you since the first of last ... Continue Reading
Date: 4 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am highly pleased to find that my Inclination to settle in France meets with your approbation, and I will do my best endeavours to preserve the good opinion you are pleased to .honour me with. This place seems to me the best calculated for carrying on the american Trade, especially in time of war. I understand that all vessells that come on this coast are obliged to make Belle isle, which being... Continue Reading
Date: 4 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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