European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
We are informed here that a Canadian with a commission from the Congress has fitted out a privateer at Dunkirk, & after cruising some time in the Channel has taken a very large prize & carried her into Ostend;2 this News seems to occasion great eagerness in some people here to fitt out privateers in the same way, if proper commissions can be obtain'd, and the french Government will... Continue Reading
Date: 8 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In a Letter sometime ago to our R Fenwick, we desired him to communicate to you that the Hope arrived at Nantes, was the once Port Henderson 2 that you enquired after. We immediately wrote our Correspondent there (a French house) requesting their Offices in ,getting the Vessel Stopt till such time as they advised you, Or that those the Vessel were consigned to, engaged to See your... Continue Reading
Date: 8 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received a Letter from Messrs Isa and Ben Lesters Merchants at Poole, transmitting an Affidavit made by the Master of their Ship Margaret taken by an American Privateer and praying for the reasons set forth in the Letter and Affidavit, that protection may be granted to their Trade, particularly in the Harbour at Trinity, at Newfoundland I am... Continue Reading
Date: 10 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This morning John the Painter was brought here from Winchester, attended by the Under Sheriff, and hanged near the dock gates, upon a gibbet sixty-five feet high, amids.t an amazing concourse of people, who had assembled to see the execution. He was conducted from the jail in this town in a cart, through the quay gate to the common, after which he proceeded through the ropehouse where the fire... Continue Reading
Date: 10 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
As the curiosity of the public is no doubt a good deal excited, to know all that has passed, in regard to the five prizes lately brought in by the Reprisal, I have endeavoured to procure the most exact information, and the following is an authentic account:
Prizes taken by the Reprisal.
Polly and Nancy, Kentuluar, from Pool, for Cadiz, with about 2000 quintals of dry fish ー 150 tons.
Hibernia,... Continue Reading
Date: 10 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Since my second letter to you (which was directed to Plymouth) I have the honour of yours, for the contents of which I beg you to accept my most sincere acknowledgements.
It is now decided that the Apollo waits for no Convoy, the King being very desirous I should arrive in Canada as early as possible. He presses Lord Sandwich every day to expedite her fitting out, & between friends I conceive... Continue Reading
Date: 11 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Substance of the "Act for enabling the Lords of the Admiralty to grant Commissions to private Ships, &c. employed in Trade, or retained in his Majesty's Service, to make Prize of such Ships, &c. as are therein mentioned, for a limited Time."
This Act, after in Part writing that of 16 Geo. III, Ch. 5. enacts, that the Lord High Admiral of Great-Britain, or the Commissioners for executing ... Continue Reading
Date: 11 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A Correspondent informs us, that several private Letters from France mention, that, to the great Surprize of the Parisians, Orders had been suddenly issued out "for all American Ships to quit the Ports of France, In Forty-eight Hours." The Cause of this Order is said to be as follows; Mr. Silas Dean, the American Charge d' Affaires, had the Impudence to write a Letter to Lord Stormont, to... Continue Reading
Date: 11 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . The Ship which I am now fitting out on the public accot will I hope ,be soon ready to sail, having been obliged to give her new Masts and to recaulk her entirely she is not so forward as I at first expected, but you may depend that no time shall be lost 2 Her Cargo will consist of Linnens Woolens Hosiery Cordage Anchors and sail Cloth, these latter Articles assorted for two... Continue Reading
Date: 11 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We recd yr Lettr of the 18th Janry last by the Ship Penet Capt Bartlet safely arrived in this Port the 7th of this Month.
We embrace this Opportunity Via Phila of the Ship Mary Elizabeth Capt Peter Young, of advising you of the Arrival of the Ship Penet, She is the first to our Address loaded with Tobaco on Account of the honbl Congress ー she sails tomorrow & being busy in dispatching her we... Continue Reading
Date: 11 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Attorney & Sollicitor General having pursuant to His Majesty's Commands transmitted to me Draughts of Two Warrants, the one for confining certain Prisoners at Plymouth, the other at Portsmouth, I transmit Copies thereof to Your Lordships, & am to remark to You, that the Description of the Places specified in the Draughts being taken from Your Letter to me of the 6th Instt, the... Continue Reading
Date: 12 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas Captain Stair Douglas Commander of. His Majesty's Ship Squirrel; received Orders from Vice Admiral [Clark] Gayton Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Jamaica, bearing date the 29th October last, to take under his Convoy the homeward bound Trade from that Island to England to proceed with them into the English Channel, and having seen them so far in safety, to make the... Continue Reading
Date: 12 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
By Letters received this Day from Vice-admiral Young, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels at the Leeward Islands, dated the 9th of December last, it appears, that besides the Putnam American privateer, carrying 12 Guns and 80 Men, the ships of his squadron had taken and sent into port twelve vessels belonging to his Majesty's rebellious colonies since the 30th of September last... Continue Reading
Date: 12 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have received no letter since those by Dr Franklin, dated in October last; but, hourly hoping that some intelligence would arrive, have put off sending express for sometime, until despairing almost of letters, we have agreed to despatch Capt Hynson in a cutter as a packet.
It is now twelve months since I left Philadelphia, in all which time I have received but three letters. I refer you to our... Continue Reading
Date: 12 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
It is now more than 4 Months since Mr Franklin's Departure from Philadelphia, and not a Line from thence written since that time has hitherto reached either of your Commissioners in Europe. vVe have had no Information of what passes in America but thro' England, & the Advises are for the most part such only as the Ministry chuse to publish. Our total Ignorance of the Truth or Falsehood of... Continue Reading
Date: 12 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Your Lordship having in your letter of Yesterday acquainted Us, that the King conceiving it of the utmost importance to the Success of His Majesty's Arms in crushing the Rebellion in the Colonies, that the ensuing Campaign should open as early as the Season will admit, is extremely anxious for the timely arrival of the Camp Equipage and Stores, shipped onboard the Camell and Bute, armed Ships,... Continue Reading
Date: 13 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for the discovery of Longitude at Sea &c have thought it expedient to send out for trial, during your present intended Voyage, the Original Watch Machine, made under their Encouragement by the late Mr Harrison, and, in order, as well to prevent any improper Management or ill treatment of the said Watch Machine, as any suspicions thereof... Continue Reading
Date: 13 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I Take this Opertunity to Inform you Of the proceadings of the Commissary of this port Which Seam very odd to me as I have Recd. no lnstrucktions from you he Sent for me to Day and told me I must Get my Ship Cleaned & put Every thing on bord As fast as possible & then Departe the port Immediately He further lnformd me he Should Send persons to See That We Did not Delay anytime these are... Continue Reading
Date: 13 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have already wrote you by this Conveyance relative to your concerns in this part of the World ー which letter I hope you'l receive in due time, and these few lines may serve to acquaint you with the safe arrival of the Schooner Jenifer from Baltimore on the I Ith Instant in the Afternoon ー Captain Larkin Hammond having made application to me to advise and assist him in the transaction of the... Continue Reading
Date: 13 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . In respect to the Ships to be sent to Lord Howe, as the requisitions made by General Howe cou'd not be complied with, His Lordship [Lord North] thought it became more necessary to do what was in the Power of this Country, and to give Lord Howe, the Ships he asked; and Lord North thought the Cabinet had advised it in fact, but by having given Lord Howe One Ship of 74 Guns & 600d Men,... Continue Reading
Date: 14 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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