European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
The Success of My application with regard to the Dunkirk Pirate has been highly displeasing to Franklin and Deane. They made strong Remonstrances but were given to understand that there are some things too glaring to be winked at, and that this was a Point in which they could not be supported
Franklin is certainly going to Spain by order of the Congress who have expresly allotted him that... Continue Reading
Date: 14 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Capture of the Orange Packet is a complete Refutation of what we have been so often told concerning the reduced State of the Americans. They have hitherto kept us in sufficient Play on their own Coasts, and now, in their Turn, they even venture to assail ours. Old Twitcher 1 may blush for once at having suffered such an Insult so near our very Doors, after such repeated but... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Capt Wickes & my Self are Yet Waitg here with great impatience for the Arrival of the Lexington, Capt Johnson from Burdo [Bordeaux], we had determined on Wednesday last to go to Sea without him; for he informed us on his Arrival there from Nants, that he wou'd Sail from that Place last Sunday was a Week, & hearg nothing further from him Obliged us to beleave he was taken, or that some... Continue Reading
Date: 15 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
H
Courses
Winds
Remks on Friday 16th of May 1777
3
freash gales
8
Tyrannicide in company
9
ENE
North
Saw a ship to the northward standing to the southward gave chaise at 11 saw a Learge dutch ship standing to the westward we come up with the chaise but little fresh gale
10
EBN
11
E½N
12
Latt By Obs 46D 00m Long in 10D 22m
1
EBS
North
Freash gales &... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas Information has been received that there is reason to believe that an English Cutter of about 140. Tons which was fitting on the 13th inst at Dunkirk as an arm'd Vessel, is intended to be employed under a Commission from the Congress as a Privatier, being esteem'd one of the best sailing Vessels which has ever been constructed, You are hereby required & directed to proceed without a... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas We have received Information from the Merchants, Importers of Linnen from Ireland & Owners of the Linnen Ships representing that several of their Ships are now ready to sail with very rich Cargoes on board, particularly from Newry but are stopt by their Orders on account of the danger they apprehend them to be in from the Rebel Cruizers which infest the Coast of Ireland, &... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Sally, Jones, from London to Quebec; the Fanny, Bell, from Whitehaven to New York; the Trial, Brown; the Teresa, Rackwell, of Exon, from Newfoundland, with soldiers, for New York; the Swift, Clark, of Topsham; and the Phoenix, Davis, of Tinmouth, are all taken by the Tyrannicide and Massachusetts privateers, and sent to Salem, except the Trial, in which the prisoners are arrived at Dartmouth... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Orders have been sent from the Admiralty to Portsmouth, for two ships (a frigate and a sloop) to cruize between Cape Clear and the Old Head of Kinsale, in search of the American privateers which have infested that coast.
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Two of our fishermen, who came on shore yesterday, say, that about seven leagues off, at sea, they were on board of an American privateer of fourteen carriage guns, and about eighty men. She was called the Revenge, and they said they had taken five prizes since they had been out from Salem, to which place they belonged: 'tis supposed they were waiting for the coaster's coming and going round the... Continue Reading
Date: 16 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The King has been informed, Sir, that, several Ships are fitting out in His Ports which are to be laden, half with Provisions, half with munitions of war; that these Ships are to have Americans on board as passengers, who will take Command at Sea, and are empowered, with american Commissions, to make prizes of the Subjects of the King of england when they are encountered. As the intention of His... Continue Reading
Date: 17 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Just, Sir, as you sent over to me the memorandum which had been delivered to you by My Lord Stormont, I happened to receive from the Governors of Martinique and Guadeloupe letters copies of which I forward to you herewith. You will find in the letter of Mons. D'Arbaud to the Governor of St. Christopher satisfactory explanations to the first accusation made by Mons. the Ambassador of England... Continue Reading
Date: 18 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This morning a Dane made a signal for a boat from hence, when two went to her, and brought on shore here twenty-five seamen who had been put on board the Dane by an American privateer in the Bay; they were the crew of two prizes, one of them a store ship, bound to Quebeck, and the other a vessel bound to the West Indies; they give an account of the privateer's having taken 11 prizes, and that the... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . I am assured that the Ministry has sent orders to the Prince de Robecq, Govnr of French Flanders, to force the restitution of the three captured ships and especially of the Packet boat to their English Owners on the basis of the complaint made that despite the privateer having a commission from Congress, he alone [Conyngham] was an American, and all the others Irish. It is added that since... Continue Reading
Date: 19 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are hereby required & directed to put to Sea in the Ship you command, with the first opportunity of Wind &Weather & proceed & cruize between Ushant & Cape Clear for the protection of the Trade &c. (same as the preceeding Order.)
Given &c. the 20. May 1777. ー
Captn Moore, Exeter, Spithead
By &c.
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am commanded by my Lords Commissrs of the Admty to send you the enclos'd Copy of a Letter from Mr Archd Stevenson of Amsterdam dated the 12th Inst containing Intelligence of a Vessel fitting out at that place for an American Privateer, and to desire you will lay the same before Lord Suffolk for his Lordships Information. I am &c
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the Memorial of the Merchants Importers of Linen from Ireland, desiring that they will give protection to the linen ships boqnd from Newry to England, and that the convoy may likewise call at Dublin for such ships as may be there, I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you, that they have ordered his Majesty's cutter the Esther to... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Much to the Disappointment of the Secretary and Clerks of the Admiralty, few Letters of Marque have been applied for, notwithstanding the Merchants were in such a Hurry to have the Bill passed.
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Last night arrived in the river, off Fresh Wharf, London Bridge, an American prize, taken by one of his Majesty's ships, laden with cotton and indigo, &c. being the richest capture taken from them.
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Bearer Capt Hynson has been some time in Paris, & now goes out with a Ship, under his Charge with Stores, for the United States, as he is a Subject of the United States I need not be so particular in recommending him to Your patronage; but must in duty to my Country say, I believe he will render them good Service in their Navy being a good Seaman, & of a cool, sedate, and Steady... Continue Reading
Date: 20 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
5th Mo: 21st 1777 in the Evening, arrived at Whithaven a three Masted Ship with 500 odd Hogsheads of Tobacco from James River in Virginia intended for France, but being Navigated by Brittish & American Seamen, a plott was framed & the Vessel brought in here without bloodshed or any material opposition 2 Tobacco has of late been sold at 22 or more a pound by the Hogshead... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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