European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
Advice has been received by the Dartmouth, Capt. Graves, who is arrived in the river from Seville, that several American privateers are cruising within a few leagues of Seville; and that it is very dangerous for any ships sailing to that port without a strong convoy, as some of the privateers mount from ten to 18 guns, besides swivels.
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have got some secret Information, which, though it is not as particular and circumstantial as I could wish, may deserve some Attention.
There are two French Ships fitting out either at Marseilles or Toulon, I believe at Marseilles. They are to be purchased or at least freighted by Mr Deane ー are to be laden with different Sorts of Goods for the Use of the Rebels, are to mount, one 18 Guns the... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
H
3
Courses
Winds
Remks on Wednesday 21st of May 1777
freash breaze at 3 Am saw the land Barring
NNE. 3 Leagues, spake with Several french Vesels at 6 took a Pilate on board of[f] Bell Isle at 10 took a river Pilote on board freash gales & pleasant weather we are Entring the River Loir found at Entry of the River the Ship Reprisel, Capt Weeks Brig Lexinton... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This by Capt Clouston will inform you of my arrival here this day but I have not the pleasure to acquaint you that the Tyrannicide is here with me, but am sorry to acquaint you that on the seventeenth Instant at Nine in the Morning we gave chase to a Ship standing to the Eastward and came up fast at three got within two miles of the Ship, then saw three Sail in the N .E. bearing down to us one of... Continue Reading
Date: 21 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My Lords Commissrs of the Admty having receiv'd a Petition signed by the Persons named in the Margin, 2 representing that they were late Officers and part owners of Vessels belonging to America, taken by His Majestys Cruizers and are now Prisoners on board the Queen, that during their late Confinement on board the Nonsuch & Torbay, they were indulged with a separation aft by... Continue Reading
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas the Ships named on the other side hereof, bound to the West Indies, are now on their way from the River Thames to Plymouth, and are intended to proceed under convoy of the Ship you command to the Island of Madeira; You are hereby required and directed to take the said Ships under your convoy, and putting to Sea with the first oppor~unity of Wind and Weather, make the best of your way (... Continue Reading
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Explanation on the subject
of the sale at L'Orient of 5
English prizes brought into
that port by the American
privateer Reprisal
I had written, Sir, to the officers of the
Admiralty at Vannes, as you desired, in
order that they might report to me what
took place regarding the English vessels the
Polly & Nancy, the Betty, the Hibernian,
the Generous Friends and... Continue Reading
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have before me your esteemed favours of 9th & 16th Current, the Contents of which have noted & shall endeavour to answer the same, In the first place you desire to know how I remain here without exciting suspicion; I have made use of this finesse, which I think it not a bad one, when they ask me why I do not go out to America or follow some kind of business I tell them I am waiting for... Continue Reading
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Our Privateers & Cruisers in the Channel have rais'd the Insurance in London. One of my Friends here lately paid 10 P Cent between Dover & Calais. Capt. Conyngham imprudently returning into Dunkirk with two Prizes, was apprehended with his People at the Request of the Court of England, and put into Prison, on pretence of Piracy, but having a Commission from Congress, they are discharged.... Continue Reading
Date: 22 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
We have advices here from Sligo, Bally-shannon, and Killybeggs, that three stout privateers were seen last week about eight leagues west and by north from the island called Rosses, off the coast of Donegal, to pick up the ships bound from Greenock or Glasgow, to America or the West Indies. A fisherman of Westport, in the county of Mayo, saw them on Wednesday last in the afternoon; they wanted to... Continue Reading
Date: 23 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . as one Campaign can never be sufficient to reduce the Continent, A Naval War, will be more than ever, push'd against Us. Heaven has succeeded Our Adventures, on that Element beyond my most sanguine Expectations, I was e'arly & have ever been of the Opinion that under God Our Salvation must finally come from vigorous & bold operations at Sea, & by carrying the War to their... Continue Reading
Date: 23 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
As you have now Joined me agreeable to the Request of the Honorable Commissioners at Paris, I Now desire you would not part or Separate on any consideration from the Squadron, if in your power to prevent it Unless we should be Chased by a Vessel of Superior Force & it should be Necessary so to do for our own preservation, in that case you must make use ofyour own direction & do every... Continue Reading
Date: 23 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have the Pleasure of Informing yours Honours By Capt Fisk of the Massachusetts
That on the first Instant I Arived safe in this Port after Taking twelve Sail of Englis Vessels Seven of which I Dispachd for Boston2 Burnt three gave one smal Brigg to our Prisners 3 and one Retaken by the Futereonge [Foudroyant] which Chast us fore Glasses and finding she Could not Cume up... Continue Reading
Date: 23 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Mary, Capt. Harrison, from Africa to the West Indies, with a numher of slaves on board, is taken by the Provincials, and sent to some port in America.
The Ann, Capt. Reed, from the Clyde, is safe arrived at New York, after having an engagement with an American privateer, in which the latter was very much damaged, and lost two men, and had three greatly wounded.
The Baltimore provincial... Continue Reading
Date: 24 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Agreeable to what we mentioned in ours of March 14 & April the 9th (a third Copy of which we send herewith) Mr Lee tarry'd here some weeks after his Return from Spain. No News arriving (tho' we received Letters frorp you) of any Commissioner being actually appointed for Prussia, and the Necessity of a good Understanding with that Court in order to obtain speedily a Port in the Northern Seas... Continue Reading
Date: 25 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Captain Jervis, of his Majesty's Ship the Foudroyant, in a letter received this day, gives an account of his having taken on the 19th inst. the schooner Finch [sic Lynch], John Adams, master, which had sailed that morning from Nantz, bound to Boston, with arms and cloathing for the use of the rebel army; and by a letter also received this day from the Hon. Capt. Leveson Gower of the Valiant, it... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Extract of a letter from on board the Clarendon Letter of Marque, dated at sea.
Two days after we got clear of the channel, we saw a sail making towards us, which we supposed to be an American privateer, and we were right, for when within gun-shot, she fired a gun and hoisted American colours; we hoisted ours, and returned her our broadside, when a general engagement began. As I was but a... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Navy of the United States increasing in the Number of its ships, & Force, it is of the utmost importance to direct the Cruises of the Shipps of War which belong either to the States or individuals so, as to annoy, & alarm the Enemy the most effectually, and at the same time to encourage Our brave Officers, & Seamen by the Value of the prizes. The West India Trade was so much... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
. . . It is said that the American privateer, the Surprize, which by Government order was stopped in Dunkirk, was given its freedom'to depart, but leaving behind its prizes, which were returned to their owners. It is alleged that at the request of the British Minister the vessel was detained there for a day or so, especially because this vessel had earlier departed from that port as a merchant... Continue Reading
Date: 26 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Please to Acquaint their Lordships, this Morning was brought into this Port, a Bermudas Built Sloop, Named, the Active, .John Osborne late Master belonging to Charles Town South Carolina, Mounted with Six Carriage Guns, Two of Six Pounders, Two of Four, Two of three, four Swivels, and Mann'd with Fifteen Men, whereof five are Spanish, and Two Dutch, she was bound to Nantes or any Port in France,... Continue Reading
Date: 27 May 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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