European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
Please to acquaint my Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty that I arrived here this Day in His Majestys Ship under my Command with the Brigantine Triton James Tiletson Master of 120 Tons which I fell in with on the 7th instant in Lattitude 43 .. 52 North Cape Ortagal bearing South East ½ East 11. or 12 Leagues, under American Colours from Boston. in 26 Days bound to Bilboa in Spain with Fish Cod-Oyl... Continue Reading
Date: 19 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
[1777. January] 18. To-day is the Queen's birth-day, and every ship in the harbor that is in commission, fired twenty-one guns, as a royal salµte.
19. Sunday. To-day we were removed from the Reasonable to the Bellisle, a ship of sixty-four guns, after having been on boarµ the Reasonable twenty-seven days. Here we lodged in the cable-tier, 011 boards laid over the cable, which is better than we... Continue Reading
Date: 19 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Things are in much the Same state as when I arriv'd here, No order to permit the exportation of the Tents, fusils, Cannon, &c.c. I know not on what terms the Ships are freighted but neither have enough at present to fill them, & not more than wou'd fill one, the Seine, as they call her. I wrote you what time it would take to make a different arran.gement. All allow the Romaine safe for... Continue Reading
Date: 19 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On Wednesday last a vessel came into Lough Foyle, which we hear is the Molly, of Newcastle, laden with coals, for New York, but was taken by an American privateer of 32 guns, who put some hands on board her in order to carry her to Virginia; but the crew of the Molly rose on their new masters, and have brought the vessel safe in as above.
Date: 20 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Dr. Franklin is at Paris, and certainly came from the Congress for the Purposes easier guessed at than explained.
It is said that Lord Weymouth, by a proper and spirited Memorial, demanded the Restitution of the Ship Vine of Hull, which was laden at Charant (a French Port near Rochefort) with Brandy, Lintseed, &c. for Hull, and was taken by the American Privateer which brought Dr. Franklin.... Continue Reading
Date: 20 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Provincial privateers have taken to the amount of
West India ships ー
£ 1,069,000
Newfoundland —
58,500
African —
187,000
Canada and Nova Scotia ー
16,500
Transports, victuallers, and storeships ー
167,000
Irish —
3,500
Mediterranean ー
14,000
Sundry traders ー
60,000
£ 1,575,500
Mr. Dean, Agent for the Congress at Paris, has received blank commissions from them for... Continue Reading
Date: 20 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A letter from Alexander M'Daniel, late master of the ship Leghorn Galley, hound from Jamaica to Liverpool, but taken by an American privateer, and carried into Philadelphia, from whence he was arrived at Nantz in the Mary and Elizabeth, Peter Young master, in 38 days, to his owner Mr. Thomas Earle, of Liverpool, dated Nantz, Dec. 19, 1776, says,
"Here is the Enterprize [Reprisal] Capt. Weeks [... Continue Reading
Date: 21 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
In a Letter from Sierre Leona Dated 30th January 1776 I beg you to acquaint their Lordships that I had Taken the St Johns Sloop into the Service to enable me to execute that part of my orders relative to seizing American Vessels belonging to particular provinces & prevent their carrying Arms & Amunition to the rebels, I had reciev'd information of some that were hiding up the rivers, one... Continue Reading
Date: 22 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I never gave much Credit to the Report of the Amphitrite being ordered to remain at L'Orient. It is now believed, that she is actually Sailed for St Domingo.
I am secretly informed, that five Ships are preparing to sail from Havre, L'Orient, St Malo, Nantes, or la Rochelle. These Ships, which are laden with Ammunition. Cloth, and various other Effects, for the use of the Rebels, are to carry... Continue Reading
Date: 22 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas you have represented to Us by your Letter of the 24th of last month, that you had received a Letter from Sir Peter Parker informing you that the Companies of His Majesty's Ships under his command, employed on an expedition against Charles Town South Carolina, had been afflicted with the Scurvy and other disorders, and as there was not any Hospital or place on shore to receive them, he had... Continue Reading
Date: 23 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
A true Briton observes, that the Fire at New York, the Fire at Portsmouth, the Fire at Bristol, and the burning the Hemp Warehouses on Monday Night at Southwark, have had a very odd Effect on many People in this Country, who before were disposed to favour the Americans; ー in short all these Fires have served to cool those mistaken Zealots, who had espoused the unnatural Cause of ungrateful... Continue Reading
Date: 23 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have received the Honour of your Lordship's, No 28, with its several Inclosures.
I saw M. Grimaldi yesterday, and spoke to him very strongly with respect to the Prize, which the Washington Privateer 2 had taken, and sent into Bilbao to dispose of the Cargo. I represented this Transaction to him, as an Act of the most open Piracy, and as an Attempt to impose upon this Government by... Continue Reading
Date: 23 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Yours to the 22d I just this moment receivd. I hope what I have since wrote has sufficiently explained what you wishd to know. However I will repeat to you that in the 1st place without an order from Court the Vessel cannot sail. In the Second place the 19 peices of Cannon, carriages for the Cannon & matches & homes & bullets are chiefly in the Romaine & are stowd in such a manner... Continue Reading
Date: 24 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
My last of the 29th December, informed you of former proceedings & this will serve to inform you of my proceedings to this day, In my last I mentioned being Employed in getting provisions on board ready to proceed on a Cruize, just as I had got ready for Sea, was Blocked up by the Ice and while detained by that, recd. a Letter from the Honorable Commissioners at Parris, desireing me to go to... Continue Reading
Date: 24 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
On Wednesday Capt. George Montagu, son of Vice Admiral Montagu of the Fowey, was at Court, and had the honour to be introduced to his. Majesty, who received him most graciously. As this gentleman took the first American privateer,1 was at the attack at New York, and has been engaged in many active scenes for six. years past, the King spent much time in asking him many interesting... Continue Reading
Date: 25 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I am just informed that the amphitrite is at last gone, she sail'd yesterday morning at 7 oClock
Nothing is more difficult than to procure Charts of our Coast. I am however well supplied except from N York to Georgia, but here I want particular ones; the Captain will I hope arrive at Boston, if not he must do as well as he can with the general Charts (Mercators &c) . . .
Date: 25 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
You are directed to proceed to Boulogne, and there purchase, on as good Terms as possible, a Cutter suitable for the purpose of being sent to America; on the purchase being made dispatch the Vessel to Havre du Grace to the Care of Monsr Limozin,2 and agree in the Bargain to have her delivered, at sd Port, at the risque, & expence of the Original Owner, at which stipulate to make the payment;... Continue Reading
Date: 26 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Thomas, Bell, lately mentioned to be taken, is carried into Providence. The Captain was wounded in the engagement, and is since dead.
Date: 27 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Please to acquaint their Lordships that this Morning hearing there was a Ship coming into this Port, belonging to the Rebellious Colony's, I immediately sent off Lieutenant Clark to take Possesstion of her, and found she was Called the Aurora John Hutchason Master, belonging to Cumberland on york River Virginia Bound to Nantz in France Laden'd with 412 Hogsheads of Tobacco and Two Thousand Staves... Continue Reading
Date: 28 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having received a Letter from Vice Admiral Gayton Commander in Chief of His Majestys Ships and Vessels at Jamaica, dated the 16th Novr last, acquainting us with Intelligence he had received of a considerable Force having been assembled liy the Rebels upon the River Ohio, with an Intent to attack West Florida by the Way of the Mississippi and of his Proceedings in other Matters with the Squadron... Continue Reading
Date: 28 January 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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