European Theatre from January 1, 1777, to May 31, 1777
I have awaited the instructions of my Court to resume with Your Excellency the last topic of my conversation with You concerning the Seizure of the French Ship Thamas Koulikan, which is presently at Portsmouth, taken in the Gulf of Gascony by the English ship of the line Hector. The enclosures are documents which protest the injustice and harm done to this Ship. Your Excellency will please permit... Continue Reading
Date: 24 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The cause of the Ship the Twee Gebroeders Hendrick Terhorst Master came on this day for adjudication: The Judge upon summing up the evidence, after observing that this Ship was bound from Rotterdam to the Dutch settlement of St Eustatia, called upon me to declare; whether my Lords Commissioners were willing to purchase the Gunpowder Arms, and Ammunition on board: By the advice of their Lordships... Continue Reading
Date: 24 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I have been for some time past very Apprehensive of the risque in sending Shipps direct to the Continent of America. at so late a season and with such valuable Cargoes; they must if they go direct arrive on the Coast of America, in the midst of the Cruising Season of the Enemy's Shipps & as the ship Therese has on board, between sixty & seventy Thousand Livres of Goods, purchased by the... Continue Reading
Date: 24 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
John the Painter was Yesterday examined before Sir John Fielding. Many Circumstances came out that . seem to leave scarce a Doubt of his being the Incendiary at Bristol and Portsmouth; he is to be sent to Winchester to take his Trial at the ensuing Assizes. It is found that he has been in France, and came from thence by a Passport under the name of John Atkins. He was brought to confess that he... Continue Reading
Date: 25 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having shipped on my Account, to a destination in Dublin in Ireland, to the address of Madame Tramasse of the same place, in the Vessel the Barbara, Captain Welsh, three barrels of vinegar with my name branded on the heads of the barrels and on the bungs G.V., I have just learned that this Vessel was stopped Enroute, seized and then Carried in by another Vessel, or American privateer, to the Port... Continue Reading
Date: 25 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Board of Ordnance have by the King's Command, prepared a Supply of Ordnance Stores for St Augustine the Tonnage of which will Amount to about 87 Tons, and they have likewise prepared a Supply of Ordnance Stores for St Vincent which will require about the same Quantity of Freight; and as neither of these Supplies are sufficient to load a Vessel capable of making a good Defence against a Rebel... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas the Merchants trading to Portugal, Spain & the Mediterranean have requested that a Convoy may be appointed to proceed with the Trade bound thither from the Port of London, all of which (except the Love John Wellen Master bound to Lisbon and the Providence Robert Crawford M_as,ter bound to Oporto,) it is expected are now at Spithead; and that the said Convoy may be permitted to call at... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Having this day received the following Information in a Letter from Bourdeaux dated 15 Febry 1777 — Vizt "there are Two Ships of Force fifting out here for the Americans & Actions in them offer'd publicly. We are sorry to find some of our Countrymen have accepted the offer Both Ships mount Twenty Guns they clear out under French Colours for Miquelon & until they arrive there will appear... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
The Swan, Stoddart, from Dominica, is arrived at Dover all well, after being chased by an American Privateer.
The Tartar, Russell, from New York to Cork was taken by the Americans, and after retaken by the People and carried into Hallifax. 1
The Friendship, Shotten, from Quebeck to Barcelona, was taken by the Washington Privateer, and re-taken by the Loyal Nova Scotian, and carried... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
One of the vessels carried into L'Orient, by the Reprisal privateer, is the Polly and Nancy, Kentish, bound from Poole to Spain.
A private letter from L'Orient says, that the master of an American privateer has applied for leave to bring his five prizes into that harbour, that he might dispose of the cargoes; but was told by the Governor, that he could not be permitted to come in until an order... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
[1777. February] 24. Mr. Holland, the master-at-arms of the ship, has been on shore; he informs us of the death of one of our company—Ebenezer Hunt. He died on the 20th of this month, in the Royal Hospital; he was one of the nine that were sent on shore the 15th inst.
25. This morning Mr. Holland came into our apartment inquiring for a joiner. I offered myself, and went upon deck to work for him... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I hope Your Lordship has received my letter by Mr Hobart, informing You, of the American Privateer, the "Reprisal," Having taken the Packet from Falmouth, and four English Merchantmen: These Ships the Reprisal carried not into Port Louis, as my first Information Said, but into Port LorienL
I told you my Lord, that I should press. M de Vergennes strongly, for the Delivery of these Ships with their... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I hav this Day Rec'd very Extraordinary Orders from The Intendant of This port Dem.anding me,to ,Leav this port in 24 Hours he Says This Order is Given in Consequence of A possitiv Order Recd. this Day from the Minister at Parris I Asked Liberty To heav Down my Ship and Repair her on my Arrival but it has never Bin Granted on being,told That I mus[t] possitivly Depart in 24 Hours I Told the... Continue Reading
Date: 26 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Please to inform their Lordships of the Arrival of His Majs Ship under my Command from Rhode Island having been forty five Days on our Passage. at the Time We were Abreast of the Lizard the Weather being extremely hazey, & the Wind at South, I thought it more proper to proceed to this Port, than to stand in with the Land to go for Plymouth. I send enclosed a Journal of our Proceedings on the... Continue Reading
Date: 27 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I arrived last Evening in good Health with my Traveling companion, in spite of the bad roads and the hardships of passage. We began the Visit to the shipyards, and we shall immediately have a meeting with the best Builders in order to start the work; there is neither a lack of material nor of good labor; M B[aux] seems very satisfied with their way of working which he finds vastly Superior to... Continue Reading
Date: 27 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
This by Mons Eyries I hope will find you at Havre with the Cutter: which you are to equip with all possible expedition for a Voyage. Mons Eyries will supply you with the necessarys, & you will take his advice in equiping, it is proposed that she should proceed for America as soon as possible; Mr Eyries proposes fixing eight or Ten Brass peices of three or four pounders with other necessaries... Continue Reading
Date: 27 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
I beg leave to inclose to your Lordship a list of Prisoners taken by the Rebels, belonging to the Troops and Armed Vessels raised and fitted out by me in Virginia. The Cruel and inhumane treatment that I know some of them have met with from that Barbarous and Savage Enemy, confined in loathsome Gaols, and loaded with Irons, now upward of twelve Months, induces me to trouble your Lordship at this... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Whereas we intend that the Ship you command shall proceed forthwith to the Island of St Helena to Convoy from thence to England the East India Company's homeward bound Ships; You are hereby required and directed the moment you have completed her Provisions and Stores agreeable to our Order of the 26th Instant and Wind & Weather will permit to put to Sea and make the best of your way in her to... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Stations for Ships to Intercept American Vessells going to or from Haver de Grace
off Cape Barfleur
Speedwell Sloop
Between Cape Barfleur
& Cape la Hauge
Courageux
These ships should have
all the Informations
about the Tobacco Ships
expected —
off Cape la Hague
Royal Oak
Between Cape la Hague
& the Gaskets
Ranger Sloop
North from Ushant
Hector
If... Continue Reading
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
Applications have already been made to the Admiralty, for letters of marque and reprisal on all ships belonging to those American colonies which are now in actual rebellion against the Mother-country; and they will be granted as soon as the bill now depending for that purpose receives the royal assent.
Date: 28 February 1777
Volume: Volume 8
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