His Excellency wrote you a few Lines Yesterday, informg you, he could not send the sheathing nails; he has ordered me to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 6 Inst giving an account of Two prizes being carried into your Harbour by Captn Coit ー Instructions relative to them are sent to the Agent, William Watson Esqr
I Hope Captn Coit will not be detained long by the badness of his Masts... Continue Reading
I wrote you the 6th inst to which you will please to be refferd, your favor of the Same date to his Excellency is Come to hand ー it is his pleasure that you Sell the different articles found on board the two prizes & transmit a Cappy of the Sales to Head quarters when finished, the Schooner & Sloop Must be Carefully laid up until further orders ー
I hope we shall soon hear of Capt. Manly... Continue Reading
On the 8 November we left Prospect Hill at 4 o'clock in the afternoon with 80 men, arms and baggage to go to Plymouth, where the Brig was.
A Transport with part of the 17th Regiment from Ireland, and two Victuallers for the Fleet from England, arrived this Morning; and the Hinchinbrook sailed with Orders to cruize in Boston Bay and look out for Vessels arriving with Supplies from England.
The small Squadron under the Command of Lieut. Mowat mentioned in my Letter October 9 returned to Boston the 2d instant. I transmit a Copy of Lieut. Mowats Account of his Expedition, and am extremely concerned the badness of his Vessels and Stores prevented his doing more than destroy[ing] the Town of Falmouth. This however is a severe Stroke to the Rebels Falmouth having long been a principal... Continue Reading
This Day the Ships fired two Shot upon this Town; one struck a house at the No of the To upon the Point: the other struck a house on the lower end of the Town I do not certainly find the Occasion. It is said to have been on account of the taking a Boat.
Considering myself placed by the [Provincial] Congress in a very conspicuous rank, which requires it of me, that I should watch the interests of America as far as in my power lies, and having frequently observed, that the plan we at present pursue is a very lame one, for the remedying of which I have often offered my discourse, but as we are momentarily interrupted by our discontented gentry, I... Continue Reading
On motion made, Resolved, That the Secret Committee appointed to contract for the importation of arms, ammunition, &c. be empowered to export to the foreign, West Indies, on account and risque of the Continent, as much provision, or any other produce (except horned cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry) as they may deem necessary for the importation of arms, ammunition, sulphur, and salt petre.... Continue Reading
Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle, Capt. [Robert] Whyte, & Mr. [George] Clymer be a Committee to consider the most effectual way of connecting the Chivaux de Frize by chains, and that they procure a chain for that purpose.
The houses burnt at Falmouth, in Casco-Bay, by Capt. Mowett, amount to 139 dwelling-houses, and 278 stores, without one single person of the inhabitants being hurt.
By Captain [James] Leech, arrived here from New-Providence, we learn, that a man of war and two transports lately arrived at that island from Boston, and demanded all the powder and warlike stores there, but were not suffered to take... Continue Reading
Sir By the General Gage who sails this day I have the Honour of informing you of my Arrival here of the 5th inst, as also the Brig Elizabeth loaded with Arms, Ammunition and Cloathing &c. The Dispatches I had on board for General Carleton I delivered to Lieut. Governor Carnake2 who has sent them to the General at Montreal.
I had under Convoy the Jacob Brig with Arms, Ammuniti[on]... Continue Reading
Sir Be pleased to acquaint their Lordships of my arrival at Quebec the 5th inst as did the Elizabeth, but the Jacob not til' this Morning having parted Company in a thick Fog. I found here His Majts Sloop Hunter Captn Mckenzie with Orders to stay here & co-operate with the Governor on all Occasions.
Be pleas'd likewise to inform their Lordships of the critical Situation of this place which... Continue Reading
Novr 1775
Thursy 2
Remarks [at Quebec] &c 1775 ー
First part light Airs and fair Mid fresh Breezes & Squally latter strong Gales with Snow and Sleet at 1 pm fired a Gun and made a Signal for the Captn of the Armed Ship and the Masters of Merchantmen sent some hands to the Town to bring some at 4 Mann'd and Arm'd the Boats and supply'd the Merchtmens Boats and some Volunteers that came... Continue Reading
These are to Inform your Excellency that Yesterday a Small Boat with about 15 Men whentout of this Harbour & Took a Schooner from Ireland Loaded with ー Beef pork & Butter &c ー2 as Your Excellency Approved of my Conduct with regard "to the Other Prize the North Britton I thought it my Duty to Proceed in the Same Manner Therefore when She Came in I made a Demand of the Papers... Continue Reading
I am commanded by his Excellency to inform you that it is, his opinion, that those persons who belong to the Two Schooners sent into Marblehead2 be discharg'd on Condition they can get Bondsmen for their not leaving Marblehead & such a district about it as to you will seem proper, lest they give information to the enemy of the destination of Captns Broughton & Selman ー these... Continue Reading
There are many Transports from England & Ireland arriving every day at Boston; should any of the Armed Vessels be in your port, you will please to Order them out to sea immediately, every hour they remain in port may be a loss to them of a good prize, please to Communicate this to such Captain or Captains as may be with you ー being wrote by Order of his Excellency
I am Sir [&c.]
The owner and Capt. of a Small Coaster put into Beverly in distress, bound from Boston to Nova Scotia will appear before you; they have carried on a Trade of supplying Boston with Provisions &c for some time. I beg leave to refer them to your examination, . . .2
Capt Coit. Lt Arrived here yesterday with information to the Genl of their taking 2 vessels with wood & 24 Head of Cattle, bound from Cape britton for Boston ー2 Capt Coit writes to the Genl that he took them with an old dull Schooner, with her beems as Long as her Keal, with but 4 Guns ー & if his Excellency Sees fit to give him a good vessel that will Carry 14 Guns, he will... Continue Reading
Letter from his Excelly Genl Washington [November 9, 1775] relative to the Caption [Capture] of a Vessel & two Persons, John Ritchie & son, Read & Ordered that the said Ritchie & son be immediately sent to the Goal in Salem, & to be held in close confinement unless they produce sufficient sureties for the Liberty of the Yard, and that the following mittimus go to the keeper of... Continue Reading
You are hereby ordered & directed to receive into your Custody John Ritchie & Jn Ritchie junr, two persons taken at Beverly, on attempting to supply the Enemy in Boston with Provissions ー And them & each of them safely keep in close confinement, unless they give Bonds with sufficient Sureties for the Liberty of the Yard till the further order of the major part of the Council ー They to... Continue Reading