His Majesty's Ship Phoenix Captain Parker arrived from England; she had sailed from thence with a Convoy of Victuallers and two Ordnance Transports for Boston, all of which had parted from her on the Passage. The Nancy a Brig laden with Ordnance Stores was one of the Convoy.
By the Phoenix the Admiral received Directions dated September 2d, to give Orders to the respective Captains and Commanders... Continue Reading
List of Admiralty Orders and Letters &ca Received by Vice Admiral Graves, from Captain Parker of His Majesty's Ship Phoenix, at Boston, the 9th November 1775. Vizt
Orders
Date
Purport
July 14. 1775.
(Secret) To cause all Ships and Vessels to be examined for Letters, and to send to their Lordships all such as contain any matters tending to aid, abet, or advise, the rebellious... Continue Reading
I have received your Letter of this date acquainting me that the Mercury is so foul she often misses Stays, goes very badly, and that as your Cruize is out you mean to come up to Boston. As I hourly expect a Number of Transports and Victuallers to arrive, who having parted from their Convoy, and dropping in singly and unacquainted, will be in Danger from the Rebel Cruizers; I would have you go to... Continue Reading
Novr 75
Thursy 9th.
Moored in Charlestown River ー
at 10 A M came on board a boat maned & Armed from the Preston, & Genl Clinton with 300 men in Flatt Bottom Boats at ½ past they landed on Phipp's Farm, at 11 sen[t 8] Flatt Bottom Boats on shore to Bring off the Cattle: the Rebells Firing of Cannon Shott from Winter Hill at the Troops & boats, at noon the Troops Reimbarked with 13... Continue Reading
Sir, Agreeable to the plan laid between you and General Clinton, the light Infantry of the Army under his Command, embarked on board the flatt bottom boats at Charlestown ferry, at Eleven o'Clock this morning under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Clark.
About twelve the Signal being made from the Scarborough the boats formed into two Divisions and landed on Phipp's Farm, abreast of where I lay... Continue Reading
Novr 1775
Wendy 8
At Single Anchr in Long Isld Road [Penobscot Bay]
at 4 A M fired a Gun a Signal for the Convoy to Weigh at 5 Weigh'd and came to Sail in 1st Reef Topsails at 7 AM in 2d Reef Do at ½ past 8 fired a Gun ー Sigl for the Convoy to make more Sail 20 Sail in Company.2
Do & foggy reeved a new Tiller Rope at 4 P. M. Sequin Bore N Eb E 3 or 4 Lgs Cape Elizabeth WNW 6 or... Continue Reading
Thursday 9 Novr [1775] Rainy Morng but moon light between 12 & 1, the Watch on Deck saw another sail bearing towards us, on which we was all order'd to our Quarters in Order to receive them in Case of an Attack, but after Viewing us for some time they stood off on which our Men was Order'd between Decks & to be ready with their Arms on the Shortest Notice we lay too for fear of Runing too... Continue Reading
This forenoon the Bomb Brig & 2 or 3 Tenders sailed up the Bay to attack the 2 Rh Isld Privateers. Between XII & I they were seen engaged & firing at one another near Hope Island. We hear that a ship from Madeira with 150 Pipes of Wine, was taken by the Continental Privateers going into Boston: also that Capt Coit in a Continental Privateer out of Plymouth had taken 2 prizes Vessels... Continue Reading
In your last you requested I would give you an account of the progress of our machine, and whether anything may be expected of it. I now sit down to give you a succinct but imperfect account of its structure, which is so complicated that it is impossible to give a perfect idea of it.
The Body, when standing upright in the position in which it is navigated, has the nearest resemblance to the two... Continue Reading
By all we can learn from St. Johns, we have the greatest reason to expect that matters will turn out well there. General Wooster is to proceed, or is already gone forward to take possession of Montreal. General Montgomery keeps St. Johns beseiged, and by the accounts of the prisoners, the regulars at St. Johns must have but little provisions, &c.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee appointed to consider the application from the Inhabitants of Nova Scotia,2 and after some debate, the same was postponed till to Morrow.
Gentlemen The Congress expect that you repair, with as much dispatch as the necessary preparation for your journey will admit, to Ticonderoga, in order to consult General Schuyler, what number of forces will be necessary in Canada and of the best and most efficacious method for procuring or continuing such forces in the Northern Department During the ensuing Winter, of engaging the inhabitants... Continue Reading
It is now I imagine near three Weeks since your Provincial Council broke up and I take it for granted you have sent an express with the account of your deliberations to your Delegates here, we expect it dayly and are Anxious for its Arival. I hope you have fallen on some method to furnish your Soldiers with Arms and Amunition, those Articles are very Scarse throughout all the Colonies, I find on... Continue Reading
This afternoon a man of war and 3 tenders came to anchor at Burwell's ferry, and fired several times, but did no other damage than sending one shot through a warehouse near the water-side.1
Mr. William Pierce, junior, of this city, who was in the late engagement at Hampton (and whose genius is greatly admired for many valuable productions in the celebrated art of painting) we are... Continue Reading
Oliver Porter being Sworn upon the Holy Evangelist before His Excellency the Earl of Dunmore, Governor of the Colony of Virginia &c this 9th Day of November 1775, and in the Sixteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign.
This deponent saith, that he Sailed in the Sloop Temperance as Master from Bath in North carolina, on the 29th of July last, Mr Obediah Witheral Merchant on board, for Martinico, on... Continue Reading
Read a letter from Capt. Edward Blake, dated this day, relative to an armed scooner having arrived at St. Augustine from Boston,2 in order to cruize upon this coast.
Ordered, That the following letter be immediately sent to Capt. [Simon] Tufts:
Sir
Charles-Town, November 9, 1775.
You are hereby ordered immediately to repair with the scooner Defence, under your command, to the mouth of... Continue Reading
The late cruel cannonade of Bristol by the British ships of war, to enforce an arbitrary demand of sheep ー the general depredations on the American coasts, by ministerial authority ー the late advices from England of large military armaments by land and sea, for the hostile invasion of the Colonies upon this continent ー and, the proclamation of the 23d of August last, at the Court of St. James',... Continue Reading
Please to inform my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the Arrival of The Magdalen Schooner at Quebec this day, with dispatches for General Carleton, which was delivered to the Lieut. Governor, but am afraid they will share the same fate.of mine, that of being brought back again, the Communication being entirely cutt off by the Rebels, between this Place and Montreal where General Carleton... Continue Reading
The Committee appointed to Consider of Vessels taken into Custody between Penobscut & Machias beg Leave to Report, that the Schooner Falmouth Packet bound from Nova Scotia to Boston Isaac Danks Master brought into Gouldsborough & Deliverd up to the Committee of Safety of said Place having Receiv'd & Examined the papers belonging to Said Vessel have Detain'd her & her Cargo by... Continue Reading
By the Barer Captt Richard James I would Inform your Excellency, that Captt Manly in your Schor. Lee, Brought into Marblehead this Morning a Schr of about forty Tuns Load with Lumber2 he took Sd Schr about three Miles from Boston Lighthous, I have found But two Letters on Board Which have Sent by Captt James the Master & a Doctor which is Sd to be a pasinger on [board] have Sent... Continue Reading