European Theatre from February 1, 1776, to May 25, 1776
Having laid before my Lords Commiss[ionets] of the Admiraltyyour Letter of this Day's Date, informing them that the King's Pleasure has been signified to the Master General of the Ordnance, that two Light Field Pieces, and Ammunition in Proportion, together with a proper Quantity of Intrenching Tools, should be put onboard the Lord Howe Transport, for the Service of the 29th Regiment, I am... Continue Reading
Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I have communicated to my. Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letter of yes~erdays date, inclosing one you received from the five New England Men who are the Officers that were taken in the armed Vessel and brought in the Tartar .
You having in your said Letter acquainted their Lordships that Captain [Archibald] Dickson, of the Greyhound not having any person-on board who had ever seen the... Continue Reading
Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Yesterday at the levee 'Lord Hmve kissed the King's hand, upon being appointed Commander in chief of his Ma jesty.'s forces in North America. All the men of wa'i-and transports now fitting out for America, are ordered; to be at Spithead the 24th inst. at which time it is said they will be reviewed by the Earl of Samhvich, .,The ship C.~nadian, Capt. Abbot,: t.s arrived express from Halifax in:... Continue Reading
Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Information has been received, that the Americans are fitting out several Privateers in France, but our Ministry have the strongest Assurances that not one will be allowed to sail. Nothing could exceed the extreme Wretchedness of the Crew of the Privateer lately taken from the Americans.
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Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Your Excellency: Recent events in Malaga, concerning a shipment going to Anglo-America, were referred to in another letter of this date in order that it be new evidence of our consideration for the English Court. I add for Your Excellency's information the following: another vessel, named the Polly, arrived at La Corufia, and the British Consul sought to have the patent and all the papers... Continue Reading
Date: 6 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Having appointed you Captain of His Majestys Ship Amazon at Chatham which we have ordered to be fitted & Stored at that Place for Foreign Service, Mann'd with two Hundred & Twenty Men & Victualled for Six Months with all species of Provisions except Beer of which she is to have as much as she can conveniently stow & to be supplied with a proportion of Wine or Spirits in lieu of... Continue Reading
Date: 7 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The following frigates of 32 guns, are now fitting out at Chatham for the North American station, viz. the Emerald, Capt. [Benjamin] Caldwell; the Brune, Capt. [John] Ferguson; and the Blonde, Capt. [Philemon] Pownal. Two American armed schooners, who detained Capt. Air, of the Clementina 24 hours in the Gutt of Canso,1 reported that the Elizabeth, Russell, from London to St. John's, is lost, but... Continue Reading
Date: 7 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
It is fortunate that the incident concerning the two Danish vessels which were taken to English ports has enlightened the English Ministers as to the necessity of restraining their sea officers with the proper instructions. They would extend their jurisdiction quite far if, because war is being waged in North America, they claimed the right to suppress in Europe the freedom of trade relative to... Continue Reading
Date: 7 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Whereas we intend that you shall take under your Convoy Transports the three Transport Vessels & Naval Storeship named in the Amitys Desire Margin which are now either at Portsmouth or Spithead Munificence You are hereby required & directed to take the said Vessels Archer. under your Convoy & putting to Sea with the first oppor Storeship tunity of Wind & Weather make the best of... Continue Reading
Date: 8 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I have communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your letter of Yesterdays date, inclosing one you received by Express from Lieut Robertson at Weymouth, who was arrived there in the Ship Sampson from New York; And informing their Lordships that you have given Orders that when the said Ship arrives at Spithead no Person whatever shall be admitted to go on board, or from her 'til their Lordships... Continue Reading
Date: 8 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Orders are received at the Commissioner's office in this dock-yard for the following frigates to be sheathed and fitted with the greatest dispatch for America, viz. Amazon, Diamond, Ambuscade, Richmond, and Lark, of 32 guns each.
Tuesday arrived here John Macartney, Esq. when the Ambuscade frigate of 32 guns was put into commission, that Gentleman being appointed to the command of her.
Yesterday... Continue Reading
Date: 8 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Intelligence having been received, that a Ship called the Elizabeth Commanded by a Captain [Robert] Campbell, was fitting out at Philadelphia by the Continental Congress, and intended to Sail about the 20th of January with Dispatches to the Abettors of the American Rebellion in Great Britain and Ireland, and that the said Vessel had orders to proceed from Philadelphia to Cork, and from thence to... Continue Reading
Date: 9 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Vice Admiral Sir James Douglass Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships at Portsmouth, having acquainted Us by His Letter of the 7th Instant, th~t in consequence of Information he had received from Captain [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] of His Majesty's Ship Phoenix at New York of their being Dispatches onboard the Ship SamjJson from the Continental Congress and leaders of the Rebellion in America, he had... Continue Reading
Date: 9 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Both Houses of Parliament are still idle with respect to external affairs. One expects very interesting debates in the House of Lords next week on the prodigious number of foreign troops that will be in the pay of Great Britain and at the disposal of the King of England. The Officers of the Regiments of the English Guards are displaying much less zeal than they did before; several are requesting... Continue Reading
Date: 9 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I was last night honor'd with your letter of the 6 Instant, acquainting me His Majesty has been pieased to order a Promotion of Flag Officers of His Fleet, and that my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in conciquence thereof had signed a Commission appointing me Vice Admiral of the Blue, I shall therefore attend at their Lordships Board next week to take up my Commission I am Sir [&c.]
J:... Continue Reading
Date: 9 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Orders are given for all the small ships and sloops of war now lying up at Deptford, Sheerness, Chatham, and Portsmouth, to be fitted out against the Spring, to be employed as cruizers, &c. On Wednesday his Majesty's ship the Fox, Capt [Patrick] Fotherington, went out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead.
Yesterday the crews of the Charlotte, William and Mary, and Fubbs yatchts, sailed on board... Continue Reading
Date: 9 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
My Lord, Having received a Letter from Captain Parker of His Majesty's Ship the Phoenix dated at New York the 6th of last Month giving an account of his Proceedings, and enclosing several Papers of Intelligence, We send your Lordship Copies of his said Letter and Papers for the King's Information. And are, My Lord [&c.] Sandwich Palmerston H Palliser.
Date: 10 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Lord George Germain, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State having in his Letter of yesterdays date signified to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the Kings Pleasure that orders be given to you to transmit to his Lordship the Nine Packets delivered to you by the Master of the Ship Sampson and that you do also cause strict search to be made for any other Papers that may be... Continue Reading
Date: 10 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Whereas we intend that you shall be employ'd to raise Voluntier Seamen & Landmen in & about Town for the Service of His Majesty's Ship Ambuscade at Chatham; You are hereby required and directed to observe the following Instructions Vizt
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You are to hire a proper Room for a Rendezvous, and to applv yourself with the utmost diligence to the aforesaid Service causing Bills to be printed... Continue Reading
Date: 10 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
In my Letter to your Lordships of the 22d January, I signified to your Lordships His Majesty's pleasure, that, if upon the arrival at Isle aux Coudres, of the Armament destined for the relief of Quebec, the Commander of His Majesty's Ships should learn that the Town was taken by the Rebels, he should in that case not proceed higher up the River, But as it appears upon further Information that,... Continue Reading
Date: 12 February 1776
Volume: Volume 4
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