European Theatre from February 1, 1776, to May 25, 1776
No 7
I was informed Yesterday that Orders were sent to arm a considerable Fleet in the French Ports, and I have every reason to give Credit to this Intelligence.
... M. D'aranda
2 is said to have strongly represented the Necessity of this Courts remaining no longer in a state of Inaction, But of her making immediate Dispositions for the safety of her West India... Continue Reading
Date: 1 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Lord North presented the following Message from his Majesty:
GEORGE R.
His Majesty, relying on the experienced zeal and affection of his faithful Commons, and considering, that, during the present troubles in North America, emergencies may arise, which may be of the utmost importance, and be attended with the most dangerous consequences, if proper means should not be immediately applied to... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Lord Sandwich has the honor to Transmit to Your Majesty the letters just received from Admiral Shuldham.
Lord Sandwich has a private letter from the Admiral which he will send to your Majesty to morrow morning, but presumes to keep it this evening that it may be shewn to the Committee of your Majesty's servants who are to meet at nine o'clock; as it appears in that letter, that the army allmost... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Lord George Germain received the enclosed papers from General Howe about half an hour after five. Your Majesty will see that he has been obliged to quit Boston for want of Provisions and from the position of the Enemy. He has executed his plan with great ability. Lord George has summoned the Cabinet to meet at nine o'clock this Evening, as the House of Commons is now up. Your Majesty will... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
GEORGE R.
Instructions for the Commanders of Our Ships and Vessels of War, In Consequence of an Act passed in this present Session of Parlia~ ment, prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, The Three Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
(L.S.)... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
It i~ expected we shall sail to-morrow morning for Boston, under the command of Commodore William Hotham, who is to hoist his broad pennant on board the Preston, a 50 gunship. The ships which go under his command, are, the Jersey hospital ship, the Emerald of 32 guns, the Brune, of 32 guns, the Strombolo fire ship, the Carcass bomb, and all the transports which are ready. There are upwards of 100... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I have the honor of submitting to your majesty, the paper which is to authorize me to furnish a million of livres for the use of the English colonies, if you should deign to ratify it with your signature. I add to this, Sire, the draught of the reply which I mean to make to Mr. Beaumarchais; if your majesty should ,approve of it, I beg that it may be returned to me without delay. It shall not go... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Regardless of what certain people say with respect to the wealth of England, I would rather call it a case of swelling. I prefer the plumpness of France in spite of her limited regimen. Everything here is real: fertile land, precious goods, clinking cash; a lack of credit would not affect any of this. This affair of the snow Dickinson is coming up again. There has never been so much noise about... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Your Excellency: The Governor of Cadiz has just informed me that an English naval sloop called the Transport 2 arrived in the bay on the 13th of last month under Captain Charles Egan with some packets of letters for the British Consul. As soon as she had discharged her commission, the sloop made sail again, but, while going out the entrance to the Port, she. met an English galley entering. After... Continue Reading
Date: 2 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Monday last the transports, with the 42d, or royal highlanders, together with General Fraser's new raised regiment of highlanders 2 on boan\ set sail from Greenock for America under convoy of the Flora frigate. Several of the transports mounted from IOto 16 guns.
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Having laid before My Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty your Letter of the 30th past, signifying Lord George Germain's Desire, that the necessary Orders may be given, for Victualling 120 Persons on board the Samuel & Elizabeth Transport, taken up by the Board of Ordnance, for carrying to Boston what remains of the Stores for General Howe's Army, and also sundry Artificers & Drivers; Their... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
There is nothing very important here except the news received three days ago concerning the evacuation of Boston. The evacuation took place on 17 March. The letters from the English general and the officers were dated 24 March on board the ships that sailed forHalifax. They left without destroying Boston and it is said that they did not remove the cannon from this city. The embarkation was not... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
No. 255.
. . . As regards the Worcester and the Nonsuch, I wished to find out details through Lord Sandwich. He told me that it was true that the ships were armed, but that it had nothing to do with the Portuguese. I asked him where they were going, and he told me it was a secret. Demonstrating that he did not wish me to speculate on it, he told me he had despatched orders yesterday morning to .... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury having directed Messrs Harley and Drummond Contractors for remitting Money for the use of His Majesty's Forces serving in North America, to put about £200,000, on board His Majesty's Ships preparing to sail thither; You are hereby required and directed to order the Captains of the Ships of your Squadron named in the Margin '2 to receive & take... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Lord George Germain, One of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, having this day, desired that 200 Barrels of Gunpowder for the Use of the Troops now ready to proceed from Portsmouth may be received on board His Majesty's Ships appointed to Convoy them to North America; You are therefore, hereby required and directed to cause the said Gunpowder to be immediately received on board such... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
My Lord,
In my last I acquainted your Lordship that a Ship was arrived in this Port from Philadelphia. Her Cargo consists of three thousand five hundred Barrells of Flour, which by the Papers signed by the Officers of the Customs, was cleared out for Falmouth, but the Cargo is consigned to a Spaniard here, who it is said is the Owner of it, which I do not believe. I am inclined to think he serves... Continue Reading
Date: 3 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The Ship Marlborough, of Whitby, Capt. Walker, arrived at Stromness the 1st currt. after a Passage of Thirty-one Days from Savannah, in Georgia. She brings little New[s]. The Provincials, they say, have burnt five British Ships in that River, one of them valued at upwards of 20,000 l. His Excellency, Sir James Wright, Governor, had his Baggage on Board that Vessel, besides a considerable Value... Continue Reading
Date: 4 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having received a Letter from Vice Adml Shuldham dated the 23d of March last, giving an Account of the Embarkation of His Majesty's Forces from Boston and of the Resolu~ tion taken to proceed with them to Halifax; I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you therewith, and to send you by Express their additional Order of this date, for proceeding to... Continue Reading
Date: 4 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
A List of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels in North America, and of such as are under Orders or intended, to proceed thither forthwith, vizt
Rate
Ships
Guns
Men
Commanders.
In North America.
4
Chatham
50
370
Vice Admiral Shuldham
Capt John Raynor
3
Asia
64
500
Capt Geo. Candeput
4
Renown
50
350
" Frans Banks
"
Centurion
50
350
" Richd Brathwaite... Continue Reading
Date: 4 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Whereas by our Commission dated the 15 of February last, We have appointed your Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed in the River St Lawrence and along the Coasts of Nova Scotia, the Islands of St John and Cape Breton, and thence to Cape Florida and the Bahama Islands; Your Lordship is hereby required and directed to repair forthwith to Portsmo where... Continue Reading
Date: 4 May 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Pages
