Whereas Capt [William] Cornwallis of His Majestys Ship the Pallas hath received our Orders to proceed with that Ship together with the Weazle and the Sloop you command upon a particular Service; You are hereby required & directed notwithstanding any Orders you may be under from Capt Cornwallis to the contrary to proceed with His Majesty's Sloop under your command to such part of the Coast as... Continue Reading
The Charming Sally, Hope, and Russian Merchant Ordnance Storeships which were intended to have gone to North America, under Convoy of the Actaeon, but were afterwards left to go under Convoy of any other Ship that might be ordered thither, being still at Spithead waiting for Convoy; I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you therewith for Lord George Germain's... Continue Reading
I am commanded by my Lords Commrs of the Admty to signify their direction to you in consequence of what passed on your attendance upon them this Morning upon the Subject of providing Ships to serve as Armed Vessels in No America, to propose to them a method of taking up Ships for this Service, observing that if such Vessels as offer are capable of being Armed, it will not be necessary to pay... Continue Reading
A Paper of Intelligence having been transmitted to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty representing that two Ships, one to carry 34 Guns, & the other 30, with two single decked Brigantines to mount 16 Guns each, are fitting out at Philadelphia, and that they were to be joined by a 20 Gun Ship from Rhode Island, and to proceed to the Island of Ascension and cruize betwixt that, place... Continue Reading
The Ordnance Storeships mentioned in Mr [George] Jackson's Letter are as follows ー
For Boston
The Russia Merchant
Has on board 500 Barrels of Gunpowder ー and great part of Captn [John] Montresor's Demand of the 19 August
The Hope
Has 1600 Carbines ー 1500 Barrls [of Gunpowder] and the remainder of Captn Montresor's Demand of the 19 August
The Charming Sally
Has on board ー Iron Ordnce... Continue Reading
Friday [January 19] orders were received at the Commissioner's office in this dock yord, for the Richmond, Diamond, Lark, Ambuscade, and Amazon Frigates, to be fitted out with the greatest expedition for America.
Prompted by a paragraph in one of the evening papers I went to see the American prisoners brought home by the Tartar. I intended to contribute something towards cloathing them, and expected to find them all in irons; but how great was my disappointment, when I found them removed from the Tartar to the Resolution, at free liberty, victualled the same as the ship's company, and since removed on... Continue Reading
Last night went out of dock his Majesty's ship Deal Castle, having had her leaks stopt, and the damage she received when on shore repaired.
We have now fitted at this port for America, and will soon be ready for sea, the Triton, Surprize, Martin, and Deal Castle ships of war.
I have received your Letter of the 8th instt inclosing a Copy of an Article of Intelligence respecting Virginia and Maryland, which I shall endeavor to make a proper use of when occasion offers. ー I have also received the Duplicate of your Letter of the 8th instt giving an Account of the return of the Triton to Plymouth, dismasted, and that their Lordships had order'd the Milford, which was then... Continue Reading
Having laid before the King your Lordships Letter to me, of the 15th Inst in which you desire to be informed whether any particular Directions are necessary to be inserted in the sailing Instructions to the Captains of His Majesty's Ships, under orders to proceed to Quebec, and whether some of them may not put to Sea, and make the best of their way, leaving proper Convoy for the Victuallers... Continue Reading
Having laid before the King Your Lordship's Letter to me of the 11th instant, on the subject of the Steps it may be advisable to pursue, in case of any Attempt by the Rebels upon West Florida; It is His Majesty's Pleasure to recall the Orders upon that head, contained in my letter to you of the 6th instant, and I am to signify to you His Majesty's Commands that Rear Admiral [Clark] Gayton be... Continue Reading
Yesterday sailed his Majesty's ship Acteon, Capt. [Christopher] Atkins, for America, and the Carcase Bomb for Ireland.
His Majesty's ship Solebay arrived yesterday at Cove, and we hear has on board Ethan Allen, and some other Americans who were lately sent home prisoners, and are now sending back to America.
Please to acquaint their Lordships that this evening His Majesty's Ship Active came in here, and by her I received the Original Letter dated the 8th instt relative to the return of the Triton, and the Milford's being order'd to carry her dispatches to Rear Admiral Shuldham. I am Sir [&c.]
To the King Only.
Sire, ー When considerations of State impel you to extend a helping hand to the Americans, Policy requires that your Majesty proceed with such caution, that aid secretly conveyed to America may not become in Europe a brand to kindle strife between France and England. Above all, it is the part of prudence to be certain that the money cannot possibly pass into other hands... Continue Reading
Janry 1779 [sic 1776]
Sunday 21
[Lizard] N71E Distance 768 Leagues
at 7 Saw a Sail to the NEt out all reefs & got up T Gt Yards.
at 11 one Sail in sight.
[Fresh Gales & Squally]
½ past 1 PM Set Fore & Main Top studing sails at 2 Haul'd down Fore topmast Studing sail at 4 Strong Gales & Squally, ½ past Carried away the Fore Topsail Yard in the Slings got up another brought the... Continue Reading
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty upon a consideration of the Orders proper to be given to the Arethusa and Thetis, have thought it may be most adviseable instead of ordering One of them to go directly to St Helena and the other to Ascension, to order them both to call at Ascension; but they do not choose to give their Orders for so doing 'till they have had an opportunity of knowing... Continue Reading
Sir, The inclosed Copy of my letter to the Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty of the 22d Int will inform you of the Instruction which His Majesty has ordered to be given to Rear Admiral Gayton, for stationing a Sloop of War & a small armed Vessel for the Protection of West Florida, and for his Conduct in case he should receive Intelligence of any Attack by the Rebels upon that Province, and I... Continue Reading
Sir, The inclosed Copy of my letter of the 20th Inst to the Lords Commissioners 0£ the Admiralty, will inform you of the Orders given in respect to the future Destination of the 50th Regiment; and I am to signify to you His Majesty's Pleasure that, upon the arrival of the Transport Vessels from England, you do give the necessary Orders for the Embarkation of the said Regiment.
As soon as the two... Continue Reading
I send you herewith an order from my Lords Commrs of the Admty directing you to Order the American Prisoners to be distributed on board the Guardships under your command
It is their Lordships direction that you send me the Names of the American Officers who came home Prisoners with the aforementioned Men And that in the mean time you do keep them under proper confinement on board one of the said... Continue Reading