European Theatre from June 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777
. . . The Letter of Marque the King of Spain Capt: James Hamilton now in Ferrol is narrowly watched by two Rebel Privateers that have been seen off that Harbour several Days together waiting for his Departure, He might have sold the Prize here to very great Advantage, but she will probably be retaken from him before he reaches England, where he is obliged to carry her for to be condemned.2... Continue Reading
Date: 6 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Scilly No16Wt 18 Ls Ushant So50Et Dist 20 Leagues
Wednesday 6th
at 4 AM saw one Sail to the Southward, made Sail and Chac'd, at Noon the Chace 3 Leagues a Head —
Light Winds & fine Wear, PM Continued in Chace of a Brig, at 5 perceiv'd that the Chace gain'd upon us which we ascribe to her Oars, at 7 the Chace Hull down,
Thursday 7th
AM as the day broke saw a Sail... Continue Reading
Date: 7 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . We are now all ready & Clear for Sailing, only wait your Orders, our powder is Stop'd in the Magazine and will not be dilever'd without a positive Order from the Minester for that purpose — Capt Johnson is all ready and Clear to Sail only Waits your Orders & leave to depart from the Port of Morlaix — the Bearer of this is a Young Gentleman of good Family & Charactor & is... Continue Reading
Date: 7 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Thursday 7th
Lizard N:57ºEt 113 Lgs
at 6 AM saw a Sail to the Etward, Tkd &made Sail after her, at 8 fired 2 Shot, brought her too, a Swede Snow from St Ubes for Stockholm, saw another sail to the Eastwd, at 10 came up with a Ship shortned Sail & brought too, in sight another large Ship, both of which we took to be Dutch Et Indiamen, a brig appearing in sight did not... Continue Reading
Date: 7 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The following is the copy of a letter from Capt. Holland, in Sarah Colburn, bound to Jamaic[a] from this port.1
At Sea, ship Sarah Goulburn, lat 44.0. N. long. 39.00. W. 19th July, 1777.
Gentlemen,
I congratulate you upon a prize I have taken, this day, named the Sally, Thomas Tracy, master, from Charles Town, South Carolina, bound to Nantz, loaded with 470 whole, and 120 half, barrels... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . In addition to my No 48, I am further to signify to Your Excellency His Majesty's Commands, on the following points.
It is indispensably necessary that the Privateers said to be sequestrated in the ports of France, should be sent from thence, but without the convoy of a man of War; as Such a measure would be the most public avowal of the protection they have already clandestinely given to... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[Extract]
No 19 /
. . . The project of M. de Florida Blanca so confidentially communicated to Your Excellency, is so little consonant to the clandestine succours given to the Rebels in America; that He must have in view to deceive this Court, and mislead Your Excellency. You received the communication very properly; and You will be enabled on this ground, to press with more earnestness that a... Continue Reading
Date: 8 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Bristol
Whitehaven
Liverpool
Leith
Glasgow
Newcastle
Hull &
Yarmouth
My Lords Commissioners of the Admty having communicated to you upon your late Attendance at this Office, the expediency of hyring a Number of armed Ships or Vessels to be employed as Coasting Convoys for the protection of the Trade of the great Trading Towns of this Kingdom; I have it in command from their Lordships to... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I desire you will acquaint My Lords Commissioners of the Admty, that early on Wednesday Morning, the 6th instant, being to the Southward of Scilly eight or ten Leagues, in His Majesty's Ship under my Command, we fell in with a Rebel Privateer Brig, and chac'd her till Thursday Morning at nine, when the People in hopes of escaping Captivity, run her close in with Hellston Beach, and got ashore,... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The present serves to convey to you a few Newspapers which I have regularly sent to me from London.
The Honble Commissioners do not know of this Opportunity or I should no doubt have some Dispatches to forward. I hope however soon to have a packet Boat to fit out.
The public talk here is that there will soon be a War, but we have had so much talk to so little purpose that it is not believed by... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
having a small sloop call'd the Mongomery Robt Willis Master, that I propose to send back to America Arm'd, not having a Commission for her which I apprehend lays in your power to grant. I take the Liberty to make application to you for One. I propose her to mount Six four pounders to carry thirty Men and otherways properly equipt. I am not determin'd if I shall employ the same master back, it... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I yesterday boarded a sloop from North Uist, with Kelp, who had on board two men belonging to the brig Venus, of Liverpool, Weeks, Master, from Greenland, with one fish, who was taken on Sunday the 3d instant, within six or seven leagues of the Island of Barra, by an American Rebel privateer cutter, of 16 four pounders, double fortified, and as many swivels, manned with 100 men, some English,... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The following Deposition was this Morning received by the Lord Prevost, sent by Express from the Earl of Fife at Duff House, Bamff:
Capt. [J.] Walker, of the Charming Jenny [Charming Nelly], from Memel to Workington, made an Attestation before Wm. Rose, Esq., a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bamff, on the 8th instant, that he had been taken about the Middle of last Month by the [American... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I received by Captn [William] Hay, & having communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of the. 19th May informing them of your having sent to England in the Alarm the Crew of the General Montgomery American Privatier, & transmitting a List of their Names, and descriptions where they were born;2 And I am commanded to acquaint you, that their Lordships approve of... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The Court of Copenhagen has published a Proclamation, forbidding the American Privateers from entering their Ports, except in Case of Distress, and then to depart in twenty-four Hours after.
The Commerce, M'Call, from Florida to Antigua, is taken within six Leagues of that Island by a Privateer of 10 Guns and 120 Men, only one of the Crew was an American, all the Rest were French.
The Isis, Capt... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The following is a copy of a letter to the Collector and Comptroller of the Custom-house in Newcastle, received by Tuesday's post.
Gentlemen,
Yesterday afternoon Captain George Corney, of the Nautilus, of Liverpool, with part of his crew, were put on shore here, who came to this office and informed us, that on the 20th of July last, about five o'clock in the afternoon, when about five or six... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The Equipping of armed Vessels in the Ports of France to act under Commissions from the Congress of America against the English, being contrary to Treaties & therefore disagreable to Government here, your Friend's Request cannot possibly be comply'd with. I have the honour to be Sir, [&c.]
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I am just Settg off for St Mallo where Mr Williams thinks I had better spend about 3 weeks, in order to be out of the way & give time for our New Ship to be built, I shall have Capt Tanner here to overlook, as much as is Needfull, or we dare appear in — he is an Experienced Man in Ship buildg, &A Compleat Draughts Man, I shall send You the draught of the Ship, drawn by him when finished... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I am Capn of Vessells Born in Canada and has constantly Sailed on board of Some of the New England's Ship's and being intirly divoted to the most Illustrious american Congress having as also my Brother who serves actually on the Right honourable General Washington's army, I dare flatter myself to be intitled to Sail under the flag of the thirteen united provinces, & that you'l be so Kind as... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[Extract]
No 45:
. . .I had learnt from Cadiz, that Orders had been received there by the Governor to notify to the Master of the Carolina Vessel in that port that he was not to attempt taking any Ammunition or warlike Stores on board, and that in consequence of this Notification, the said Vessell was lading with Salt.2 . . .
Upon my opening to M. Florida blanca that I was apprized of... Continue Reading
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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