European Theatre from June 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777
They were in error to tell you that when the anglo-american Privateer capt. mifflin [General Mifflin] entered the port of Brest she was saluted, but it is certainly true that when she came into the roads she saluted the King's flag with 13 guns. I returned 3 to her. I beg you to inform me whether I did right or wrong. In all foreign roads, I have always seen salutes rendered to various nations.... Continue Reading
Date: 29 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Corvo S½E 139 Leagues
Thursday 28th
at 5 AM: Saw a Sail in the NW Quatr Gave Chace — Lattitude 46°. .54' Longitude 26". .40' —
These 24 Hours Fresh Gales & Squally Weathr with rain at 4 PM. Fired a Twelve Pounder Shotted at the Chace, kept firing Chace Guns, Fired in all Twenty' Seven 12 poundrs and Eight 6 poundrs with Grape & Cannister Shott. at 10 PM: Fired two... Continue Reading
Date: 29 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
In consequence of a petition from the masters and owners of ships of this port to his Majesty, seconded by Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. one of our worthy Members, an order from his Majesty in Council has this week been received here, to permit the ships in the coal trade to take on board guns and stores for defence, in case of an attack from an enemy, on giving security that the same be not... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Having laid before my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of the 27t Instant, informing them that there are now 123 Rebel Prisoners confined at Forton, and more soon expected to be committed there, and 234 at Plymouth, and desiring if their Lordships should judge it proper that any farther provision should be made at those Places for other such Prisoners, you may receive their Orders for it,... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I troubled your Lordship the 4th ult with a petition setting forth the capture of the Prince Masserano by the Warren Privateer Capt Nichs Ogilvie and of her being carried into Bilboa in Spain begging at the same time your Lordships intersestion for her release: —
I have now the additional mortification to acquaint your Lordship that the aforesaid Ship and Cargo is sold at Bilboa and that when the... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I most humbly beg Leave to refer to my last No 60. and have the Honor to acquaint Your Lordship that Cunningham contrary to what might have been expected from the Assurances lately given to My Lord Grantham, meets with the kindest Reception both here and in Ferrol; and is freely permitted to purchase and take on board whatever is necessary for refitting his Vessel except warlike Stores. He came... Continue Reading
Date: 30 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[1777. August] 31. Sunday. To-day we had a newspaper, where-in was a confirmation of Ticonderoga and Philadelphia being taken; also, of the Hancock frigate and Fox being retaken; this news is very disagreeable to us, for we are sorry to hear of the enemy being in any way victorious; for should they conquer the country, or even get the upper hands of it, we are positive that the gallows or the... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I this day received orders from the Minester of Marine at Paris, Notified me by the Comissary & Judge of Admiralty to depart this Port emediately and not to enter again on any Consideration — I was much Surprized to receive those orders without a line from you — I told them I would Sail the first fair Wind and am now Prepairing for Sea, as fast as Possible, but shall endeavour to gain time,... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Augt 1
To the Warde Room
Half a Gall [brandy]
2
To Capt Cirk
1 Quart
3
To the People for Watering
1 Quart
To the Warde Room
Half a Gall
To the Warde Room
Half a Gall
To the Warde Room
Half a Gall
To the Steerage
1 Quart 2 Quarts
4
To the Prise Ship
1 Gall
To the Warde Room
Half a G
To the People for Saile Makeg
1 Pint
5
To the Warde Room
Half G
To the Warde... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[1777. August] 24 Sabbath. Fair & hot — The Small-Pox Rife — Several buried in a Day & all the Ships Crews which had not had it were innoculated
25 Monday. Fair & hot — This Day I was obliged to be innoculatd which was performed by Doct of the Brig Civil Usage At Night took a Mercurial Pill
26 Tuesday. Fair & hot. 7 Motions from the Pills — Low in Spirit. Five more of our People... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . .Capt John Harris Jur departted hence the 30th Ulto butt are not a little sorry to advice you that on the 5th Instant we Received a letter from said Master datted in Port Ravia on 3d informing us that haveing been Chased for hours by an English Frigatte & seing that she gained fast upon him he had been oblig'd to Run the Sckooner on Shoar & to fight untill the Spaniards came to his... Continue Reading
Date: 31 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
You can't be ignorant Gentlemen of the Order which his Majesty has repeatedly given to his Courts of Admiralty establish'd in his Ports, not to permit the Sale of Prizes made at Sea-by Strange Armed Vessels, in any of his Ports, & to take care that neither such Armed Vessels or their prizes be allowed to remain in his Ports longer than is necessary to obtain such Succours and Aid as from... Continue Reading
Date: 1 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Your Majesty has already repeated several times His Orders to His Ports, to the effect that Privateers, of any nation whatever, are admitted there only for the time which is absolutely necessary for them to obtain Provisions which they have need of, and that, under no pretext whatever, can Prizes be sold there. Orders have been reiterated to the Admiralty Courts and the Officers of the Registry... Continue Reading
Date: 1 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Since I had the Honour of writing to your Lordship, on the 25th of last Month, I have received fresh Assurances that the Orders which M: Florida blanca had promised to issue, were actually all dispatched. I have communicated to him the Particulars, relating to a Vessel provided with French & American Colours, concealing half the Crew, and all her Guns during her Stay at Alicante, & being... Continue Reading
Date: 1 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The Three Sisters, Malone, from Cork, for Lisbon, is taken by the Oliver Cromwell Privateer, and sent for Bilboa.
The William and Mary, Platt, is taken by the same Privateer.1 The Prisoners were put on board the Douglas, M'Gill, and landed in Ireland.
The Kinnoul, [William] Ramsay, from Barcelona to Stettin, is taken by a Privateer,2 and carried into Bilboa.
The Exeter Man... Continue Reading
Date: 3 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . When I spoke of the Mischiefs that had arisen from the clandestine Sale of the Prizes and dwelt upon the Necessity of a Sequestration, and Restitution to the Owners, he [Vergennes] stopped me a Moment, and very politely desired Leave to interrupt me, to mention the Precautions they had already taken. These Precautions, My Lord, which M. de Maurepas alluded to, are 1st a Circular Order to... Continue Reading
Date: 3 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Capt. Landai is the Bearer of this. He comes with the heureux Loaded with Stores for America. This Cargo has by a Succession of Obstacles thrown in the way been detained from January last at a most prodigious expence. I hope however that it may finally arrive in season to be of essential Service. Capt. Landay whom I have mentioned in my former Letters will offer his Service to the United States.... Continue Reading
Date: 3 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
It is with the, Greatest, pleasure, I embrace this Conveyance, P Monsier Rochette who says, he has the Honour, of being, personally, Known, to You, and has promised, to deliver'd, my Letter, himself. The Thought, that, it was my duty, (to inform You of the Occurrences, of my Cruize,) must appologize, for my Freedom of troubling, a Gentlemen, of Your Character with a scrawl, and doubt, not, Your... Continue Reading
Date: 3 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I most humbly beg leave to refer to my last of the 30th Past, and have the Honor to acquaint Your Lordship that Cunningham, in Consequence of a Petition presented by him to the Inspector of the American Packets for that Purpose, having been provided with a Mast and other Necessaries for refitting his Vessel from the King's Stores, is now ready to sail, and intends to proceed in Company with his... Continue Reading
Date: 3 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Presuming that every intelligence regarding captures by Rebbel privateers, (especially when carried into any Port in Europe), may be of use to Government; I beg Leave to acquaint your Lordship that the Sloop Kennoul, William Ramsey master loaded by my account in Barcelona with about 75 Tons of Oil & Wine, was lately taken in the chops of the Channell by a Rebbel Privateer called the Fancy... Continue Reading
Date: 4 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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