European Theatre from June 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777
I have communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of the 25th Inst informing them of the arrival of the Alert Cutter commanded by Lieut [John] Bazely with 67 American Rebel Prisoners taken in the Lexington Privatier after an Engagement of several hours, and that Mr Bazely having some papers of Consequence, you have thought proper to send him up to this Office by Express, which I am... Continue Reading
Date: 27 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have the honor to send your Lordship herewith Duplicates of my two Letters of the 20th and of two others of the 23d of last month.
In one of those of the last mentioned Dates, I acknowledged the Receipt of your several Letters, of the 18th & 29th June, 3d 5th & 9th July number'd 32 to 36 inclusive; And having since received the directions of my Lords Commrs of the Admty upon the subject... Continue Reading
Date: 27 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Having communicated to my Lords Commrs of the Admty your Letter of Yesterdays Date, informing them that Mr Clement Smith late Surgeon of the Lexington Prize, is now on board His Majs Ship under your Command, a Prisoner, and desiring to know in what manner he is to be dispos'd of; I am in return commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to send him to Spithead by the... Continue Reading
Date: 27 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
[1777. September] 27. Ten more of Captain Johnston's men came to prison to-day. They inform us that they were taken by a ten gun cutter after almost four hours' engagement, and having expended all their shot; they were so disabled by having their shrouds, stays, and braces shot away, and so nearly wrecked, that they were obliged to strike to their inferiors. They had six men killed and a number... Continue Reading
Date: 27 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . Lord Weymouth has given you a valuable admission, M., by assuring you that merchant ships furnished with Letters of Marque, have the other option only to defend themselves and to afford themselves security against attacks by American Privateers. Unfortunately this admission is belied by the facts, that several of our vessels have been taken by these particular privateers, and they come... Continue Reading
Date: 27 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have not had the honour of writing to your Lordship since the 10th past.
Since the departure of the last packet, various depredations have been committed near this coast, by the American privateer Civil Usage, Andrew Gidding master. On the 10th instant she took the Brig Beckford, Samuel Pashley master; but finding her in ballast, dismissed her, after plundering her stores, books &... Continue Reading
Date: 28 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Lieutenant Bazely of His Majestys Cutter Alert having in a Letter from Plymouth dated the 24th Instant, transmitted to my Lords Commissrs of the Admty ten Letters from the persons residing in France calling themselves Commissrs on behalf of the American Congress, and from other people, all which he found on board the Lexington Privatier lately taken by him; I am commanded by their Lordships to... Continue Reading
Date: 29 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
My Lord — I have seen Lieutenant Beazley [John Bazely] who is in very good spirits. I only encouraged him to expect your Lordship would certainly reward him for his gallant behaviour, but mentioned nothing particular, leaving that till your Lordship sees him. I have advised him to stay in town for that purpose. On conversing with him about the action and the qualities of the Alert, he told me... Continue Reading
Date: 29 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Depositions of Witnesses had and taken at the Mill Prison within the Borough of Plymouth in the County of Devon the Thirtieth day of September in the Seventeenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the
grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One Thousand, Seven hundred and Seventy Seven before... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The West India Merchants having upon an Attendance on my Lords Commrs of the Admty, desir'd that Convoys may be appointed to proceed to England, the ensuing Year on the 30th April, 15th June, and 1st Augt; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to appoint Convoys to be ready to sail from St Christophers on those days accordingly, directing the Commanding Officers of... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The West India Merchants having upon an Attendance on my Lords Commrs of the Admty desir'd that Convoys may be appointed to proceed to England the ensuing Year on the 30th April, 15th June, and 1st August; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you to appoint Convoys to be ready on those days accordingly, directing the Commanders of such Convoys to assemble and depart... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have received your Letter of the 26th Instant, signifying the direction of the Right Honl the Lords Corns of the Admiralty, to use my Endeavour to find out, and let them know, the number of Frenchmen, who were on board the Lexington Privateer.
In return Please to acquaint their Lordships, the accounts I have received from the Prisoners on shore at the Hospital, and the Prisoner on board, His... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
A Memorial from the Commissioners of the United States of America.
The Congress some Months since acquainted us, that 80,000 Suits of Clothes will be wanted for their Army next Winter: Also a Number of brass Cannon, Fusils, Pistols, &c. and a large Quantity of Naval Stores.
To pay for these, they acquainted us that they had purchased great Quantities of Tobacco, Rice, Indigo, Pot-Ash, and... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I have just received the acknowledgement of the Commandant General of Galicia, from which I perceive that in consequence of the Orders which we issued in August he sent the American Privateer out of Ferrol where she was, she having scarcely provided herself with such things as she required upon Sufficient Cause & which related merely to the Ship.2 Another Privateer had come into... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
When Hired
No of
Ships
Tonnage
Rate p Ton
p Calendar
Month
What has been
paid for their
Freight
What remains
to be paid
for the same
Total
£ s d
£ s d
£ s d
1775
October
20
5,621
— 10 —
November
4
1,763
December
41
14,090
1776
January
41
9,819
February
95
23.140
— 11 —
March... Continue Reading
Date: 30 September 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Pages
