“On the 20th of June last I1 fell in with two American sloop privateers, the largest of which mounted 12 carriage guns, besides a great number of swivels, and came up with me about eight o'clock in the morning, and hailed. I fired a gun aboard of her, and hoisted an English ensign. She gave us a whole broadside, and hoisted an Amer ican pendant. After a smart engagement, which lasted... Continue Reading
October 1777
Sunday 12th.
Lizard No. 10. 4E Distant 55 Leagues
AM, at 6 Saw a Sail to the So.ward Gave Chace at 8 Fired 4 Eighteen Pounders & Brought the Chace too, on Examination found hir to be the Betsey1 Schooner from Nantz, bound to No. Carolina, American Property, which we made a Prize of, Sent a Lieutenant and Two Petty... Continue Reading
I have taken into Consideration what Your Excellency says in your Office of the 9th. Inst: relative to two Cases, which you mention, of Ships which have lately entered the Ports of Coruña & Bilbao.—With regard to the first, your Excellency states, that it is not an American Vessell as it is thought to be, but an English one, named the Three Brothers,1 which was taken by the... Continue Reading
Capt. James Angues of the ship Betty, who sailed from Blew-fields, in Jamaica, along with the fleet and convoy, lost sight of them in a gale of wind a few days after he had got clear of the Gulph of Florida. In prosecuting his voyage to England he fell in with an American privateer brig, of 16 guns, 4 and 6 pounders, name unknown, about 100 leagues to the Eastward of the Banks of Newfoundland;... Continue Reading
Yours of the 6th.1 is before us. When the Private Letter referred to2 & the situation of the Frigates shall be communicated to us we shall be in a Situation for forming a judgment & writing you more particularly. meantime we inclose a Letter for Capt. Thompson which we take the Liberty to ask you to deliver to him. We must rely on yr. assisting these... Continue Reading
We recd. from Messrs. Gourlaed &c an acct. of yr. arrival1 & were informed that you had a Private Letter for us which we have not yet recd.2 conclude it must Come to hand in the Course of this week. Mean time we desire you would inform us in a Letter under Cover of Messrs. Gourlade &c what is the situation of... Continue Reading
J'ai reçû, Monsieur, vos Lettres par lesquelles vous m'informez de l'arrivée des deux Batimens Américaines avec deux prises angloises. Vous me avisez que celles-ci ont eû ordre de votre part de sortir dans les 24-heures sans avoir une vendu etj'aprends par une autre voie que la totalité de ces deux cargaisons a été vendué a des étrangeres. J'ai peine a le croire d'après les ordres positifs que je... Continue Reading
I have received the Honour of your Lordship's No. 22.1
I enclose to your Lordship an Office, marked No. 1. which I sent to M. Florida blanca upon hearing that the Vessell mentioned in it had put into the Port of Coruña under false Pretences; and upon my first Notice of a Prize carried into Bilbao by one Hebbert. I have likewise spoken to him upon it, and he... Continue Reading
I am honored with Your Letter No. 6, containing the Earl of Suffolks commands relative to the American Brig, which came in August last to Marstrand, and was said to be English property, taken by an American Pirate.1
All ever since I had presented a Memorial on this subject to Senator Baron Falckenberg2 I have made every inquiry in my power to learn such... Continue Reading
By &c
So soon as the Provisions & Stores of the Sloop you command shall be completed agreable to our Order of yesterdays date, you are hereby required and directed to take His Maj's Sloop the Alert under your command (her Commr. being directed to obey your Orders) and then putting to Sea with the first opportunity of Wind and Weather proceed to the Coast of Portugal... Continue Reading
The Judith, Lofthouse, from London to St. Augustine, is taken and carried into Charles-Town.1
The Anna, Hooft, from St. Eustatia, is Arrived in the Texel, after being plundered by the Americans....
The Triton, Bertram, from Jersey to Honduras, was taken the 7th of June, off Desirada Island, by the Mary Privateer, of 12 Guns and 18 Swivels, and carried into Guadeloupe.
The Revenge,... Continue Reading
I have the pleasure to announce the return of the mere Bobie Packet Boat, who delivered your dispatches in Safety but by the inclosed Copy of a Letter1 that I have recd from the Captain you will see he has not been so fortunate with those he was charged with in return. As there were no Dispatches and the news only a confirmation of what you already have at Paris, I thought that for the... Continue Reading
The Enterprize, Sir Thomas Rich, came in yesterday with the following Prizes. The Alarm Frigate is still out, and has a Schooner with her, as a Tender, which she took.
The Peggy, a French Brig, John Poindester, Master, from Nantz for So. Carolina with Salt and Bale Goods, taken by the Enterprize off Cape Finisterre.
The American Brig, Venus, John Adron Master, from Siniputron in... Continue Reading
The Sally, Rose, from Philadelphia to Nants, with tobacco, is taken by the crew, and carried into Milford-Haven.
The Patty, Marquis, from New-York, is arrived at Teneriffe; in her passage she engaged a rebel privateer of 14 guns and 80 men.
... If Capt. Barron1 is not gone please to present my Comps. to him & desire him to be very careful when he goes out, for several very swift sailing ships left Portsmouth &c the beginning of this month to cruise in the Bay of Biscay—let him not depend too much on his heels, for there are several vessels now cruizing that can run round him especially if... Continue Reading
... I find the two prizes1 are not yet delivered up, and from what Williams told me few days since they will not
Capt: Young2 who arrived here, some time since brought in with him á Vessell which he took on his passage from America to france, this Vessell was disposed of before any person knew of same, without the least noise whatever, the money was paid... Continue Reading
Lorsque j'ai reçû, Monsieur, la note que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'envoyer de Milord Stormont' sur l'arrivée a l'orient le 6. de ce mois de deux Corsaires américains l'alfred et le Polly avec deux prises,2 le S. Viger Commissaire de la marine en ce Port m'en avoit déjà instruit par Sa Lettre du 8. Il résulte de la Déclaration des Capes. Hinman et Thompson qu'ils ont... Continue Reading
This Morning I had the Honour of your Lordships Letter No 62,1 and immediately waited upon Monsieur de Vergennes, and Monsieur de Maurepas, to both of whom I made those Representations your Lordship directs.
I gave M de Vergennes a list of the french Sailors taken on board the Lexington, and made Strong Remonstrances to His Exey and to M de Maurepas upon this Proceeding, so... Continue Reading
By &c You are hereby required & directed to put to Sea in the ship you command with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather & proceed & Cruize off the Port of Oporto for the Protection of the Trade of His Maj'ts Subjects & diligently to look out for & to use your utmost endeavours to take or destroy Privatiers or other Ships or Vessels belonging to the... Continue Reading
“Since my last arrived his Majesty's ship the Weazel, from Jamaica, but last from Corke, and the Revenge letter of marque, Capt. Gautier, belonging to Jersey, from a cruise, who fell in with a vessel called the Friendship, Capt. Bennett, laden with 110 hogsheads of tobacco, staves, and flour, which prize was bound to Nantz from Maryland. Capt. Gautier put a prizemaster on board, and sent her to... Continue Reading