February 1. Sunday [1778]. Last evening, between seven and nine o'clock, five of the officers in a separate prison, who had agreed with the sentry to let them go, made their escape and took two sentries with them. The five officers were Captain Henry Johnston,1 Captain Eleazer Johnston,2 Offin Boardman, Samuel Treadwell and one Mr. Deal.3 Captain Henry Johnston... Continue Reading
The Hero, Stirling,1 from London, for Antigua and Jamaica, fell in with a rebel schooner, near Antigua, and in the engagement blew up, and only the Mate and ten of the people saved.
2d. Munday Cloudy & rainy wr. Since the Departure of our friends1 it seams as tho some were Deceas'd from our family—The pursuers have taken up several persons upon Suspicion of they being the Deserters; but to no purpose at Present
Yesterday I arrived here, from England after effecting my escape from Mill Prison. I have in Company Capt: Eleazer Johnson of the Dalton. I am going on to Dunkirk as fast as possible Shall be Obliged to your Honours if you'd let me Know whether it will be necessary for me to come to Paris. I shall wait at Dunkirk for your answer—I shall not now endeavour to give you the perticulm of... Continue Reading
Sales of the Prize Brig Mary & Cargo sold by Messrs. Thomas Morris & Jonathan Williams on Account of the Honble. the [C]ontinental Congress & Captors
1777
Decemr. 15th.
By Brigdon de la Mallasdiese Vessell & Cargo sold him Charges
12500.. ..
Decemr. 10th
Paid Mr. Green
24#... Continue Reading
3d. of Feby. Tuesday Cloudy wr. By Mr. Sorrey we're Inform'd that the Agent has forbid any more Gold coming in for the Officers
I have been for several Days down to the Ship1 & left her at St Nazare. I have done with both the French Ships.2—I beg you will please to apply for an order to wait in Quiberon 'till all the ships join else I am afraid the Brune will be left. Poor Mr Morris3 has finished his &airs in this world. I am much concerned at being absent,... Continue Reading
4th. Capt. Lee1 Very Ill with the Gout; but Can't get any relief from the Doctr. who say Nothing Ails him
I have communicated to my Lords Commissrs. of the Admiralty your Letter of the 1st: Instant, inclosing the Information given by William Atwell who was taken out of the William Zelanders a Dutch Ship at Falmouth, and acquainting them you had received Information from Lieut: Governor Blackett that five Rebel Prisoners made their Escape from Mill Prison on the 31... Continue Reading
5th. Thursday thick Dirty weathr. Capt. Lee has with Much Difficulty obtain'd Liberty to go to the Hospt. three Maisons At work a plastering Mr. Cawderey1 Allows coals in pot to burn to Dry our New plaster'd Roof (when he is in good Humour, but Don't Allow people to stand by it; to take the Benefit of the fire
No. 27
Account of Arms, taken from the Magazine and deliver'd to the Continental Ships Ranger and Deane which being charg'd in their Outfitts are carried to the Credit of the Commissioners—
Feby. 5
Cha to Ranger
20 pr. pistols
200.
30 Cutlasses
90.
290..—..—
Cha. to Deane in Mr. Peltiers Accot. Outfitts... Continue Reading
I received your letter of the 21st. Janry.1 I am Sorry to find that this french Vessell2 Should be the means of Giving Our enemies Any Advantage Over us, it Appears Verry Odd to me What the[y] every day Committ themselves that the[y] should even make the least Complaint off. I should imagine the[y] Ought Rather hide it as Undoubtly the[y] gave the example as every... Continue Reading
Feb. 6. In the Committee on the State of the Nation, the duke of Richmond desired Mr. Alderman Wooldridge might be called to the bar, and examined.
Mr. Wooldridge was accordingly called in. He stated the number of ships lost by capture, or destroyed by American privateers, since the commencement of the war, to be 733, of which, after deducting for those retaken and restored, there remained 559; ... Continue Reading
J'ai reçu, Monsieur le comte, la lettre No. 4 que vous m'avéz fait l'honneur de m'écrire le 31 du mois passé, et à laquelle j'ai trouvé joint un nouveau rapport relatif à des excès commis par trois Chaloupes angloises dans les Parages de la Martinique contre un Bâtiment françois nommé la Cerès.1 La connaissance de ce grief ne m'étoit point encore parvenue, quand j'ai été... Continue Reading
I have receiv'd &. communicated to my Lords Commissrs: of the Admty your Letter of the 7th Sepr. informing them of the arrival of the Badger &. that you had remov'd Captn Everitt her Commander into the Antelope Capttn. Judd having been oblig'd to quit her on account of his ill state of health & appointed Lieut. Mich... Continue Reading
as I cannot alter the falsehood and perfidy of this court my principal object must be to disclose it more and more and to this essential Part of my Duty I direct my constant attention.
I have just recd. the following important information from such a Quarter as Imust say leaves me no doubt of the Truth of it.
M. La Motte Piquet who is now lying off Bellisle with three Ships of the Line... Continue Reading
Les Sieurs Ruste de Rezeville frères, Negociants a la Martinique ont l'honneur de mettre sous Vos yeux les Pieces relatives a la Prise de leur Navire l'Aimable Reine au Sujet de laquelle Monsieur De Sartine a bien Voulu Vous ecrire au mois de Janvier der sur les representations de la Chambre de Commerce de Dunkerque & de Mrs. Emery pere & fils negts et... Continue Reading
I had the honour to address you on the 29 Ulto. on the business of Mr Thomas Morris late Commercial Agent now deceast, and tho not as yet favoured with Your answere, doubt not Your attention to those measures, Proper to command possession & a liberty of Inspection into those Books & papers now under Seals.—
The Ship La Brune under the direction & command of... Continue Reading
By &c
You are hereby required & directed to put to Sea in the Sloop you command1 with the very first opportunity of Wind & Weather & proceed & Cruize between St Abbs-head & Cromarty for the protection of the Trade of His Majestys Subjects and diligently to look out for and to use your best endeavours to take or destroy any Privatiers or other ships or... Continue Reading
We beg leave to lay before your Lordship the following Extract of a letter received by us this day from Messrs. Lynch Killikelly & Morony of Bilbao, informing us of the Capture of the ship Hope Capt. William Butler & her Cargo, bound from Newfoundland to a market the property of Mr Robert Eustace & Co. of Waterford, by a Cutter1 ... Continue Reading