7th. Saturday Pleast. wr. Finished Plastering our Roof Mr. Rowe has again Recd. orders from the Board Relative to our Chimneys
Before ye Rect of yours proposing to take the Shipps under Convoy that are bound for America the Commissrs. had taken a difft. Arrangement which they cannot alter. They are sensible of your Zeal and Attention to the Interest of the United States & must leave it to Your Own Judgment whither or not to accompany these Shipps off the Coast, you may... Continue Reading
[Extract]
Feb.9. The order of the day being read, for taking into further consideration the State of the Nation, the House went into a Committee.
The Earl of Sandwich said, that the noble duke (of Richmond) had brought a number of persons to prove certain facts relative to the commerce of this country; that in order to prevent an ex parte evidence from going abroad, without having the other side... Continue Reading
Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your Letter of the 6t. instant, with the Extract of one from your Surgeon and Agent at Liverpoole, relative to the American Prisoners brought in there; I am to acquaint you that their Lordships have sent the same to the Earl of Suffolk in order to receive His Majesty's Pleasure upon the Subject; and in the mean time it is their... Continue Reading
Copie de la lettre du Ministre de la Marine à Mrs. de la Prevalaye et de Faissolle, en
datte du 9. Fevrier 1778.
J'ai prevenue Mrs. M. de la Prevalaye par ma Lettre particuliere du 7. de ce
mois que le Roi m'a adressé Les ordres pour faire armer à Brest une Escadre de
18. Vaisseaux. Je joins ici la Liste de ceux que Sa Majesté a choisis etje fais Savoir à
M. de la Prevalaye... Continue Reading
You'll be perhaps Surprised to hear that I am Still at Nants & that I am not at St Nazere on board the Lion1 which is the fregate I was destined for but I Shall tell you the whole of it & in the most minute details then you will See it is not my fault & how disagreeable it is to live with the Officers of this marine—Sunday last 8th. Instl. I... Continue Reading
The Alfred, and Raleigh American privateers, the former of 32 guns, and the latter of 30, having not been heard of for some months past, it was supposed they were gone to intercept some of the homeward bound East Indiamen before their arrival at the Island of St. Helena, where in future they mean to wait for a convoy; but the late news received from France on Friday last, which gives an account... Continue Reading
I had the honor of writeing to you from Nantes the 27th Ulto. the affair of Quiberon1 (which I did not then know of) is now in every Brokers mouth.—Strange! that nothing can remain Secret.—should I find that Force likely to depart within a few days I will Avail myself of its protection, especially as it is the general Opinion, that I can be of Service to the... Continue Reading
Feb. 11. The Duke of Richmond rose, and after a short speech, wherein he recapitulated the evidence which had been given, acquainted their lordships that he had a few motions to make in consequence of that evidence, which were plain matters of fact, and which would be grounds for their lordships' farther deliberation. His motions were; 1. "That it appears to this House, that in the course of... Continue Reading
By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain & Ireland &c.
In addition to what was signified to you by our Secretary's Letter of the 9th. instant relative to the American Prisoners lately taken & brought into Liverpool;1 you are hereby required and directed to cause the said Prisoners to be victualled, and supplied with... Continue Reading
The Committee of West India Merchants & Gentlemen of considerable Property in the Island of Jamaica, having upon their late attendance on my Lords Cornmissrs: of the Admiralty represented to their Lordships that some .Rebel Privatiers had landed Men on the Northern Side of that Island, and had greatly alarmed, as well as done some Injury to the Inhabitants upon that part of the... Continue Reading
Yours of the 6th. came to hand in Course;1 as Mr. W Lee will be with you before the receipt of this we refer you to him for what has been done as to the Late Mr. Morris's Papers &c. In regard to the Ship purchased by you, Commanded by Capt. J. Green2 which you Offer to Assign over to the Public account we are Content that you do it &... Continue Reading
WE, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO, by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Captain & Commander of the armed Frigate called the Q[u]een of France in the Service of the United States of North-America, fitted out for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore... Continue Reading
Jai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m'avéz fait l'honneur de m'écrire et les deux pieces qui y étoient jointes, et qui vous ont été remises par M. le Vte. De Stormont, relativement à la propriété de l'Ann Suzanna1 par l'éxamen que j'ai fait de ces pieces, j'ai vu que ce Bâtiment est le même que celui que cet Ambassadeur à réclamé au mois de Decémbre dernier, par une note... Continue Reading
"The Martin, a brig, laden with tobacco and flax-seed, a prize to the Cochran letter of marque,1 belonging to Glasgow, was driven into our bay by a hard gale of wind at N. E and brought up in shallow water under the South Bull, where on the ebb tide she must have gone to pieces, and all the crew, consisting of ten persons, been drowned, but the Dunleary pilots, at the hazard of their... Continue Reading
I have this Moment learnt and my Intelligence comes from a Person often well informed that the Real Reason of assembling so many Troops at Brest and arming so many Ships there is either to send them to North America or to make a sudden attack upon our West India Islands in Case the Congress accepts the Conditions proposed by France.
I can by no Means Warrant this Intelligence. The Hurry and... Continue Reading
This will informe You of my Arrival here this Day with only the Duke DeShasell & Brigg two Friends of our Convoy,1 the other ships not being ready, but I am in hopes the greatest part of them will Joyn us here in the course of this Week; on my Joyning the Fleet I Salluted the Commedore2 and Imediately Waited on him with my French Captn.3 to Whome he gave his... Continue Reading
I have met with an American Captain of approved Fidelity & Courage who is a good Pilot on the American Coast, particularly on New England. He Lately commanded a Privateer out of New England, & was taken after an Engagement with an English Frigate in which he lost 31 Killed & more than 20 wounded.1 He was afterwards put into Prison & escaped—This man I think will answer... Continue Reading
You will confer a singular obligation upon me by presenting my respects to the French Admiral1 Whom I mean to salute with thirteen Guns Under American Colours—provided he will Accept the Compliment and return Gun for Gun.—this proposal I hope will be the more Acceptable to him as it may be a prelude to future amity between the United States and his Court.
I shall be happy to see you... Continue Reading
I receivd yours by Captn Hill, Having din'd on board the Admiral & having left Him indisposd I did not wait on Him but wrote to Him, His answer to your request, you have inclosd.1 I would have deliverd it in person, had I not been afraid that your ship was too far from us, for I have the greatest desire to take My Friend Williams by the hand & to assure you How much I am your... Continue Reading