From Themselves, the Story Is Very Dark. General Howe Is Arrived Safe at Hallifax,7 Some Say, Having Been Repulsed at New York
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216 To MANN 5 JUNE 1776 from themselves, the story is very dark. General Howe is arrived safe at Hallifax,7 some say, having been repulsed at New York. The American Admiral Hopkins,8 with three or four ships9 has been worsted and disgraced by a single frigate.10 Your Bible the Gazette will tell you more particulars,11 I suppose, for I have not yet seen it; and the Alamains of the Court have given Howe12 a victory, and Hopkins chains, which I do not believe will appear in that chronicle; however, you may certainly sing some Te Deums in your own chapel. These triumphs have come on the back of a very singular revolu tion13 which has happened in the penetralia, and made very great 7. 'Another account says, that General transmitted from Halifax, 25 April, was Howe is arrived at Halifax, after having published in the London Gazette No. attempted to land at New York, but was 11672, 4-8 June, sub 8 June (see also prevented by the provincials there, who Shuldham's dispatch of 19 April with were said to be 30,000 strong' (London enclosures, in Dispatches of Molyneux Chronicle, loc cit.). Howe sailed from Shuldham Vice-Admiral of the Blue, ed. Boston 27 March (ante 17 May 1776, n. 1) Neeser, New York, 1913, pp. 177-83). directly for Halifax, and dropped anchor 9. The 'rebel armed vessels' are listed in Halifax harbour 'Wednesday, April (ibid.), as the frigates Alfred, commanded 3d ... at 7 in the evening' ('Journals by Hopkins and Columbus, the brigs of Lieut.-Col. Stephen Kemble,' Collec 'Annadona' [Andrea Doria, Andrew Doria] tions of the New York Historical Societyan d Cabot, and the Providence sloop for . 1883, i [1884]. 76). (ibid.; Field, loc. cit.; Allen, loc. cit.). 8. Esek Hopkins (1718-1802), Brig.- 10. The Glasgow. Gen., 1775; and commander-in-chief, 22 11. The naval engagements of the Syren Dec. 1775, of the new American navy. on 15 April and the Glasgow on 6 April He encountered the British (6th-rate) were published in the London Gazette ship Glasgow off Block Island, 6 April loc. cit. Carleton's dispatch to Germain 1776, and the engagement badly damaged of 14 May about the end of the siege of his squadron, permitting the Glasgow to Quebec, is in the London Gazette Extraor escape. After further difficulties, he was dinary 10 June; and the details of the suspended from his command in 1777, and arrival of reinforcements for Carleton, in dismissed in 1778 (Dictionary of American the London Gazette No. 11673, 8-11 June. Biography; Edward Field, Esek Hopkins, 12. Tyringham Howe (fl. 1765-83), Providence, 1898, pp. 120-5; Court and Capt. R.N., 1775; commander of the City Register, 1776, p. 145; Gardner W. Glasgow 1775-7; tne Thames 1777-80; he Allen, Naval History of the American became Lt in 1765 (Court and City Reg Revolution, Boston, 1913, i. 101-9). The ister, 1769, p. 222; 1772, p. 155; 1773' London Chronicle loc. cit., exaggerates p. 147; 1776, pp. 145-6; 1778, p. 145; American losses, saying that 'one of the 1781, p. 143; Royal Kalendar, 1783, p. Commodore's fleet was taken, another 149)- sunk, and the rest were driven in the 13. HW's account is in Last Journals most tattered condition with the loss of i. 554-8. William Mason's letter to Chris half their hands into New London, near topher Alderson 16 June 1776, in the Rhode Island.' Hopkins's account, 9 possession of the Rev. Canon R. A. Wilson April, is in Force op. cit. v. 823; the (photostat now WSL) gives additional de British account by Capt. Howe ('Remarks tails, and so does Burke's letter to Cham on board his Majesty's ship Glasgow pion, 30 May, about the 'present Nursery Saturday the 6th day of April 1776'), revolution,' in Edmund Burke's Cone-.