Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 Part 5 of 5 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 2005 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2012 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. APPENDICES APPENDIX A Correspondence between Robof Morris and William Whipple, between 6 July and 25 August 1777 Portsmouth 6" July 1777 Dear Sir In my way through Connecticut I had an opportunity of seeing the Trumbell,' and am sorry to say that her scituation is such that in my opinion, she can be of no use to the Public this Year, if ever, Capt Saltonstal12is doing every thing in his Power to get her out of the Ri~er,~he has Lifted her with four sloops about two feet and says she must be raised one foot more, before she can be got over the Bar which is about four miles distant, from where she now lays, if she shod be so fortunate as to get over the Bar she must lay one day, & perhaps two or three in a defenceless scit- uation exposed to the Enemies ships (which are continualy Cruising in the Sound) before she can possibly be got ready to proceed to a place of safety she has now on bord about 100 men & if she was at New London I am in no doubt wod soon be ready for sea but I think the chance is at least 20 to one against her ever gitg there. I am much surprized that any Person knowg the situation of the Place shod advise the Building of ships there, But it seems another ship somthg larger, consequently of a greater d[r]aught of water is to [be] built in the same place,4 I know not what forwardness this ship is in, but even if she was half Built, was she my property, I wod go no farther but content myself with the first loss for sure I am that the Expence of geting such a ship from that place will be mee+k+ half the cost of the Hull and the risque while the Enemy have the Command of the Sound is more then Equal to the other half But if two Ships must be Built in Connecticut, the materials pre- pared for that which is ordered to be Built in River might be transported to New London or Norwich at less then a quarter of the Expence then the Ship can be moov'd at, and the Aek risque saved-as I passed through New London I had an opportunity of seeing the Brig:5 which is to be Commandd by Capt ChewG & am con- firmed in my opinion that if she would have answered the private views for which she was first intended the Public would not have had the offer of her? if she proves a fast Sailor I &a44 am & &exceedingly mistaken, as I shall also be, if she is not a very Costly Vessel Mr: Shag +&he says she may be got away in a very short time, I had some conversation with that Gentleman about the Money he has in the west Indies. he declined entering into a perticular agreeament with me, but says the Committee may have all he has there at the same Exchange they have given others and Promised to write you per- ticularly on the Subject he has 3 or 4000 Sterling at Dominica but Knows not- how much he has at Martinique,- 1148 APPENDICES at Providence The Warren, Providence, & Camden9are still Laying in Providence River nor do I see any Prospect of their geting from thence at present, Capt Hopkinslo says he is determined to make a trial but I can not see a possibility of his escaping the Enemies ships while they remain in their Present scituation The Alfred is ready to sail waiting only for orders the Captain" tells me his last orders refers to others which was to be lodged with the agent, the first of July but have not been sent he has 150 men on Board which in my opin- ion is 30 more then he ought to have however they may be well disposed of for the other ships can find room for all he has to spare.-The Rabigh has her Guns on Board at last, 'tho 6 of them are 9 Pounders all she now waits for is men, she wod be compleatly maned in a very few days were it not for the Privateers of which there are a great number fiting out in this, and the Neighbouring Ports I hear 60 sea- men have marched from hence for Newbury this day to go on Board Privateers however, I flatter myself the Raleigh will soon be got to sea & that the Ranger will shortly follow her. I saw Capt Jones12 in Boston he Promised to follow me immedeately but is not yet arrived here, every possible means will be used for his dispatch Df, Private Collection, Remember When Auctions, Inc., Wells, Me., 1998. The addressee is conjectured by the content of this report. Whipple had been a member of the Continental Marine Committee of which Robert Morris was chairman and vice president. 1. Continental Navy frigate Trumbull. 2. Capt. Dudley Saltonstall. 3. Connecticut River. 4. Continental Navy frigate Bourbon (28 guns), which was building at Chatham on the Connecticut River and was never completed. 5. Continental Navy brigantine Resistance (10 guns). 6. Capt. Samuel Chew. 7. Whipple means that Resistance was not suited for a swift-sailing privateer. 8. Nathaniel Shaw, Jc, Continental Agent for Connecticut. 9. Continental Navy brigantine Hampden, Capt. Ezekiel Burroughs, commander. 10. Capt. John Burroughs Hopkins, commanding Continental Navy frigate Wawen. 11. Capt. Elisha Hinman, commanding Continental Navy ship Alfred. 12. Capt. John Paul Jones, commanding Continental Navy ship Ranger. Portsmo 4" augt 1777 Dear Sir 3h&4. Marine Matters, this way remain much as when I wrote you last,' The Boston, is at Casco Bay, no cer- tain accot: of the Hancock, but the Presumtion is much against her,2 not less then nine sail of the Enemies ships are Crusing between Cape Cod & Cape Sable eee ,r.l,,,a prize ship loaded chiefly with rum, was chas'd on shore by one of them of 32 Guns a few days ago about 7 miles from this town but as the tide was rising they soon had her afloat and carried her off, The Raliegh still wants a considerable number of men, in every other respect she is ready tege te4e to go to sea, which Capt TP3 is very anxious for but I must confess I think is too hazeardous to go out weakly mand when its almost certain he'll have to fight his way thro a number of the Enemies ships however as the Alfred has late- ly join'd him I believe they will try their fortunes very soon unless they have orders APPENDICES 1149 to the contrary, I Heartily wish they had orders to Cross the Atlantic as I think the Probability is in favor of their making a much more advantage[ous] Cruise on the Coast of Europe then in these seas & The Rangeris about half man'd, & geting ready with all possible dispatch I expect she will be ready to sail in two or three weaks The Officers are not all appointed, when they are, I shall transmit their names, with the dates of their Commissions and warrants. those that are appointed are good men, the First in perticular, (as to Knowledge of Naval Matters,) has not many if any superiors in the service &Wtcwe Pthe service Suffers h w+m+e& in this department beyond description for want of a navy Board which I have heard nothing of since I left Phia: for Heavens sake let that Board be put in motion-if the secret Committee m+ky want any more Vessels for Virginia or Carolina they may be either purchas'd or Chartered on much better terms this way, then with you if prop- er persons were applied to to procure them I wod not be understood by any means to insinuate any thing to the disadvantage- of the Agents, but they have too much Business on their hands to ttHeft$ do this to so good effect as some other persons who might be found in the different Maritime Towns I believe seme two or three vessels may be purchas'd or charter'd on good terms, here d-tai wev, but M""Langdon5 tels me he has no orders to Charter any if they are wanted it will be well to give orders immediately least they shod be other ways dispos'd of- Df, Private Collection, Remember When Auctions, Inc., Wells, Me., 1998. Addressed at foot of third page: "R Morris Esqr." Docketed: "R. Morris Esqr/augt 4*." 1. See William Whipple to Robert Morris, 6 July 1777, above. 2. Continental Navy frigate Hancock was captured by H.M. frigate Rainbow on 7 July 1777. See NDAR 9: 239,272, 279-80, 280,309, 349,361,989,990-99. 3. Capt. Thomas Thompson, commanding Continental Navy frigate Ralagh. 4. Lt. Thomas Simpson. 5. John Langdon, Continental Agent for New Hampshire. Philada,August 5h. 1777 My DLSir I have had the pleasure to receive your obliging favours of the 8"' & 21stJuly.' as I lately introduced a Motion in Congress to Authorize the Marine Committee to stop the building of such of the Ships of War ordered by Congress as they shou'd think improper to be carried on at the present [period.] I read that part of your first letter relative to the Ships in Connecticut Ri~er.~The Gentn of that Country did not seem to relish it much but the motion was carried and I suppose we shall soon put a stop to the building the Ship now on the Stocks in that Ri~er.~ Mr Shaw5 as wrote respecting his Money and I shall reply but wish you had made a bargain with him for it.