"WHEREAS, The Hon. Samuel Ward, Esq., one of the delegates from this Colony to the Congress held at Philadelphia on the 10th day of May last, hath made a report to this Assembly of many of the proceedings and resolves of said Congress, consisting of measures by them taken for the defending of the United Colonies against the attacks of our cruel and unnatural enemies, measures for the security of the frontiers, the preservation of peace and friendship with the people of Canada and the Indian nations, the emission of a Continental currency for defraying the expenses of this war, a petition to the King, an address to the people of England, an address to the people of Ireland, a letter to the Lord Mayor of London, a letter to the Assembly of Jamaica, the establishment of a general post office, and some occasional resolutions, it is therefore "VOTED AND RESOLVED, That said report be, and the same is, hereby accepted and approved, and that the thanks of this Assembly be given to the delegates of the Continental Congress in general, and to the delegates of this Colony in particular, for their wise, spirited and faithful discharge of the important trust imposed on them." The Assembly then gave further instructions to the delegates of the Colony, embracing, as is believed, the earliest action of any colony in favor of the establishment of a Continental Navy. They were as follows: WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the humble and dutiful petition of the last Congress to the King, and other wise and pacific measures taken for obtaining a happy reconciliation between Great Britain and the colonies, the Ministry, lost to every sentiment of justice, liberty and humanity, continue to send troops and ships of war into America, which destroy our trade, plunder and burn our towns, and murder the good people of these colonies, it is therefore VOTED AND RESOLVED, That this Colony most ardently wish to see the former friendship, harmony and intercourse between Great Britain and these colonies restored, and a happy and lasting connexion established between both countries, upon terms of just and equal liberty; and will concur with the other colonies in all proper measures for obtaining these desirable blessings; and as every principle, divine and human, requires us to obey that great and fundamental law of nature, self-preservation, until peace shall be restored upon constitutional principles, this Colony will most heartily exert the whole power of government, in conjunction with the other Colonies, for carrying on this just and necessary war, and bringing the same to a happy issue. And amongst other measures, for obtaining that most desirable purpose, this Assembly is persuaded that the building and equipping an American fleet as soon as possible, would greatly and essentially conduce to the preservation of the lives, liberty and prosperity of the good people of these colonies; and therefore they instruct their delegates to use their whole influence, at the ensuing Congress, for building, at the Continental expense, a fleet of sufficient force for the protection of these colonies, and for employing them in such manner and places, as will most effectually annoy our enemies and contribute to the common defence of these colonies: and they are also instructed to use all their influence for carrying on the war in the most vigorous manner, until peace, liberty and safety be restored and secured to these colonies upon an equitable and permanent basis. Governor Ward, in his diary, under date of October 3, 1775, has this entry:-" Presented our instructions for carrying on the war effectually and building an American Fleet." The consideration of the instructions was postponed at that time. On the 5th of October, Congress received information, by letters from England, that two brigs were being fitted out with arms, gunpowder and supplies for the British army, and on the report of a committee appointed to devise. means to intercept them, Congress forwarded the information which it had received, to General Washington, then before Boston. They desired him to apply to the Council of Massachusetts for the two armed vessels that belonged to that province, to be dispatched in pursuit of those brigs, and any other transports laden with stores for the British army. They also informed him that the armed vessels of Rhode Island and Connecticut would be dispatched on the same service. This was the first naval force employed by the United Colonies, or authorized by them. Neither of the Rhode Island armed vessels took part in this reasons set forth in the following letter from cruise, for the GOVERNOR COOKE TO S. HOPKINS AND S. WARD. PROVIDENCE, Oct. 10, 1775. GENTLEMEN : — I have just received a letter by express from Mr. President Hancock, with orders to dispatch our armed vessels to intercept two brigs from England to Quebec. Our large vessel is upon a voyage to Bermuda, and the small one is unfit for service. I have given information of this to General Washington and Governor Trumbull, that they may not make any reliance upon our assisting in this important expedition. I have strongly recommended to the latter to employ their colony brigantine, which is fitted and mounts fourteen carriage guns, in this enterprise. I am not without hopes, however, that the large sloop will return in a day or two; in which case I shall have her immediately cleaned and dispatch her. I am, Gents, Your most humble servant, S. HOPKINS and S. WARD, Esqs. NICHOLAS COOKE. P. S. A great number of guns have been fired down the river this morning. It is feared they are fired upon Newport. On the 13th of October, a further report of the committee appointed on the 5th was taken up, and Congress then resolved to fit out a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns and a proportionate number of swivels, and eighty men, to cruise for three months to the eastward, to intercept transports. On the same day a committee of three was appointed to prepare an estimate of the expense of this armament, and to contract with some person for the fitting out of the same. Congress also resolved to fit out another vessel for the same purpose, and referred the estimate of the expense of the same to the same committee. On the report of this committee, on the 30th of the same month, Congress ordered that the second vessel should be of size sufficient to carry fourteen guns, and that two others should be added, one to carry not more than twenty guns, and the other not more than thirty-six, with a proportionate number of swivels, to be employed as Congress should direct. Four members were then added to this committee, of whom Hopkins was one. Subsequently, in accordance with further resolutions of Congress, this committee engaged three sloops. They subsequently reported the names of the officers appointed for each of these vessels, and rules for the regulation of the naval service. The whole fleet, under the command of Esek Hopkins, a Rhode Island man, left the capes of Delaware on its first cruise, on the 17th of February, 1776. This was the first American fleet. It consisted of the ships Alfred, Captain Dudley Saltonstall; Columbus, Captain Abraham Whipple; the brigs Andrew Doria, Captain Nicholas Biddle, and Cabot, Captain John B. Hopkins; and the four sloops Providence, Fly, Hornet and Wasp. The sloop Providence was one of the Rhode Island navy ordered in the second Monday of June to be chartered, and subsequently, in October, to be purchased for the Colony. She was then called the Katy. Commodore Abraham Whipple had been dispatched in her to Philadelphia, to carry Esek Hopkins and such men as could be enlisted in Rhode Island, for the Continental navy. Her arrival at Philadelphia is thus noticed by Governor Ward, in the following letter to Governor Cooke: SAMUEL WARD TO GOVERNOR COOKE. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16, 1776. SIR: - Our seamen arrived here the day before yesterday. Those concerned in the naval department are highly pleased with them. Their arrival gives fresh spirit to the whole fleet. Your favor of the 4th we received. I would wish to have the instructions of the General Assembly relative to the regimental, and in any other colonial affairs, as soon as may be. The letters of Governor Franklin and the Speaker of the Assembly of New Jersey were intercepted. An order of Congress was issued for seizing the latter, but he escaped on board the Asia. The Governor is under a Continental guard in his own house, until order from Congress may be issued. I endorse the resolves of Congress "to the General Colonies.” SAMUEL WARD. P. S.-I received a letter from Messrs. Clarke and Nightingale, relative to the contract entered into by Admiral Hopkins; as I have not time to write them, beg your honor to let them know that I think the public service requires that the voyage should proceed with all dispatch. GOVERNOR COOKE. On the voyage, Captain Whipple captured three prisoners, who, by direction of Congress, were committed to jail in Pennsylvania for safe keeping. After the arrival of the Katy at Philadelphia, the committee fitting out this armament was directed to employ her in the service of the Congress. These circumstances may account for the employment of such a large proportion of Rhode Island men as officers. The commander of the fleet, and the captains of the Columbus and Cabot, were from this Colony, as were three of the first lieutenants, one, if not two, of the five, second lieutenants, and one of the three, third lieutenants. It is very probable that a large proportion of the seamen were also from Rhode Island. The instructions given to the delegates of this Colony in relation to the establishment of a Continental navy, came under discussion on the 11th of December, and were referred to a committee of one from each colony, to devise ways and means for furnishing these colonies with a naval armament, and to report with all convenient speed." Mr. Hopkins represented this Colony in that committee. They reported on the 13th of December, that five vessels of thirty-two guns each, five of twenty-eight guns each, and three of twentyfour guns each, could be built and fitted for sea by the first of March, at the cost of $866,6663. A committee was appointed on the 14th to carry this resolution into effect, consisting of one from each colony, Mr. Hopkins being the one selected for Rhode Island. They were subsequently charged with the fitting of these vessels for sea, nominating their officers and directing their cruising ground. They are referred to as they indeed styled themselves, the Marine Committee. Two of the thirteen vessels ordered on the 13th of |