WILLIAM KNOX to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN. 1782, Jan. 10, Whitehall.- "Lord Sandwich has desired me to prepare a letter for your Lordship to send him authorising an Instruction he has prepared for Admiral Rowley at Jamaica and shewed me this morning, and I have prepared that which I inclose in consequence, but altho' the Admiralty Instruction is absolute, I have thought it necessary to put in the qualification (in case the enemies' fleet be not already before Jamaica) lest the order should arrive when the sending out the ships would be sending them to certain destruction. Indeed, considering the time when the order may be expected to arrive, the present strength of De Grasse in the Leeward Islands and the probability of De Guichen joining him long before Rodney gets there, I am very doubtful of the propriety of sending the order at all at this time; had it gone when the former express was sent nothing could have been more proper, but the case is now altered. The French fleet will at least have got the length of the Cape before these ships can beat up thro' the windward passage, and if Rodney be not there or strong enough to be lying off the Cape, they will run great hazard of being taken. Besides, I have always understood that a line [of] battle ship was necessary for the defence of the entrance into Port Royal Harbour, but perhaps as there are a 50 and two 44 gun ships to remain, they might answer the purpose. The despatch from General Christie will inform your Lordship of the loss of St. Eustatius and St. Martin's, in a manner the most ignominious that can be conceived. Surely somebody will be brought to punishment at last for public delinquency. In the Admiralty Instructions to Rowley he is directed not to send Graves with the line of battle ships, but to keep him with him to assist in the defence of Jamaica. I told Lord Sandwich I was sure your Lordship would not sign a letter with the words marked under in it, and that the Jamaica merchants would apply for your removal if they thought there was a chance of his succeeding to the command, and I believed it to be your Lordship's opinion he ought to be called home. He said Lord North would not allow him to be so disgraced, but intended to write him a private letter desiring him to ask leave to come home, which would be granted when he did. This, said I, will be an affair of six or eight months, and in the meantime he may have the command of the whole fleet of England. I referred to Stephens for what Keene had told him from Lord North of his not protecting Graves, upon which his Lordship said he would speak of the matter to-night. I have been told, but not from high authority, that Lord Sandwich is to remain and be supported and you are to be taken out of the House of Commons to prevent any disagreement in the conduct of the measure. Jenkinson is intended to succeed you, but not immediately. Lord Hillsborough to come here in the meantime, and Lord Stormont to execute both the other departments. They all think you ought to be in town. Postscript. No account from France of any of de Guichen's squadron being put back.” GOVERNOR CUNINGHAME to LORD GEORGE GERMAIN. 1782, March 9, Barbados.-On general matters connected with the island. 'Sir George Rodney arrived here in good health and continues so, by his letter of the 5th inst. to me. I flatter myself that now he has 38 sail of the line he may be enabled to block up the French fleet in Port Royal Harbour, or bring them to action, and by that means frustrate their grand design. From what I hear I am persuaded his fleet will be off that port this day." General Mathews is now at St. Lucia. If he comes here, I presume Gen. Christie will be sent there. Whether Gen. Mathews will continue George Damar as Quartermaster-General I cannot say, but his activity and conduct merit every support. UNDATED PAPERS. Paper endorsed "Hints in favour of a small sucour being sent to Jamaica previous to the assistance that may be afforded by fleets." A collection of historical notes headed, "A short state of a few facts and consequences that have happened in the Island of Grenada since its submission to the British arms in 1762." Paper undated, but signed "Samuel Estwick, agent for the Colony of Barbados," entitled, "Reasons for repealing the 4 per cent. duty in the West Indies, and for commuting the same into a tax to be collected here; humbly submitted to the right honourable Lord North." Remarks (unsigned and undated) on St. Eustatius, and a plan by which a British Admiral in the Leeward Island station might be supplied with intelligence. Paper endorsed, "Observations on the Charibbean station, Martinico, St. Eustatius." Admiral Penn, the, letter dated on board, Admiralty, the, 128, 132. abstracts of proceedings in, men- board of. See Lords Commissioners borough belonging to, sir George first lord of. See John Montagu, instructions from, 295 bis. 200. letter from, mentioned, 35. Admiralty-cont. secretary of, 188. See Philip Admiralty court, appointment of judge at St. Christophers, 203. Advocate General in Jamaica. See Aeolus, the, sailing of, 132. Affleck, Edmund, afterwards sir Edmund, Africa, route from River Plate to Europe slave ships returning from, 102. 265. Albany [New York], 40, 49 bis, 56, 73, letter dated at, 78. --, mentioned, 92. letter from, mentioned, 89. officers at, 269. prisoner of war at, 66. reported advance of gen. John Bur- goyne towards, 41. Alexander, William, styling himself earl shown by lord Howe to, 68, 73. northern, cruisers off, 34. command of, secured by possession commission of accounts needed in, diary of the three campaigns in, '76, '77 and '78, mentioned, 139. effects of expected British victory expenses of the war in, 32. fluctuating condition of politics in, French interest in, pronounced des- grant of independence to, necessary independence of, effect of acknow- --, recognised by French salute, reported non-insistance of ment of, by Great Britain, 124. nature of warfare in, 257. commander in chief of, 35, --, appointment of adm. , need of harmony be- new, ("the new ad- miral,") 273. -, complaint of scantiness of, 52. condition of, 125. expected sailing of, from preparations for expedition to the prices of necessaries higher than in principal posts of, 260. proposal to employ part of the proposed alliance with England, 92. See also American rebels infra. review of condition of (1775), 10. officers of, complain of number ——, plan for attack upon, 98. suggested measures for the reduction tobacco provinces (i.e. Maryland and AMERICA, SOUTH, 283. means of detaching from Spain, 135. American Archives. See Peter Force. American colonies, effect of naval action effect of totally abandoning, 218. generous terms offered to, 93, 95. reflections on the dispute with, 221. view of, 19. visit of Mr. Hutton to, 91. See also Benjamin Franklin. American confederacy, proposals for crushing, 53. American convoys, capture of, 205. interference with, 103. American loyalists (or royalists), 193. distressed at the acknowledgment of help expected from, 152. hope to raise recruits in America, 38. treatment of, by the rebels, 77. of a loyal militia, 165. lack of support to, 218. policy of embodying, 135. protection to be given to, 152. severe treatment of, 177. suffering, 167, 183. --, proposed settlement of in one treatment of, under capitulation of American manufactures, suggested re- American navy, officer of, 91. second officer of. See Manly. American paper bills or money, 104, 105. American prizes, sailing of, for England, 204. American quarrel, cost of, 104. American rebels-cont. John Adam's opinion of what should -, effect of declaration of inde- arms and ammunition of, amount army of, alarmed at movement up clothing and condition of, 15. -, deserters from, number of, 101. engagement with lord Corn- expiration of term of engage- general officers, 17 bis. jealousies among, 18. lack of union between soldiers |