My Dear Sir, Boston July 22d 1776

I shall now continue my Weekly Journal agreeable to my former plan.

Monday 15th. Arriv’d here an express from New-York from Genll. Washington, ordering the 5 Continental Regiments that are now here, to repair there immediately.

Tuesday, 16th. News came to town from Halifax that Capt. Johnson in the Yankee Sloop (he that sent in here the two West India prizes, last week) was taken & carried in there.

Wednesday, 17th. Letters from Genls. Schyler & Gates mention the further retreat of our Nothern Army to Ticonderogo, on Acct. of great sickness in the Camp. God send ’em relief & prosperity. Our General Court have order’d a Regiment of Indians to be rais’d from the Eastward.

Thursday 18th. This Day at 1 ’o Clock was declar’d the Independence of America, from the Bellcony of the Townhouse in the presence of Thousands. A Regiment of Continental Troops & our provincial Train of Artillery, in the firing of platoons & Field peices, hail’d the rising Empire, whilst the different Fortresses in the Harbour, wafted the joyfull sound to Heaven in Thunder, smook & fire—emblimatical of its presivation. The Day was clos’d with a Bonfire made of all the Ensigns of Royalty that cou’d be collected.

Fryday 19th. Yesterday was carried into Salem a Ministerial Privateer, mounting 8 Carrage Guns, 12 Swivells & 40 Men, commanded by Lieut. Goodrich of the Navy. She was taken by one of our Colonial Privateers commanded by Capt. Fisk. Capt Goodrich, his Lieut. & 4 or 5 Men were kill’d & 6 wounded. Capt. Fisk had one Man kill’d & 2 wounded.1

Saturday 20th. I was down at the Castle to Day, where I observ’d a 42 pounder, with its Trunions beat off, mounted, which I think is not only more beautyfull, but it is much more handy & convenient than it can possibly be with its Trunions on; one Man with a handspike can very easily elivate & depress a 42 pounder in this Method, when in the Old 3 Men cou’d hardly do it.

Sunday 21st. This morning very early came into our Harbour a French Schooner from Martineco, 20 days passage, having West India produce on board; she brings no news, but that a number of French Vessells are 255now on their passage for this port. This Afternoon came into Nantaskett a Ship with provisions for Genll. Howe & was taken by the Fort; she has on board 1500 Barlls. of Beef & Pork, 400 Furkins of Butter, peas & oats; she came out of Ireland last November & was blown off this Coast last Winter to Jamaica, from whence she sail’d the 4th of May for this place, where she is now safely Moor’d.2 Altho’ they took a Fishing boat belonging to Nantuckett, for the sake of a pilate, who told ’em that Boston was evacuated, yet the Capt. insisted on going to Boston as that was the place of his destination, & order’d the pilate to conduct him to the Harbour’s mouth where ’twas probable he shou’d find a King’s Ship; accordingly when they came in sight of our Fictitious Commedore riding in Nantaskett road with his broad Pendent, the Pilate took to his Boat & my Gentn. from Ireland came into the Trap without hestitation. This afternoon likewise there was carried into Salem a large Jamaica Ship & a Sloop loaded with English Goods, both taken by a Letter of Mart that was going from Salem to the West India’s, owned by R. Derby Junr.3; she mounted only 2 Carrage Guns & 4 Swivells. Yesterday an order of Council was issu’d commanding every 25th Man in Ten County’s of the Alarm List & training band, immediately to march to Dorchester heights to supply the places of those five Regiments that are gone for New York; when this Order is compleated, we shall have full one half of this Colony in the Army or Navy.

You’ll be so kind as to send me by every post the News paper, news or not, the Advertisements will give me pleasure. Yours forever

David Cobb

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble. Robt. Treat Paine Esqr. In Philadelphia”; postal stamps: “FREE,” “N*York, July 29”; endorsed.

1.

The Boston Gazette (July 22, 1776) reported: “Thursday last the Tyrannicide Privateer, in the Service of this State, commanded by John Fisk, carried into Salem, an armed Schooner of 8 Carriage and 12 Swivel Guns, and 30 Men, which he took off George’s Bank, about three Weeks ago, after an obstinate Engagement of three Glasses. The Schooner belonged to and sail’d with the Fleet which is arrived at New-York, and was one of those which belonged to the Rear Division. The Tyrannicide had one Man killed, and one Wounded, and was much shatter’d, but is now refitting, and will soon be ready for another Cruize. The Captain of the Schooner and one Man was killed: the Master lost one Arm, and about 10 wounded, several mortally.” The British captain was Lt. John Goodridge of the Royal Navy (Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 5:1177).

2.

The ship Queen of England (James Arnout, master) was lured into the harbor by the George (Caleb Hopkins, captain), a decoy ship flying a commodore’s pennant (New-England Chronicle, July 25, 1776).

256 3.

Richard Derby, Jr. (1736–1781) was a member of the prominent Salem merchant family. He represented Salem in the Provincial Congresses of 1774 and 1775. During the winter of 1775–1776, the Derbys lost their schooner Jamaica Packet when the British captured it. Richard Derby, Jr., fitted out another schooner, the Sturdy Beggar, as a privateer, and it was commissioned as a letter-ofmarque on June 13, 1776. The Sturdy Beggar was the ship involved in the incident mentioned in this letter. Derby sold it later in the summer to Benjamin Goodhue & Co. (Robert E. Peabody, “The Derbys of Salem, Mass.,” Essex Institute Historical Collections, 44:211–214; Gardner Weld Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 77 [Boston, 1927], 289–290.

Dear Sr., Philada. July 27. 1776

I was sorry Mr. Byers left N York before he had finished your business. He has been longer here than was intended, & very unhappily when he came I was so sick of a fever1 that nothing but the nature of his business induced me to see him, & in short I have not been able to settle the plan of another Air Furnace in the manner proposed. I got some of the Committee to my Room & all that could be agreed upon was that mr. Byers Should Work up your Mettal first & then purchase all the Mettal he could in N York & make Six pounders. I wish it was determined whether the Congress Mortar is as serviceable as a Mortar. If not I think it had better be cast into Cannon. I have desired Mr. Byers as he returns to take the pattern of the Pensyl 6 lb. & 12 lb. now in the Jerseys. Handsomer Guns I never saw, the former of wch. weighs 4.2. &c the other 8:0:9. As soon as I recover a little Strength I hope to devise Some Method of having this business enlarged. Meantime I wish the Iron Cannon that lay at Kings bridge were put into Some use. They are as good as any guns to be stationary & defend lines to vast advantage, if mounted only on Ship Carriages. I would suggest to you the Advantage of having vast quantitys of Chain & barr Shott & other Contrivances to cut Rigging especially at the Forts in the Highlands. We have Contracted with a Man to cast 18.24. & 32 pounders. He has succeded so well in long 18 pnds. that we hope he will answer our desires in the rest. Yrs. &c.,

RTP

Dft. ; internal address: “To Henry Knox Esqr. Col. of Artillery at N York”; endorsed.

257 1.

RTP noted the progress of the fever in his diary: (July 19) “taken very ill of a fever”; (July 20) “blooded & Physic”; (July 24) “rode out, very week”; (July 26) “took vomit”; (July 27) “very week”; and (July 29) “took Physic.” He returned to Congress on July 31.