| Description | "Having received repeated information, that a traitorous correspondence is suspected to be carried on with the rebels in North America, by letters conveyed thither in American ships clearing out in ballast from the different ports in this kingdom" he sends list of ships and suspected persons, three letters which he also encloses were brought to him last night by the brother of Dorrett whose name is mentioned in the information, and which he told him had been left at Princes Street Coffee House since the examination of Mrs Leslie, the originals have been returned to Dorrett with directions to watch the person who may come to the Coffee House for them
Enclosures, list of ships and suspected persons on board destined for America, the list of ships begins with the "Neptune" Captain Collins, Philadelphia, the others are the "Fame", "Beaufort", and "Robert", and the names of suspected persons are Edward Searle, Major Wrixon, Captain Devereux, Captain Crawford and three foreigners supposed to be officers and Germans, these men are known to be disaffected to the Government and suspected of dangerous designs and are probably the bearers of letters
Minutes of information given by Mr Taitt "Mr Taitt an eminent upholsterer in New Street Hanover Square, called this morning, 30 Aug, upon Mr Pownall, and acquainted him, that a friend of his (Mr Taitt's) had revealed to him a very extra-ordinary circumstance of public intelligence"
8 Aug 1775, letter signed T W addressed to C W J at Princes Street Coffee House, Princes Street, Leicester Fields, as yet they have no foreign letters but hope by the conveyance of their friend in Milford Haven they will receive proper instructions, the movements of His Highness are known only to Mrs Leslie
Letter from Simon Dalton to C W J "Sir I shall be glad to know your orders as to what comes from Milford Haven", Hamilton wrote that Brown will have all ready in five days, hopes that things will be as faithfully obeyed in the other quarter as they are in this, desires him to ask His Highness the particulars of their orders
18 Aug 1775, letter from N B to Mr Statuvell [Hatwell] to the care of Mrs Leslie, "Dear friend I received yours and I make no doubt of the widows punctuality, its only your fears that makes you apprehend the seal being cracked is only your anxiety", is now at the D of N's who assures him the money is at a moment's warning and if his Highness had received the intelligence once of the landing at Milford Haven, the day will be their own, has received a letter from D of Q and proposes her taking a house in the country, all is going on according to their wishes and she states "that George looks very sour mouthed especially at his regiments"
Lord Dartmouth to Sir Stanier Porten, 2 Sep 1775, Whitehall, since his separate letters of this morning, he has again seen Dorrett, who says Mrs Leslie has told him that the person who calls for letters left in her care has carried them to a coffee house or hotel somewhere near Bow Church
For full description see HMC 14th Report available in SRO reading room |