Folios 34-62. Letter from 1st Earl Harcourt to Lord Viscount Weymouth regarding the...

Folios 34-62. Letter from 1st Earl Harcourt to Lord Viscount Weymouth regarding the search of a vessel arrived at Dublin on 5 May 1776 from France and suspected to be an American vessel. Several of the papers found aboard occasioned an examination that lasted several days at Lord Annaly's House in the presence of the Chancellor, the two Chief Justices, the Prime Serjeant, the Attorney and Solicitor General and Harcourt's Secretary to establish the following facts: a ship of about 300 tons, formerly the Minerva and now called the Handcock and Adams, with Charles Forrest Master and belonging to Mr Blair McClenaghan of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania] was freighted for Mr James Lecky a Dublin merchant and arrived there in August 1775; Forrest brought letters from McClenaghan to Lecky and to Mr Andrew Thompson a Newry merchant, desiring them to purchase ammunition and ship it to Philadelphia in the Handcock and Adams; this effort having been foiled, Forrest return from America in another ship called the John with a view to achieve the same purpose in France, but being unsuccessful there he came again to Ireland with letters for Lecky and Thompson. Thompson was brought into custody and discharged upon bail, while Forrest was committed to the Goal of Newgate [Dublin]. It appears further that three men were engaged in another attempt in January, but no trace exists of their successfully getting off any ammunition. Seeks instructions on how to proceed, noting that the appearance of the parties will be fixed for the next term at the bar of the King's Bench. Dated at Dublin Castle. Enclosed: Folios 39-40: Letter from Mr Blair McClenachan to Captain Charles Forrest, dated at Philadelphia on 31 December 1774. Contains commands for Forrest to proceed with the ship Minerva to Newry [to deliver her cargo to Mr Andrew Thompson and take on as many passengers as possible for America]. Folios 41-42: Copy of a letter from Blair McClenachan to Captain Charles Forrest dated at Philadelphia on 23 January 1775 and providing further instructions regarding getting the ship full at its destination. Folios 43-44: Copy of a bill of lading dated at Philadelphia on 29 June 1775, for the ship called the Hancock and Adams and whose master is Charles Forrest. The ships are said to carry flour, 'ship stuff', beeswax, potash, timber, boat boards, bread, staves, to be delivered to the Port of Dublin to Mr James Lecky. Folios 45-46: Letter from Blair McClenachan to Captain Charles Forrest dated at Philadelphia on 30 June 1775 with orders for the latter to proceed with the ship Hancock and Adams to Dublin to deliver its cargo to Mr James Lecky. McClenaghan indicates that he has ordered Mr James Lecky, Messrs Arthur and William Bryan and Mr Andrew Thompson to put some powder on board, with which Forrest is to return to Philadelphia without loss of time and with the utmost secrecy; each of the three merchants are to have no other knowledge than of the quantity of powder that they themselves are supplying. Payment and other arrangements are detailed. Folios 47-48: Letter from Blair McClenachan to Mr James Leckey dated at Philadelphia on 30 June 1775, with instructions regarding the cargo being delivered to the latter on board the Hancock and Adams together with a request to ship 400 quarter casks of best 'F' gunpowder on her on McClenachan's account. McClenachan states: 'we have no alternative left but to repell force by force, by our Publick Prints you will see what we have already done and are determined to do, the whole of the Continent is united and all in Arms determined to be free for God's Sake Ship the Powder if possible'. Folios 49-50: Copy of letter from W Barclay to Captain Forrest, dated at Ballyshannon on 25 August 1775, enquiring about sailing plans and what has been purchased for the trip. Folios 51-52: Copy of letter from Charles Forrest to Mr Andrew Thompson, dated at Dublin, 28 August 1775 regarding the possibility of obtaining some powder and indicating that he would then run down and go as far as Carlingford [County Louth] as if he expected some passengers. Folios 53-54: Copy of a letter from William Barclay to Charles Forrest dated at Ballyshannon [County Donegal], 1 September 1775 regarding the availability and price of saltpetre and expressing concerns about getting it on board and landing it at America. Folios 55-56:Copy of a letter from Andrew Thompson to Captain Charles Forrest, dated at Newry on 1 September 1775 responding to the latter's previous letter and advising as to the quantities he could obtain of 'the Article you want', which could be put on board safely at Carlingford and should be packed in large sugar hogsheads packed round with bread. Folios 57-58: Copy of a letter from William Barclay to Charles Forrest dated at Ballyshannon on 5 September 1775 relaying reports that there are no more vessels to go to America until there is a peace and seeking confirmation of sailing plans. Notes he has heard that any letters for America will be opened and the contents made known. Folios 59-60: Copy of a letter from Charles Forrest to Andrew Thompson dated at Dublin on 8 September 1775 regarding arrangements for the latter to supply powder and the former to supply potatoes. Folios 61-62: Bill from Pounder and [Heavisid?] to Mr James Lecky for four swivel guns, dated Dublin on 9 September 1775.

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