L30/15/27/11

From William Horner, Swan, Lad Lane, London to William Crosbie, junior, esq, Liverpool:

4 Oct 1781

From: 1781 To: 1781

Decision to take first Convoy from Cork instead of Portsmouth to America. Met Mr. Hump. Roberts, who is well known to Mr. Greenwood, at Lord Germain's Office. Roberts obtained an Order for his passage money. Mr. Fisher, the Principle Clerk, asked him if he was going with Lord Dunsmore to New York, he replied no, from Cork. Mr. Bartlet Goodrich arrived from New York with family and informed him that Portsmouth in Virginia is evacuated. All Posts centred at York Town in expectation of De Grasse. York fortifying. Several reasons for change of plan. Will wait in Ripon for news of fleet from Cork (at Mr. Peter Harness's, Ripon). Inform Mr. Statham he has paid Ex................[?] K. Crispin for the writ against Ward (the last one). Ward at Port Glasgow six weeks ago bound for New York. Cannot arrest him in Scotland without giving 10-12 days notice. Defeats object.

item

Roberts, Humphrey,
Greenwood,
Germain,
Fisher,
Dunsmore,
Goodrich, Bartlet,
de Grasse,
Harness, Peter,
Statham,
Crispin,
Ward,
Horner, William,
Crosbie, William