To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Penn, 25 November 1757
From Thomas Penn
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Spring Garden, Novr. 25: 1757.
Sir
As I find by what you told me and by my Letters from Pennsylvania that Admiral Holborne9 had not Station’d a Ship in Delaware Bay in pursuance of the Resolution of the Lords of the Admiralty on our application communicated to me in January last, by Mr. Cleveland’s1 Letter, that I shewed you, I have applied again to that Board, and they yesterday, informed me they had ordered his Majesty’s Frigate the Beaver commanded by Capt. Gascoigne now bound to New York, for that Service. This I desire you will inform the House of Representatives of, and heartily wishing it may be found a great protection to the Trade,2 remain Your affectionate Friend
T:P:
Benjamin Franklin Esqr.
9. Adm. Francis Holburne (1704–1771), commander of the British fleet sent to support Loudoun’s proposed assault on Louisbourg in the summer of 1757. DNB.
1. John Cleveland (d. 1763), secretary of the Admiralty and M.P. for Plymouth; “a hard-working, hungry Scot who acquired unrivalled knowledge of Admiralty matters, and thereby rose to a position of considerable importance.” Lewis B. Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2d edit., London, 1957), p. 39.
2. Capt. Edward Gascoigne left Deal with the Beaver and a convoy of ships for North America by December 10, with orders “to see the Virginia Ships to the Capes, and then proceed to New York” before taking her station. London Chron., Dec. 3 and 10, 1757; Penn to Richard Peters, Dec. 1, 1757, Penn Papers, Hist. Soc. Pa. News that the Beaver was to be in Delaware Bay appeared in Pa. Gaz., March 16, 1758.