Norwich bulletin., 1919-05-12

tain Quince, burthen 27o tons. bound from St. Vincents to London; her
 cargo consists of 257 hogsheads of sugar, g puncheons of rum, some mo- lasses, cocoa and coree, and may be
 daily expected into some port" Though one vessel is called in the newspaper, the Mary and Elizabeth, the official record ot her appraisal
 names her as the Hannah and Eliza 1 beth.
 April 20, '7S, it was voted that Captains Niles and Smith do inme- diately refit the Do.phin and Spy, lately under their respective com mands" Captain Niles was appoint ed to the command of the Dolphin and irected to immediately refit and prepare her for the sea in d suitable manner and engage seamen neces- sary to man her for q merchant voy- age to the West Indies, and in order to take in such loading as may be ! prepared therefor.
 Captain Smith, Who had succeeded l to the command of the Spy, received ] similar orders, and Yotil vessels were l loaded with slaves and hoops, for the 1 voyage to the West Indies.
 1 On his return. came the great ad- 1 venture: from the beginning Of hos I tilities, Captain Robert Niles, with the 1 small armed vessel the Spy. had beer l so successful in his hazardous enter prises and missions, that when mis- ] sion of national importance, l but of the SraTest danger, must 1 be undertaken, he Wa one of the three
 men chosen for the duty.
 In Februry, 1776. . treaty was made ] between the newly created United
 States and France. and Captain Rob- 1 ert Niles was employee. by the govern
 ment to carry a ratification of this
 treaty to France. The safe delivery of this ratified treaty was considered 1 so important, that three separate copes 1 were dispatched by three different yes l sels; Captain Niles was the only mar | who succeeded in crossing the oceaT ] and delivering his copy, both of the 1 other bearers being captured by thu enemy
 l May IA, ITS, Whereas the Marin, Committee have requested his Excel lency the Governor that suitable ] packet be provided in this state fo, the purpose of carrying dispatches t France: Resolved. That his Excellen' cy be desired to gfve the necessar! | orders to have the Spy got immedi ately in readiness for that purpose
 and to proceed accordingly" (Publi Rec Conn; Vol. II, page ID
 In June ITS. Captain Niles sailet from Stonington, Connecticut in hi
 well tried little vessel, the Spy. man
 ned by a picked crew of trusty men
 He crossed the ocean. successful.
 eluded the British fleet off Brest, wher
 he was chased for aiong time by tn
 two English frigates, and twenty sever
 days after sailing frorn Stonington, h
 reached Paris, where he delivered tn
 treaty to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, tn resident minister of tNe United State
 in that place.
 He found the French feet waitin
 for the ratification Of the treaty, an
 immediately upon his arrival the flee
 sailed, bringing support and assist
 ance to our struggling country. On his return voyage, Captain Niles was captured by an English fri gate and carried first to the Isle 0 Guernsey, thence to England wher he was detained as a prisoner of war later he was exchanged. and returne home, which he reached July IT, TIT! Captain Niles continued in the ser vice till the declaration of peace, bu of the gallant little Spy, nothing nor is known.
 The brief official record of his nis sion is given on the minutes of tn Council of Safety, held Tuesday, Jul | 20, 177s, Captain Niles came in. hay ing arrived home last Saturday afte having been twice captured, etc.-gav l an account of his voyage, etc.-arrive ak pAHz in q days altar he sailee