Note 201 — Chapter V · THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL NAVAL SERVICE
Reading edition
Few of these vessels were ready for sea for lack of crews. The British also suffered greatly during the Revolution owing to the scarcity of seamen. This the First Lord of the Admiralty attributed to the loss of 18,000 American sailors, who had contributed to the manning of the British fleets in former wars.—Annual Register, 1778, 201.