We the subscribers, in consequence of the above request of Capt. Olney,² late commander of the brigantine Cabot, in the continental service, having assembled together, in humble imitation of a court of enquiry, proceeded as follows, viz.

First, we called in Mr. Thomas Weaver, late First Lieutenant of the Cabot, whose account of things, by way of question and answer, we have duly attended to; and though it did not elucidate the matter much, yet we found nothing which contradicted the facts set forth in the foregoing narrative of the Cabot's misfortune.

Secondly, we called in a certain Mr. [John] Margeson, late acting Lieutenant, whose account of things appeared clear and distinct; he strengthened every fact alledged in the above narrative, and gave us much satisfaction.

Thirdly, we called in Mr. [Joseph] Vesey, late master of the Cabot; he gave such an account of the whole transaction as was perfectly consistent with a seaman, an officer, and a man of observation.

Fourthly, we called in Mr. Edward Arrow Smith, late Captain of marines on board the Cabot; he gave a very circumstantial account of the matter, more especially the conversation, which happened between Capt Olney, the Captains Fisk, of the Massachusetts, and Harriden, of the Tyrannicide; his station being on the quarter deck, where he had a better opportunity of hearing what passed, than the foregoing gentlemen, whose duty required their attendance in other parts of the vessel.

Fifthly, we called in a Mr. John Dinsdell, late Lieutenant of marines on board the Cabot; his account was also satisfactory.

From the whole we have been able to draw up the following conclusion; Namely, That on the evening of Sunday the 23d of March last, the brigantine Cabot, being at a few leagues distance from Cape-Ann, in company with the two State brigs before mentioned, commanded by the Captains Fisk and Harriden, did then and there fall in with a british frigate called the Milford: That being near the said ship at ten o'clock at night, they did consult with each other what was best to be done, whether to attack immediately or wait till morning. It being at last agreed on by all the Captains to keep together, and dog the ship until day-light, then to attack, and board her at one and the same time, they again mutually promised to stand by each other to the last, and share each other's fate; That when day-light came on, the two brigs were at a little distance a-head of the Cabot, standing to the S. E. the Milford at a little distance on the Cabot's lee quarter, bearing from N. to N. N. W. and standing on the same tack with them: That the wind blowing fresh, the two brigs a-head reefed their topsails, and tacked to the N. W. passed close under the Cabot's lee, but did not speak the Cabot: That soon after the brigs tacked, the Milford also tacked, and stood after them: That then there was a fair opportunity for the Cabot to escape, had Capt. Olney forgot his promise to the other two Captains on the preceding evening; but he, desirous of yielding every assistance in his power to his companions, tacked ship and stood after the enemy, hoping that wind and weather would afford them an opportunity of engaging her with their united strength. A shower of rain soon hid them from the Cabot, and the wind hauling to the westward, brought the enemy so far to windward, that when they again espied her she was standing for the Cabot, and had cut her off from her two companions, who were now standing to the northward with a pressed sail, without discovering any intention to rejoin the Cabot; upon which Capt. Olney put about, and stretched to the southward by the wind, until he found the enemy gained on him; he then bore away, and made use of every endeavour to escape, until Tuesday afternoon, when finding himself hemmed in with land on both sides, and a-head, with an enemy of superior force astern, he called a council of his officers, when it was unanimously determined to stand in for the land, in order to find some shelter from their pursuer, or run the vessel ashore, which they accordingly did between four and five o'clock the afternoon aforesaid.

The foregoing is the substance of the information we have been able to collect from a careful examination, one by one, of the officers who have signed the narrative of the Cabot's misfortune.

Boston, April 19, 1777.