An armed Packet of the Men o' War with 15 Men this afternoon went toward the No. End of Conanicott Isl[an]d to look for a Providence Vessel returng from N. York with Provision. An armed Sloop of our p[eo]ple with 50 Men and Carriage Guns and a dozen Swivels met her. An Engagement ensued about an hour before sunset  the Firing tho' for near an Hour was at a Distance and without Execution. There soon came up another small armed Vessel of our people with 50 Men. Upon this the Packet run ashore at Conanicott and the Men o' Wars' men fled. The last small Vessel soon got her off and carried her off in Triumph, the 3 Vessels all sailing off Northward together. The firing was heard at Newport and a great Concourse of p[eo]ple met and gathered on the Wharves. The 2 Men o' War, (which lye near to shore) discovered great Perturbation. About Sunset they sent off another armed Vessel loaded with Marines, which proceeded so far as to find their Mate carried off and then returned without attempting any thing further.