January 1776 Tuesday 2nd
Cape Fear E N E A M at 6 Shoal'd to 9 Fath's TKd: at 7 Wore and Stood in, saw the Land from the Mast head W N W 6 Leagues: bore up for the Frying pan Shoal, Sounded from 7 to 5 Fath's then to 7 Fath's round the So end of the Shoal & then regular Soundings, from 7 to 10 Fath's Sandy Bottom, at 9 hauld in for the Land, at Noon Working up for Cape Fear River ー Found the Bottom in general Grey Sand with brown Specks. ー Light breezes & fair, regular Soundings from 7½ to 9 Fath's sandy bottom P M saw 2 Sail in Shore, at 3 hoisted the Coulars & fired a Gun which was Answered, at 4 fired another Gun which was answered by 2; Working up for the mouth of Cape Fear River, after Dark heard the Report of several Guns & fired One in Answer. at ½ past 7 came on board a Pilot at 8 Anchored with the small Bower in 8 Fath's sandy Bottom the Rivers Mouth E N E½Et, 4 or 5 miles;
Wednesday 3d
A M at 10 weighted & Run in for the Bar, at 12 dropt the small Bower in 6 Fath's ー Light Airs & Cloudy ー P M at 2 weighed & fired a Gun, Sigl for Assistance, at 5 Anchor'd with the small Bowr in 4½ Fath's & Moor'd a Cable each way; Found riding here His Majesty's Sloops Cruizer & Scorpion, with 3 Ships & 2 Sloops ー
Thursday 4th
A M Saluted Govr [Josiah] Martin with 13 Guns on his coming on board ー Calm Wear; Empd: Occasionally. 2
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/930.
2. The Syren, 28 guns and 160 men, had sailed from Plymouth at the beginning of November 1775 with dispatches for the governors of North and South Carolina, and with instructions to collect information in advance of the arrival of a fleet under Commodore Sir Peter Parker. See Stephens to Furneaux, November 6 and 7, 1775.
