Febr 76 Friday 2d
[Northwest of] Long Island [Boston harbor] at 8 A M weighd and came to Sail as did the Preston Admiral Graves with three mercht vessels ½ Past 9 Anchord in Nantasket Road where we found his Majestys ships viz. Renown, Centurion and Hope Brigg with a Number of Transports at Noon the Admiral made the Sigl to weigh do Weighd and Came to Sail leaft the above mintiond vessels in the Road ー 2 fresh breezes at Noon and clear Wear at 2 PM the Light House WbN 2 Leagus at 4 the Et Point of Cape Ann No about 4 Leagus the Light House WSW 7 Leagus 3
1. PRO, Admiralty 52/1637.
2. The Canceaux, having been found unfit for service, was ordered to return to England "carrying Dispatches & Letters from the Commanders in chief representing Captain Mowat's Services and Usefulness on that Coast, and at the same time a request from them, that he might therefore be returned to America without loss of time in a Ship fit to do Justice to his Experience of the Station," Collections and Proceedings of the Maine Historical Society, 2nd series (Portland, 1891), II, 357-60.
3. According to the log, the Canceaux lost sight of the Preston on February 5, and proceeded alone and without incident, save the loss of "the head of the Companing and Logg Board" washed overboard in a gale on February 17. She arrived at Spithead, after a remarkably short passage, on February 23, 1776.
