February 1776 Monday 5
Cape Fear ENEt 5 or 6 Leagues A M at 6 Wore Ship at 9 standing in shore after a small Schooner, Lady Wm & Comet 2 Schooners & our Cutter in Chace, at 11 TKd: and stood off ー Light Airs & Clear. P: M: at 4 fired a Gun as a Signal to the Vessel in Shore at 7 Calm came too with the stream Anchor in 10 Fms Water, the extreams of the Land from NE½Et to WBS½So at 9 the Boat retd having taken a small Armed Schooner, the People had deserted her, after rung her on shore; she had on board 4 Swivels a Musquetoon & many Cutlasses ー 3
Tuesday 6
A M at 5 weighed & came to Sail, at 6 bro't too & sent a boat on board the Schooner, at noon the Lady Wm Comet & Prize Schooner for Cape Fear. ー Fresh breezes & Clear
Wednesday 7
A M at 2 TKd at 8 TKd in 6 Fath's supposing the Ship to be on the S Et end of Frying pan, exercised guns & small Arms ー First part fresh breezes & Clear, latter Mode P M at 6 a great Swell from Nowd
Thursday 8
A M Lashed between Decks, at 10 the Articles of War &ca were read to the Ships Compy found the Ship to Nowd of Accot by streeching into the Gulph Stream ー First part Light breezes, Mdle fresh Gales & Cloudy, latter Mode with Rain, and a great Swell TKd occasionally; P M at 11 dble Reeft TSls & struck Top Gallt Yards ー
Friday 9
A M at 7 saw a Sail in the NEt at 8 fired a Shot & bro't too a Sloop from St Eustatia bound to Norfolk in Virginia, Laden with Sugar, Molasses, Rum, Coffee, Ginn & Salt which Sloop we detained & sent a Petty Officer & 4 Men on board to carry her to Cape Fear 4 at 11 made Sail ー
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/930.
2. The Comet was the Scarborough's tender, which was first spoken on February 3.
3. According to the Cruizer's journal, the prize was "a small Privater belonging to Charlestown." Actually it was the armed pilot boat in which Christopher Gadsden had set off from Philadelphia for Charleston. His escape to shore is described in a letter from Henry Laurens to the Georgia Provincial Congress or Council of Safety, February 13, 1776.
4. This sloop, like the snow from Bristol taken January 30, is not named on Shuldham's or Howe's prize lists.
