[Extract]

. . . its difficult going out or in our harbour at present as theirs three ships constantly Cruising in the Bay one of them a fifty or Sixty Gun Ship, the Hessian transport² arriv'd at Towns end to the Eastward and Landed the prisoners there, they appear truely happy in their present Situation, and their greatest fears were after they were taken that of being retaken — We have heard nothing lately from our frigates, two privateers which [were] part of the fleet are return'd having been disabled to proceed by the Gale that happened soon after the fleet sail'd which seperated them and I believe theirs not been a Junction Since,  all agree in say[ing] the Hancock sails beyond Credibility . . .