(Copy)
My Lord,
I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship, that on the 7th Instant at day break, Cape Sable bearing N N E about fourteen Leagues, we discovered three Sail of Ships, and a Sloop on our weather Quarter, and a Ship on our Lee Quarter, standing to the Westward on the same Tack as the Flora was, I thought it my duty to see what they were, tacked, and stood towards them, upon which the Sloop that was towed by the headmost Ship, was cast off, and set on fire, we passed within point blank shot to leeward of the three Ships, hoisted our Colours, and fired a Shot at the headmost to show their's, which they paid no attention to, fired a second at the Sternmost, stood on, and as soon as we could fetch their wake, tacked and followed them, at 9 A:M: upon their finding that We weathered, and came up with them, they formed a line ahead, hoisted Continental Colours, and began firing their Stern Chace, at 10 the two sternmost Ships shortned Sail, tacked and came close under our lee Quarter, exchanging Broadsides, as we passed each other, we stood on to the Ship who had not tacked, gave her our fire which she returned, she attempted to stay, missed and wore, which gave us an opportunity of raking her, we then wore and gave chace after her, the other two Ships being at this time close upon a Wind on different tacks, during this transaction we run considerably to leeward, which gave the Ship on our lee Quarter an opportunity of joining us fast, and upon her being abreast of our Chace, she tacked and proved to be His Majesty's Ship the Rainbow) she fired several well pointed Shot at the Chace, one of the Enemy soon afterwards tacked and stood to the South West, the Rainbow tacked and followed her, we continued standing to the northward after the Chace, who upon the Rainbow's tacking, kept away more from the Wind, and set steering Sails, and soon afterwards began firing her Stem Chace at us, at 6 p:m: we came up close to her, upon which she struck her Colours, and proved to be his Majesty's Ship the Fox)that had been taken a month before that, by the Hancock and Boston continental Ships, on the Banks of Newfoundland, the Ship that we afterwards learned to be the Boston was at the time the Fox struck, as far to windward as we could but discover the head of her Top sails out of the water, the exchange of Prisoners took up until near 10 p: m:, the Fox being much disabled in her Masts and Rigging, I thought it my duty to remain by her in preference of chacing, and risking the parting Company with her upon presumption of falling in with the Boston at day light, the Ship which the Rainbow followed was the Hancock)both of which we lost sight of at Sun-set. — at day light not seeing either of the Ships, we made the best of our Way with the Fox to this Port. — I have the pleasure to inform your Lordship the Flora sustained very little damage, only one man slightly wounded, the Sails and Rigging pretty much cut, and the Foretopmast much wounded. —
I have the Satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that the Officers and Ship's Company notwithstanding the appearance of the great Superiority, behaved with great Zeal and Coolness.
Inclosed I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the description of the Rebel Frigates — I have the honor to be My Lord, [&c.]
Halifax, the 9th July 1777.
[Endorsed] 2 In Lord Howe's Lre of the 28 Aug 1777
[Enclosure]
"Description of the Continental Frigates Hancock and Boston"
(Copy)
Description of the Hancock
A Man's Head with Yellow Breeches, White Stockings, Blue Coat with Yellow Button Holes, small cocked Hat with a Yellow Lace, has a Mast in lieu of an Ensign Staff with a Latteen Sail on it, has a Fore and Aft Driver Boom, with another across, Two Top Gallant Royal Masts, Pole Mizen topmast, a whole Mizen Yard and mounts 32 Guns, has a Rattle Snake carved on the Stern, Netting all round the Ship, Stern Black and Yellow, Quarter Galleries all Yellow.
Boston
An Indian Head with a Bow and Arrow in the Hand, painted White Red and Yellow, Two top gallant Royal Masts, Pole mizen topmast on which she hoists a Top gallant Sail, painted nearly like the Hancock with Netting all round has a Garf, a Mast in room of an Ensign Staff with a Latteen Sail on it, and mounts 30 Guns.
[Endorsed] 7 In Lord Howe's Lre of the 28 Aug 1777
