July 1777 Tuesday 22d
Cape May No Cape Henlopen WbS at 6 AM made the Merlins Signal to weigh at ½ Pt 6 Tack'd Ship Cape May WSW 5 Leags In 2d Reef Topsails ½ pt 7 saw a Sail & gave Chace out 2d Reef T. Sls Sent the Barge & Cutter to cut off the Chace from the Land Fired several Guns at the Chace First pt Modt & Cloudy Latter Strong Gales with Rain at times The Land to the NE of Cape May Dist 2 Miles P.M. at ½ past I the Chace run a Shore The Boats found the surf on the Beach too High to Board the Chace, the Tenders Join'd & Kept Firing on the People that was throwing some things over Board out of the Chace till she filled when the Signl was made to Call them off at 6 the Merlin Join'd and Anchor'd at ½ past 9 made the Signl weigh'd & made sail in 2d Reef Top Sls & Handed the fore & Mizen Top Sails.
1. PRO, Admiralty 52/1964. See July 24 entry from Pennsylvania Packet.
