We should have sailed this day had it not been for an alarm we had yesterday, which diverted the peoples attention from work: — About one o'clock we heard a smart firing of cannon, and soon after were informed that several vessels were off the beach, about four miles to the Southward of this place; we immediately mustered all hands, 15 in number, and marched with as much expedition as possible; we soon discovered the enemy had been in chase of a small schooner, and drove her on shore. A frigate of 32 guns came up and anchored about three quarters of a mile from the shore, two tenders² and three barges came much nearer, and all kept up a steady fire for four or five hours on the shore without doing any damage, nor did it prevent the people from landing chief part of the goods that were on board; at high water the schooner bilged, the remainder of the cargo was drove on shore and secured, it consists of rum, molasses, sugar, limes and dry goods. About seven o'clock another frigate came up and anchored up the beach; from the preparations we discovered them making, expected they would land in the night, we made a tolerable good breast work of the rum cask and sand, and were determined to prevent their destroying the goods; however they were disappointed in their design by the wind blowing hard from the North West, which obliged them to stand to sea, since which we have not discovered any more of those plundering pirates. The Schooner is from Martinico, had 22 days passage; the Captain says some late papers were taken in a Bristol ship and carried into Martinico, and that they contained some interesting intelligence relating to American affairs, but could not learn particulars, as they were transmitted to Congress.