Septr 1777 Thursday 4th
St Martins SSW½W 493 Lgs AM Strong Gales struck T Gallt Yds 100 Sail in Co — Lattde 40°. .33"N — Fresh Gales and Squally Wr PM reptd the Comdr Sigl for the Ships to Bear Down do fired 2/6 Pdrs to oblige them at 3 fired 6/6 Pdrs for do at ½ past 4 a hard squall of Wind and Rain appeard in the Squall a Strange Sail on our Larbd Qr Bearing Down on us Made the Sigl but the Comdr was so far ahd and to Leeward he did not Decern it Cleard Ship for Action and turnd all hands to quarters at 5 OClock Continuing our Course Discoverd her to be An American Ship of 36 or 40 Guns Well Manned2 in A few minutes She Came within a Cables Length of us and Disired us to Strike to the Honour of the Congresses Colours then began to Engage on Our quarter —
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/4172.
2. Continental Navy frigate Raleigh, Captain Thomas Thompson.