Sir

I beg leave to inform you that on Wednesday the 8^th. Ins^t. His Majesty's Arm'd brigg Lowestoffe's prize¹ being in sight, tho' far astern, streching in with the Land off Savannah point² I saw an arm'd brig who proved to be a french Privateer³ of 16 Carriage Guns 6 & 9 pounders 23 Swivels & 8 Cohorns in the Tops, as we have not been able to find her Rôle d'Equipege's, the accounts of her Complement are as irregular as from 110 to 170 Men, her killed & wounded are consequently as uncertain⁴ but the Midshipman that went from this to take charge of her threw 23 overboard & several were seen to be thrown overboard in the course of the Action which began about 3 & ended at 6, M^r. OBryen⁵ and myself were wounded nearly the same time, & the Master killed, my loss of blood & excessive pain disabled me from any further Services but I did not suffer myself to be carried any lower than the Cabin, the Action continued with great Spirit, on an explosion of some Cartridges upon Deck I heard the Cry of haul down the Colours, I beckoned to the people that were at their Quarters near me to run upon Deck & let them know 'twas my orders if the Colours had been struck purposely to hoist them again, or if that was impracticable to spread them on the Quarter which was immediately complied with⁶ about ½ an hour before she struck the Lowestoffe's prize come up & began to engage which no doubt hasten^d. the Stripes down, as it infused fresh Spirits into our people & depress'd those of the Enemy; as it was but a light breeze it prevented the brig from coming up before.—We had 4 killed on the Spot 28 Wounded 2 of which are since dead & we have now 65 Men & boys out of the List.— I am going a Shore as also M^r. OBryen for the more speedy recovery of our health by the Surgeon's advice, my wound is a Musket ball thro'⁷ & thro' the left Breast fortunately has not touch'd any bone, but it continues still to deprave me of use; M^r. OBryan's is in the throat I had given him orders to board but on account of the narrowness of the forecastle fore & Aft wise we could not mount Men sufficient to support them, here we suffer'd most & what was still more unfortunate the prime of our Men—Her Name is the [Polly] under an American Commission, but I find the property has been changed to french so that I suppose them to be no better than Pyrates, the Commander of her was killed & I have but a very confused account of the Number & Nation of her Officers. She is from Port a Prince for Boston with a Quantity of Molasses on board, the Supercargo Paul de Verge is now before me & gives a strange account of his total ignorance of the Captain's Commission.⁸—I am afraid it will be a fortnight or three weeks before either M^r. OBryen or myself shall be fit to get on board again⁹ and our Masts & [sails?] are too much damaged to go a Cruize with.—I intend to send the Prize round to Port Royal under the Care of the Lowestoff's prize as soon as she can be got ready which I hope will meet with your approbation,¹⁰ & have landed the People that are badly wounded. I am Sir [&c.]

Ostrich Montego bay
11 July 1778—