The Le Despencer Packet, Capt. Pond, mentioned in our last to be carried into New-London, was taken by two Privateer Brigs;1 one of them called the Satisfaction, of Boston, of 16 Guns and 110 Men; and the other the Brig Nancy, Capt. Melally, of New-London, of the same Force;2 Capt. Pond made a brave Resistance, and did every Thing in his power to escape, but his Rigging and Masts were so disabled, that he was obliged to submit to superior Force.
Capt. Pond is now here, and left his Passengers Mr. Samuel Hake, of this City, Merchant, Governor Wright's Son of Georgia,3 and two other Gentlemen Passengers, in New-London. The three last mentioned Gentlemen had obtained Permission to go to St. Augustine.
On Wednesday Evening arrived here a Fleet of 20 Sail from Rhode Island; seven of which were from Halifax, and had 35 Days Passage to that place. The Halifax Fleet was met by the Tryon Letter of Marque, Capt. [George] Sibbles, of this Port, to the Southward of Long-Island; he informed them of the Situation of the French Fleet; they then proceeded with him to Newport, where Captain Sibbles also gave the first Intelligence of Monsieur D'Estaing.
The Tryon was outside Sandy Hook when the French Fleet made their Appearance, and was chased by one of the Frigates, but fortunately outsailing her, escaped, and by that Means, the Fleet under Convoy of the Hope,4 from Halifax, avoided the Snare they would have fallen into, had they proceeded to the Hook. Capt. Sibbles also assisted in convoying the Fleet through the Sound, having been directed (by Capt. Henry, of the Fowey)5 to bring up the Rear. They were dogged by a Rebel Privateer Sloop in the Sound, but she kept so much aloof, that there was not an Opportunity of bringing her too; she put into New-Haven.
The Letter of Marque Ship Rose, Capt. James Duncan, was met on the 6th inst. by a French Frigate of 32 Guns, with 300 Men, and, after an Engagement of 6 Hours and a Quarter, was forced to yield; the Action was fought in the Presence of 12 Sail of the Line and 5 Frigates, commanded by the Compte D'Estaing, who were at 4 Miles Distance, and could not, on Account of little or no Wind, get nearer. When the Attack commenced, the Rose had 60 Men on board, eight of which were sick and unfit for Duty, and when she struck, had 44 left; the Bravery of the Men and Officers, beyond Description, was applauded by more than Ten Thousand of their Enemies, Spectators of the Event. The firm Caledonian fought his Ship till she sunk; several of his Officers were killed, himself wounded, and his first Lieutenant dangerously so, his Life being dispaired of.6
Two Schooners, one of them from France, the other from South-Carolina, that were taken by the Active Letter of Marque, Capt. [John] Powell, are retaken and carried into Egg-Harbour.
