My Lord

I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that on the 7^h Ins^t: before Sunrise being then at Anchor with his Majesty's Ships Mermaid under my Command in Delaware Bay within the Light House, we discovered the French Fleet going large for the Northward with the Wind at S.W. which consisted of twelve large Ships & the rest Frigates with two Merchant Vessels in Company. We continued at Anchor till we were discover'd by them, when they made many Signals, alter'd their Course & stood in for the Bay, we had then no time to lose, got under Sail, & stood for the Body of their Fleet, which we were obliged to do, Till we got clear of the Hen & Chickens,¹ when we haul'd our wind to the S^oward, & were Chased by the whole Fleet; many of them coming up with us very fast, & as we found it impossible to get an Offing, we made short trips off & on Shore. When we got of[f] Phoenix's Island,² one of the Enemys large Ships being in our Wake, several very near us to leeward and expecting every minute to be brought to Action, we run over a Shoal in less than four fathm. water, on which she run aground, & we thought two others also struck, which put their whole fleet into confusion, several of them coming to an Anchor, & the rest leaving off Chace. We continued beating to Windward with all the Sail we could, and in about two Hours by the assistance of Boats & Anchors the above Ship got off; when Five Sail were sent in Chace of us, (the rest bore away as we imagine for the Delaware) and came up with us fast; We then cut away one of our Bower Anchors, & threw four of the foremost Guns (at times) overboard & finding no alteration in her Sailing we started about ten Tons of Water in the Fore Hold, slacking the Rigging and used every method we could to get the Ship into better trim, but to no purpose. We continued making short trips close in Shore, untill dark, when we stood off in hopes of getting clear; but at about 3 AM seeing several of the Enemy's Ships at a very little distance from us and raising us very fast, and not the least prospect of escaping, we tacked and stood in Shore, one of their two Deckers standing in our wake after us, and others so near that to prevent His Majestys Ship from making one of their Fleet, all my Officers and Self thought it best to destroy her, but as we were some distance from the Shore, in hopes of making some alteration (for the better) in the Ships trim, we threw all our Guns overboard, except six, which we kept to defend us from any attempt from the Enemys boats, as the water was very smooth, & while standing in, we threw all our Musquets, Pistols, Pole-axes and Gunners Stores we could get at, overboard, I likewise destroy'd every Signal, Private & Public, Charts, &^c. After a Chace of Thirty hours &c about 10 AM of the 8^th we run our Ship on Shore, a little to the Southward of Senepuxton³ (an inlet where several American Vessels were Riding) with all Sails set; but as she lay very quiet and to all appearance had received very little damage, & the French Ships standing in, I then hoisted A S^t Georges Ensign for about a quarter & a minute, & struck it to America, before the French had time to fire a Shot, & to prevent their claiming her, went with my second Lieu^t. and another Officer to surrender; & by my Orders all her Masts were very soon cut away. The French hoisted out their Boats, but before they could come very near the Ships, the American colours were hoisted onboard her by the Commander of an Armed Schooner, I prevailed to go onboard for that purpose.⁴ The French Admiral then made a Signal, fired a Gun, & their Boats returned to their Ships⁵—

I forgot to mention to your Lordship that Lieu^t. Knight of the Harlaem past us about half Gun Shot distance,⁶ on a Wind about 10 oClock the first morning of this Chace; and as he certainly knew our Ship by a Private Signal settled between him & myself, make no doubt of his having informed your Lordship of our then situation: It gave us all great pleasure & satisfaction, when we saw the French paid no attention to him, except one of the firing a few Shot as he past them; we stood longer on the Sailboard tack on his account, that he might escape to your Lordship, which we hope had the desired effect.—

I cannot omit to inform your Lordship, that we met with exceeding kind treatment & myself, Lieut^t. Purser Master Surgeon & Marine Officer were on Parole untill our arrival at Philadelphia when I had the greatest reason to think we should have continued so, but to our great disappointment, were one & all conducted to this Goal yesterday.⁷ I have only further to observe to your Lordship, that it is well known in this Country that the indulgences to Americans taken by the Mermaid have not deserved the severe treatment; of which a Letter from the Governor of Maryland, addressed to the Board of War (here) will I presume be the best proof; a Copy of which I beg leave to annex for your Lordships Information⁸ - I am [&c.]