Thursday morning 31: fine weather the wind about West a Ship of 54 Guns¹ was Sent up the Channel west of ConanicutIsland a Small Battery on the West Side of the Iland fired Eight or ten Guns which was returned by the ship as She passed, at about ½ past 10 oClock a 64 Gun Ship² was Sent forward up the same passage, but was not fired at, we Could Desern from our Ship a large Smoak where we Judged the fort was, and Concluded the Brittish had Destroyed their fortifications on Conanicut, and had evacuated that Island, at about 4 oClock in the afternoon was Seen on Rhode Island about Six miles ESE from Newport a Very Large Smoak which rose very Sudenly, apearing like the explosion of Powder, whether this was occationed by the Destruction of some of their out works, or was Some Signal, do not know, as no report was heard and, the Smoak Soon Disapeared, this afternoon Several american Privateers from the westward Came in among the fleet we received Inteligence that the English had Evacuated their outposts on Rhode Island and Blown them up at this Evening Signals was made that a fleet of 16 Sail was in in Sight the Ships all made Sail and Stood out to the SSE in the morning of friday 31^st, saw some of the above mentioned fleet to the westward of Block Island the wind a Lite air from the SW, Came in before the Harbour of Rhode Island an Anchorred in about 15 fathoms water several American Privateers with the fleet, Heard that the 2 frigates we Sent to the Eastward³ had Destroyed one Ship of 20 Guns and 2 Galleys in the East passage⁴