[Aoust 1778, Languedoc, devant Rhode Island]
du mercredy 5'
à 6 heures du matin La provence1 ayant de Retour et ayant Eut ordre daller joindre Le protecteur2 Le fantasques3 et le sagitaire4 elle à apareille et donné dans La passe du ouest qui Communique au nord de Coneticut aux passages pour vaisseaux à La ville et port de nieuport.
suite du mercredy 5'
a deux heures apres midy le Zelé5 et Lengageant6 sont Revenus au mouillage sans avoir Rien Rencontré, nous avons apuis par un officier du fantasque qui ait venue Rendre Compte au General7 que son vaisseau Le sagitair venoit apareille Le matin et Cetoit avancé dans La Riviere ou il y avoit plusieurs fregatte Engloise qui Cetoit flatté de sortir à La faveur de la Brume En les chassant elle se sont echoue et Brullés8 il ny avoit pas assé deau pour Ces vaisseau et Les Equipages se sont sauvés à terre si Ces messieurs avoit voulut ils Eussent detruit partie des Equipage En se sauvent Lhumanité Les Conduits dans cette operation.9
[Translation]
[August 1778, Languedoc, off Rhode Island]
Wednesday 5th
At 6 o'clock in the morning the Provence1 having returned and having had an order to go join the Protecteur,2 the Fantasque,3 and the Sagitaire,4 sailed and went into the Western Passage, which communicates to the north of Conanicut with the passages for ships to the city and port of Newport.
Wednesday 5th continued
At two o'clock in the afternoon the Zelé5 and the Engageante6 returned to the anchor age without have met with anything, we were informed by an officer of the Fantasque who had come to report to the General7 that his ship the Sagitaire had just sailed in the morning and was advanced into the River where there were several English frigates that were hoping to go out by favor of the fog In chasing them they grounded and were burned8 there was not enough water for these ships and the crews saved themselves if these gentlemen had wanted they might have destroyed part of the crews in saving themselves ashore, humanity directed them in this operation.9