August Monday 10th.
Block Island WbN 4 or 5 Leagues. At 5 [AM] the Preston1 made the Sigl. for a Sail in the NE one of the Galleys brought too a Sloop & Schooner. at 6 the Signl. from the Admiral2 to weigh. the admiral made the Signal for the 2d. and 3d. in Command to Come on board. Cornwall3 & Nonsuchs4 Sigl. for Captains. at 9 the Sigl. for the Outer Ships to weigh in Succession. the French Squadron of 12 Sl. of Two Deck’d Ships with 3 one mast Sloops standing out of Rhode Island a Canonade passed between our Batteries & the Enemys Ships. at ½ past 9 the Admiral made the Sigl. for the Line of Battle, on the Starboard line it bearing at 1 Cables length distance, & the Signl. to prepare for Action. at 10 to make more Sail, when in Order of Battle. ½ past 11 the Admls. order by a Lieutenant to close to half the distance & to keep him SE of us at Noon the French Fleet NE 5 Leagues with all Sail Sett. the line form’d.
Do. [Block Island] N:25°W74Ms. Modt. and hazy. The French NNE 4 Leagues.
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/828, fol. 25.
1. H.M.S Preston, Capt. Samuel Uppleby.
2. Vice Adm. Viscount Howe.
3. H.M.S. Cornwall, Capt. Timothy Edwards.
4. H.M.S. Nonsuch, Capt. Walter Griffith.