August [1778] Friday 14th.
New York N29°6W 36 Leagues. at 5 AM saw a Sail upon the Starboard Qr. made the private Sigl. which she answered at ½ past 5 saw a large Ship at Anchor dismasted. hawled towards her.1 Soon after the Ship hoisted French Colours and fired 4 Guns, quick, soon afterwards Saw 7 Sail of large Ships to Windwd. coming down, made the private Sigl. which was not answered, they showed French Colours. at 7 wore Ship & made Sail, made the Private Sigl. to the Ship in the S:E. Qr. which was answered. proves to be the Delaware,2 made the Signl. for eight Sail of French Ships in the So. which she answered. the Delaware watching the French Ships standing to the Sowd.
The High Land of Neversunk NWbW 5 Leagues.3 Fresh Breezes and hazy a Ship upon our Larboard Qr. standing as we do. a one Mast Sloop Standing by the Wind off Shore.
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/828, fol. 26.
1. Likely French ship of the line Marseillais, Capitaine de vaisseau Louis-Armand de la Poype Vertrieux. French flagship Languedoc—also dismasted in the storm and further damaged by a British ship—had rejoined the concentration of the French squadron by the 14 Aug. As seen at Chevalier de Bruyères-Chalabre to Vice-Amiral comte d’Estaing, this date, above, at the start of the 14 Aug. Marseillais remained isolated, but other French ships had been tasked to investigate and bring her back to the fleet.
2. H.M. armed ship Delaware, Captain Christopher Mason.
3. Navesink, New Jersey.