At 6 A. M. standing S. E. with the wind at S. W. the other brigs being a-head of us, they tacked to the N. W. the frigate tacked after them; we then reefed and tacked after the frigate and brigs. At 9 A. M. the wind shifting to the westward, the two brigs tacked southward, the frigate tacked after them, but by shift of wind she could lay on us; we tacked, and the wind increasing, she came up with us fast; the other two brigs not coming to our assistance as agreed, we made sail from her; found she came up with us. At 11 A. M. tried her before the wind, after trying her by and large. At meridian stood to the E. S. E. wind at W. by N.
At meridian, finding the ship came up with us, started 19 puncheons of water, threw our best bower anchor overboard, and some firewood, to lighten her; the Capt. ordered the gunwales to be sawed down, which was accordingly done; but she still gained upon us. At 6 P. M. the ship was within a mile of us, but the wind still moderating, she came up but slowly. At 10 P. M. came up a fog, we altered our course to the N. N. E.
