Extract of a letter from on board the Clarendon Letter of Marque, dated at sea.
Two days after we got clear of the channel, we saw a sail making towards us, which we supposed to be an American privateer, and we were right, for when within gun-shot, she fired a gun and hoisted American colours; we hoisted ours, and returned her our broadside, when a general engagement began. As I was but a passenger, I was ordered to attend the surgeon, but there was little occasion for him, as we had but one man wounded, though our contest lasted upwards of three hours; but then it must be remembered that we hauled off twice to repair our rigging, which suffered very much. When night came on, the privateer left us, finding we were a full match for her, and indeed we were not sorry for it, as we had quite enough. 'The next day in the afternoon a small privateer of about ten guns bore down upon us, but on our paying her a compliment of our broadside, she turned tail and left us.
