Being under Convoy of his Majesty's Ships Camel, of 20 Guns, Commodore, the Weazle of 16 Guns, the Druid of 14 Guns, in Lat. 45, at Half past Four, P. M. a large American Privateer of 32 Guns well manned, and of a formidable warlike Appearance,2 got into the Rear of the Fleet, attacked his Majesty's Ship the Druid; after a warm Engagement of 20 Minutes, or thereabouts, the Commodore then led the Van of the Fleet, wore his Ship, and made the Signal for a general Chace, when he and the Weazle, together with all the armed Ships of the Fleet steered towards the Place of Engagement, but before they could give the Druid any Assistance, the Enemy sheered off towards her Consort with flying Colours, about the Distance of one League, seemingly of the same Force.3 At Six P. M. the Weazle joined the Druid, who was left in a most shattered Condition, while the Commodore continued his Chace towards the Enemy, who were both waiting her Reception. At Night the armed Ships stook back, and wore off from the Body of the Fleet, which then consisted of 100 Sail. The Night proved very dark, and the Want of a Commodore's Light to direct the Courses as formerly, scattered the whole Fleet so much, that we could count but 38 Sail from our Mast-Head at Day-break, all of which steered various Courses in a vain Search of the Commodore. Saturday being all spent in a fruitless Search for our small Navy, at Night the Wind proving fair, I stood on my Course, but the following Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, was chased by three different small Privateers, with whom I had the good Fortune of gaining the Weather Gauge, which I kept all Day, and at Night flung them by altering the Course. By the Regularity of the Station of these small Privateers, it appeared to me that the whole Atlantic was in a Manner covered by them, at least from the Banks of Newfoundland to the Western Isles. If so, their Plan was well concerted by sending the said two Privateers to break the Body of our Fleet, that the smaller Vermin might come in for their Share.
