My Lord,

I have great satisfaction, in informing Your Lordship, of our having taken three French men, loaded with Tobacco. On Sunday the 4^th instant laying with the Richmond in Mocksack [Mobjack] Bay, at 2 PM, saw two Sail coming down the Bay; we lay quiet for some time, that they should get down the farther; allowing day Light, to get over the Shoal Water, before we weighd, and then gave Chace; my Tender presently brought us a Brig,¹ and Night coming on, and loosing sight of all other Sails, we Anchored; In the morning, saw the Richmond in Chace, of a Sloop and Schooner; and immediately gave Chace; the small Vessels got into Shoal Water, and Captain Gidoin sent his Boats to take them, but as they were Armed, the Boats were called of[f]. We then saw two Sail² standing into the Rappahanock-river, and gave them Chace, desiring the Richmond to follow with the Prize Brig, then some distance astern; (as otherwise she might have been Retaken, by the armed Vessels, which we imagine were a kind of Convoy:)

The wind was down the River, and our Pilot was not well enough acquainted to turn the Ship up; but fortunately one of my people, (a regular South Carolina Pilot,) took charge of the Ship, and worked her up in a masterly manner, at 4 PM, the two Sail, a Ship and Snow run a ground; the men left the former, and we took possession of her, and next Evening got her afloat, when the Richmond joined me: (with the Brig:) the Snow lay close in Shore, where there was a small Body of
Militia, and a Galley³ in a Creek, near her, therefore I order'd Captain Gidoin, (as his Ship draws less water than mine,) to warp his Ship in, next morning (Tuesday the 6^th:) by day light, which was done, and upon firing a few Shot, the Frenchmen left the Snow, and the Galley went up the Creek; I then sent an Officer with a Flag on Shore to assure the people, we would not hurt their houses, or do them any kind of damage, if they would not fire upon the Boats, as they must see, both the
Village and Snow, were under the Guns; which was agreed to, and in a few Hours she was got of[f].

The Ship has Three hundred and Fifty Eight Hogsheads, the Snow One hundred and Ninety Nine, and the Brig Two hundred, in all seven hundred and Fifty Seven; they were bound to France, but the loss of men, and the Season, had determin'd them to go first to Martinico. I am [&.]