March 1778 Thursdy. 12th
Is: Barbadoes Wt. So.erly. Lattitude in 13º.. 14' No. at 3 AM saw a Sail to Leeward of us, gave chace, at ½ past 9 shortned Sail and hoisted a Boat out, and brot: on board 4 Men who were on a piece of a wreck,1 they informed us they were on board the Ship engaged the 8 Instant when she Blew up, that they had nothing to subsist on from that time, but by Sucking the rain water that fell on a piece of Blanket they had fortuneately picked up. The Ship was an American Privateer of 36 Guns and, and 305 Men.2 resumed our Chace, wch steered due West. Is: Barbadoes West. Lattitude in 13º.. 07' N Fresh gales and fair, we continue our chace, but do not perceive we come up with her. at 10 PM lost sight of her, at 11 made the Island Barbadoes bearing WSW 4 or 5 Leagues. down steering Sails, in 2d reef the Topsails, and hauled our Wind to the No.ward,
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/1091, fol. 178.
1. The seamen were Hantz Wortrnan (or Hans Workman), John Keny (or Carew), Alexander Robinson and Batholomew Bourdeau. UkLPR, Adm. 36/8072 and Adm. 43/23. See Deposition of Hans Workman, John Carew and Alexander Robinson, 16 Mar., and Muster Table of H.M.S. Yarmouth, 31 Mar., below.
2. Continental Navy frigate Randolph.