Sir

I beg leave to acquaint You, that between the hours of ten and eleven at Night on Saturday February 28^th I fell in with two Sloops and a Schooner, off Cape Teberoon,¹ The Darkness of the Night, prevented my discovering them till within less then Musquett Shott—I therefore (being very little Wind[)] hoisted out the Cutter and sent her Man'd & Armed hoping to get possession, without noise or fireing, for, from previous information the day before from a french Sloop, I knew them to be Americans. When the Boat came near she hailed, ordered them to keep off, and without further ceremony, immediately fired a number of Musquetts and all their Guns they could bring to bear right into her, by which three of her Oars were shot away, & a Man dangerously wounded.—Seeing them fire at the Boat, I hailed, told them I was an English Man of War that if they did not immediately desist, I would pour a broadside into them.—Their answer was Laconic.—Three Shott right into the Sloop; the Glasgows return being in quantity what they did not possibly expect, only induced them to leave off fireing and consult their safety by flight.-however as we fired between twenty & Thirty Guns, loaded with Round & Grape, besides many Vollies of small Arms, I flatter myself that they were made heartily to repent their timerity Their Oars which they plied with all their might) the lightness of the Wind being almost Calm,) and the extreme darkness of the Night, were all circumstances so favourable to small Vessels, that they affected their escape into Tiberon Bay

The Master in the Pinnace who had been at Sun Sett dispatched on service now joyned the Cutter, who I had Reman'd, and sent to take Possession of the Deserted Sloop judging from the Privateers ceasing fireing that she was silenced, agreed in consart to board her, By some accident the Pinnace alone board[ed] her on her Quarter, they found them in such disorder and confusion that if their Pistols had gone off, presented within a Yard of those that opposed them, they assuredly with their handfull of Men, must have carried her, but they every one missing Fire owing to the shamefull bad Flints the Ships of Warr, are supplied with, left the Crew at the Mercy of the Privateers, With Bayonets fix'd on long Poles for Pikes, they wounded three of the Pinnaces Men dangerously, four of those extraordinary Weapons the boats Crew seized out of their hands and brought off in the Boat, the daring courage off the Boats Crew, merits every praise, And as I cannot say too much in favour of M^r: Cooke the Master's Steady conduct, resolution, and bravery on this Occasion, I hope you will pardon the liberty I take in recommending him to Your future attention

The Prize Sloop, I immediately dispatch'd for Jamaica, stood off and on all night, and early next Morning hauled into the Bay where I saw both Vessels using their utmost efforts warping into Shoal Water, in the Cod of it.—The Schooner mounts Twelve Carriage Guns the Sloop Ten both seemed full of Men—Their Crews were mostly French, that language being the only one spoke when boarded, and they had in one Night transfered the Rebel Americans property, if Colours could effect it, for to my no small surprize they had both French Flags flying, the Sloop even in my sight, shifted hers for a Pendant,judging it more respectable—The small French Battery of Three Guns, that they lay under, was Man'd, & both Vessels as we stood in placed their Broadsides to bear, all trifling impediments to the Glasgow had their been no other—I leave you Sir to judge the conduct of the French on this occasion—And I have the Honor to be with great respect, Sir [&c.]