N^o. 22.
My Lord

The Three Victuallers, who went from hence to Tobago, having found a Loading there for England, will not sail from thence until the first week in April. This gives me an opportunity of informing Your Lordship of some occurrences which have happened since my last.

The Grenville Packet, Capt. Kempthorne, who was bringing the January Mail, arrived here the 7^th. Ins^t. She had a few days before fallen in with an American Privateer, called The Resistance, Capt. Chew,¹ who came up with her, & a smart engagement ensued, until the American, (after the loss of their Captain & Thirty Men killed, as we have since been informed) sheered off. Kempthorne & the Master, & Seven men of the Packet are wounded, & one man Killed. During the Engagement, The Mail, which had been slung out of the Cabin Window, to be ready to be sunk, in case the Packet had been taken, was carried off by a chance Shot from the Enemy. The Packet having therefore no Letters, it became unnecessary for her to take the tour of all the Islands. She is gone from hence to Antigua, & Jamaica, & from this last place will proceed to England.

On Fryday the 13^th. His Majesty's Ships The Ariadne, & Ceres brought in the Alfred, an American privateer of 20 guns & 180 Men.² This Ship was in Company with another called The Raleigh, Thompson, of 32 Guns & 280 Men,³ but who never engaged and sheered off as soon as the Alfred was taken. These Two Ships came from Old France.

On Saturday the 14^th. His Majesty's Ship, The Yarmouth of 74 Guns, commanded by Capt. Vincent, who on the 7^th. chaced & came up with Five American Pyrates & a prize Schooner.⁴ The Americans were The Randolph, Biddle, of 36 Guns, & 305 Men;⁵ The General Moutraye of 20 Guns & 130 Men;⁶ & Three Brigantines called the Notre Dame de — of 18. Guns, The Polly of 16 Guns, & The Fair American, of 16 Guns.⁷ All from South Carolina. The Yarmouth came up with them about Nine o'clock at night; The Randolph mistaking the force of the Yarmouth, began to fire & killed a few of the Yarmouths Men; but the first broadside from the Yarmouth sunk the Randolph, which as she was sinking, blew up. Capt. Vincent, five days after, took up five of the Men, who had saved themselves upon part of the Wreck. By these Men we came to discover, what these ships were. As soon as the Randolph sunk, the other Four Ships dispersed different ways, & soon disappeared. On Sunday the 8^th. Inst^t. arrived the Fleet from Cork under Convoy of the Cupid & Camel; consisting of 63. Sail for the different Islands, & last Wednesday the 25^th. The Fleet from London under convoy of the Active & three other Ships of War, consisting of upwards of 40 Sail arrived in this Bay: Among these are the Princess Royal, & the Mary & Anne, Two Ships with Provisions for this Island, which compleat the whole number taken up by Government. We are in dayly expectation of the Packet with the February Mail.

I have the honour to be with great respect, My Lord, [&c.]