"We left Cork with a fine wind, which continued till we got into the lat. 38. 10, when we fell in with an American privateer, a brig mounting ten guns, and we suppose upwards of 60 men, she hailed us, and bade us strike to the congress, we saw what she was at a distance, and therefore prepared to receive her; our not answering, brought a shot, which we returned with our broadside, which seemed to do some execution amongst them, the engagement now began on both sides, and she being a low vessel, was thereby exposed to our small arms, which were however but few, our great guns (of which we had sixteen six pounders) we kept well-manned and served: the privateers guns were but ill-worked, for out of fifty shot, scarcely one hulled us, we continued engaging near an hour, and pretty closely, when a shot from us carried away her fore-top-mast, which falling on the deck, occasioned a good deal of confusion, when if we had been so minded, we might easily have run along-side of her and taken her, but the number of hands on board her prevented our taking this step; we therefore hauled off and left her, when she paid no attention to us, but seemed wholly taken up in repairing the damage we had done her. What is very remarkable we had not a man killed or wounded, except one by a splinter in the calf of his leg, which is likely to do very well. We spoke with a Dutchman at sea, who brings you this."
