[January 1 to January 27, 1777]
I continued crmzmg with my little Squadron on this service 2 untill the 10th Jany during which time we took 11 or 12 Prizes. some of which were laden with Powder & Arms. two were French ships that pretended to be bound to Miquelon the rest were americans Laden with supplys of different sorts for Philadelphia from the West Indies all of which we sent to New York — When having assurances that the upper part of the River was frozen up, which the severity of the Weather below left no room to doubt of, I moved to the Southward; and having given each of the Captains orders to cruize in certain Latitudes for a limited time, and sent the Perseus & Camilla off Charles Town Bar, I gave out a general Rendezvous for the Island of Antigua, Making the best of my way thither, in pursuance of the Admirals Orders to clean & refit my ship: where I arrived the 27th having taken three Vessels on my passage, one of which was laden with Gun Power & Sail Cloth, Two Articles, of which the Enemy are most in want of.3
