Desseada S38° Wt Distce 148 Leags
Light Airs & Cloudy. At 6 AM Saw 2 Sail bearing South made Sail & Chaced. At ½ past discovered the Sails to be in Chace of us. At ½ past 8 discovered one a Ship, the other a Brig. about 10 the Brig within hail, hoisted Kings Colours, on being hailed answerd the Antigua's Prize, but observing her to be a rebel Vessel of 10 Guns & a number of Swivels, fir'd a Broadside into her on which she Struck, & Backd her after Sails, Wore Ship in order to lay by & send a Boat on board, But the Ship not Answering her helm run much to leeward, and the Brig took that opportunity of Hoisting her Colours & stood by the Wind from us, the Ship then astern firing chace Guns at us. we continued firing on the Brig, the Brig was very soon at random Shot & Wore round in order to Engage the Ship which had rebel Colours up, and a 11 Guns of a side besides a spare port. When under the Lee of the Ship began to fire at her which she returned, Tacked & Stood with her, continuing our firing. The Ship made the Signal for the Brig to join, which was obey'd, we then supposed they meant to come to close Action, but they declined that, by making all Sail they could to get 0ff. Continued the Chace until ½ past Eleven, when they where at such a distance a head and leaving us fast, left off Chace, & stood under easy Sail on the other Tack, to see if they would chace us.
Modt & fair Wr Made & Shorten'd Sail Occasionally