[On board the Ship Sally]
[8th March, 1777] At nine o'clock this morning we saw a brig at a considerable distance from us, we wished to approach her but it being calm that was impossible. At twelve o'clock the fog cleared away, and our Captain had an observation which came within a few miles of ours last night latitude being 36°34'; between twelve and one, the French officer shot a Penguin, we hoisted out our yawl and sent her after it, as we imagined it would prove a delicate repast. The boat being out, the surface of the water appearing very smooth and the weather fine, it was proposed to send our boat on board the brig, which was as near as we could judge, about nine miles from us; two motives induced us to think of this very dangerous scheme, the one was the necessity we were in for want of provisions, the other the expectations of receiving intelligence, where we could go with safety, as we were totally ignorant what part of the coast was clear and what part infested with cruisers, having had no accounts to be depended on from America since the 26th of October, the time Dr. Franklin left it; we were fully sensible what an amazing hazardous expedition it would be to venture so great a distance on the ocean in an open boat, but hunger and desire of obtaining an account of what place we might venture to with safety compelled us to undertake it; two men was the most we could spare from the ship, the Captain on various accounts was an improper person to go with them; Dr. Williamson and myself therefore consulted on what was most proper to be done and determined that one of us should go; it was unnecessary for both, therefore it was agreed that as Dr. Williamson knew best how to handle an oar, he should be the person. Therefore about half an hour after one o'clock he went into the Yawl, took with him the first mate and one of the best sailors and left us, steering towards the brig, they rowed on with great spirit, as long as I could see them from the Maintop mast head; it is impossible to describe our anxiety for them as we know should a stiff breeze spring up, the could never reach either vessel, and must in all probability perish. About 4 o'clock we perceived a signal from the Brig, by which we knew they got safe on board, the whole afternoon was fine, and the calm providentially continued, evening came on, and our boat did not appear, our fears for them increased; it had become dark, we put lanthorns at each mast head, and I fired a musket every five minutes, to let them know where to find us, however a little after seven they arrived to our very great joy; the account they gave us of their expedition was this, they found the brig to be French belonging to Martinico utter strangers to America and in almost as bad a situation as ourselves, having been for some time at the allowance of a bisquet and pint of water a day, they could therefore only spare us a few bottles of spirits, and about two pounds of cheese. They were totally ignorant with regard to intelligence from America, had been cleared out for Mi[q]uelon Bay, Newfoundland, but were actually bound for Philadelphia and consigned to Willing and Morris 2 they however now meant to go into Chesapeake Bay for a supply of water; the approach of our boat had so alarmed the captain that he had destroyed his papers, supposing her to belong to a vessel of War.