Sir

I desire you will acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that being six or eight Leagues to the Westward of Nantes in His Majesty's Ship under my Command, at day break this morning, we saw two Brigs Steering for Nantes; upon discovering what we were, the headmost kept on her Course, and the other stood out to Sea, there being little wind, and our short run to the land giving Us small hopes of getting up with the former, before she reach'd it, we chac'd the latter, and came up with her at Noon, she proved to be the Barbara from Bourdeaux bound to Dublin, and was taken yesterday by the other Brig, the Freedom Privateer, John Cl[o]uston Master belonging to Boston. she had been out seven Weeks, and has taken, by Relation of thei Prisoners, twelve Prizes, seven of which were sent to Boston (one of them an outward bound Guinea Man with a considerable Quantity of Gun Powder and Arms on board) three burnt, one given to the Prisoners, and one Retaken, as recited ー I shall stand well in with Nantes this Evening, and am not without hopes of falling in with the Privateer.

The Want of proper Petty Officers obliges me to send a Lieutenant in with the prize, as her Cargo consisting of Wine and Brandy, is reported to be valuable. I am Sir [&c.]