On the 25th [of November] we saw 2 Vessels and a schooner, we set sail in order to overtake them. The first Lieutenant went on board and found that all their papers were in good order. One Vessel had a cargo of oil. The Schooner Eagle was on her way to Philadelphia to take on a cargo of flour. The other Vessel was a packet boat and we were not able to capture it. The ship's boat went off for about two leagues in order to see if any Vessel was about. Our boat returned around three o'clock after visiting two Vessels loaded with wood. These returned with the boat and entered Plymouth at the same time. We got the Brig under way and we cruised about one league offshore & we saw one frigate which apparently wanted to give us battle; but she could not overtake us and instead captured two small fishing schooners which were about to sail for some harbor nearby. We returned to the same anchorage which we had left in the morning; we hope that he² will join us tonight.