Captain John Porter Commander of the Sloop Ellis [Alice] from Charles town with rice and Indigo bound for Nantes or Bordeaux saild from said Charles town 1 March 1777 on the 1 of may off Bell isle in Soundings of 50 fathom about 8 Leagues of[f] the mouth of the Loire was taken by the Fourdroyant Capt Jno Jervis of 80 Guns on the ninth of the same month Remaining Prisoner on board with Liberty of the main Deck he saw a Topsail Schooner standing to the East & Southward when the Ship gave Chase and Came up with her about 4 or 5 OClock P M before the Ship Came in gun shot she fired & continued. firing 'till she had fired 58 Cannon 9 & 24 pounders — the Schooner still Crowding all the sails she possible could till within about a Mile; — when it being impossible to Escape the Schooner bore away and Came under the ships Stern she being not further than 3 miles Distance from the Land of Bell isle as the Schooner was Coming Down before the wind with her topsails Clew'd up, the ship notwithstanding fired two 9 pounders and 2, 24 (Grape shot as the people on board the ship said) accompanied with a Voley of 40 Small arms when the Capt of the Schooner with his Speaking trumpet Call out — What would you have me to do? have not I struck the boat was then sent on board the Schooner and brat the Capt on board the Ship he proved to be Capt Jno Adams of the Lynch who had saild from the river Loire the same day he was taken after Cruising in the Bay about 10 days the Foudroyant arrived in Plimouth the 25th when after passing Examination on Shore both Capt Adams and Capt Potter were Discharged but in about 3, or 4 hours afterwards on Information being given to the Admiral (as Capt Potter afterwards heard) that there were Arms on board the Lynch Capt Adams was again Seized and sent on board the Fourdroyant since which he has heard he was well but nothing further and thinking him self in Danger of a Like event he pass'd him self as a Smugleer and Came to Guernsey from whence he came to St Malo and thence by Land to Nantes—