This day we returned from a three weeks cruize, particulars as follows: After four days sail from the Streight's mouth we fell in with a 14 gun privateer, called the Vigilant, having with her a brig from Lisbon, named the Mayflower, bound to Bristol, which she had taken the day before. We gave chace, and in two hours came along side, and engaged her 10 minutes only, when she struck, after having one man killed and three wounded; the weather being moderate, and our Captain finding the brig making off, ordered the Lieutenant on board the privateer, with some men, to cut all the lanyards of her shrouds and stays, to prevent her carrying sail while we pursued the brig, which we came up within about an hour, and took her without any opposition. Having taken her hands, and replaced them with 18 of ours, we again made sail for our former prize, which we came up with in about two hours. Our men soon repaired her damage, and without any loss of time put her in a sailing posture. Our Captain, in searching her papers, found the master's name to be Richard Witear, that she was fitted out at Dunkirk, which place he left 12 days before, and said he had been chaced by a two-deck ship, which he supposed to be the Worcester, but got clear under cover of the night.
Our Captain ordered the officer to make the best of his way for Gibraltar with the Mayflower under his convoy, we continued cruizing to the N.W. for two days, without meeting any thing till the third day at noon we saw a deep laden ship, which we gave chace to, and before dark came up with and fired a shot at her, which so intimidated the crew, that they struck. She proved to be about 200 tons, called the Pitt, Edward Sheers, Master, fitted out at Cherburgh, and bound to Boston, having on board two brass mortars, 150 swivels, bar iron, some shot, musquets, &c. the whole supposed to be worth about 3000 1. sterling.
We sailed for Gibraltar, which place we made in five days, and had the satisfaction to find our two prizes both safe arrived the day before.
The Raven came in five days before with a valuable prize, called the Vengeance, of 10 Carriage guns, and six swivels, and laden with rice, tobacco, indigo, &c. which prize she met about forty leagues to the westward of St. Eustatia.
