[Extract]

. . . During the passage I saw three English ships, all of whom sent a boat with an officer alongside. On the coast of England the Lynx of 16 Guns, off Cape Ortegal the Royal Oak of 74, and off Cape St. Vincent the Enterprise of 24 guns. All three were cruising against the Americans; all three seemed astonished at our build; they thought us bound for America; my replies left them undecided. The Royal Oak asked to see my commission and muster roll. I told them that their proposal surprised me because, if they could doubt that I was a ship belonging to the King of France, I had stronger reason to doubt that they were a ship belonging to the King of England, especially after having seen them show the flag of Holland. My reply seemed to startle them, and they spoke no more of it, departing with much civility on all sides. . . .