The Ship Maesgwyn, Captain William Room, bound from Bristol to this Port, carrying ten 4 and four 6 Pounders, and 39 Men, on the 28th Sept. last, in Lat. 39, N. Long. 59, W. fell in with the Privateer Brig Lyon, Ishmael Hardy, Master, who carried 16 four and six Pounders, above 20 Swivels, and 125 Men.1 The Maesgwyn engaged the Lyon five Hours, within Musket Shot, when both Vessels being greatly shattered, and the former having most of her running Rigging, and all her standing Rigging, except the Mizen Shrouds, shot away, they agreed to stay by one another to refit, which took them up the remainder of the Afternoon, and all the Night. At Day-break they engaged again within Pistol Shot for two Hours, in which Time the Maesgwyn fired above 80 Broadsides, but having 10 of her Men killed and wounded, above four Feet Water in her Hold, occasioned by the Shot Holes, (being hull'd in above 40 Places) and her Rigging again cut away, she was obliged to submit to the Privateer, and was carried into Salem, New-England.2 Her cargo consisted of 170 Puncheons of Rum, 140 Casks of bottled Liquor, 1000 Bushels of Salt, some Cheese, Tripe, &c. Above 50 Casks of Rum were entirely started, and much of the bottled Liquor, by the Shot which passed through her. The Privateer was so much damaged that it broke up her Cruize, her lower Masts being so wounded, that the first Fresh of Wind after the Engagement carried them both away.
