“On the 20th of June last I1 fell in with two American sloop privateers, the largest of which mounted 12 carriage guns, besides a great number of swivels, and came up with me about eight o'clock in the morning, and hailed. I fired a gun aboard of her, and hoisted an English ensign. She gave us a whole broadside, and hoisted an Amer ican pendant. After a smart engagement, which lasted above three glasses, she sheered off. There was reason to believe a great many of the privateer's men were killed, as there was not above one third of the people seen on deck when she went away, which at first appeared to be about 120 or 130. The Alexander had only 30 men and a few passengers, who all behaved exceeding well. The Alexander had only some shots through her masts and sails, and her stern a good deal shattered."
