Sir,

Inclosed is a Paper containing some Intelligence I yesterday received from M^r: Hooper, late Master of the Nancy West India Ship, and M^r: Kennedy, a Passenger in her, who were taken by the Raleigh and Alfred two Rebel Privateers, with the Descriptions of the said Privateers, which I beg leave to lay before their Lordships.

I have given His Majesty's Ships under sailing Orders, Descriptions of the above mentioned Rebel Privateers, and shall communicate the same to the other Ships under my Command before they proceed to Sea. I am (&c.]

[Enclosure]

Particulars of the Information given by M^r. Hooper, late Master of the Nancy West India Ship, and M^r. Kennedy a Passenger on board her, to Admiral Sir Thomas Pye 24^th. October 1777.

M^r. Ant^y. Hooper Master of the Nancy West India Ship, and MF Kennedy a Passenger, having been taken the 1^st: Sept^r: last in that Ship by the Raleigh and Alfred two Rebel Privateers, the former was put on board the Alfred and the latter on board the Raleigh, and was in her when she engaged His Majesty's Sloop the Druid. M^r. Kennedy says one Man was killed, and the 1^st. Lieutenant and a Boy wounded on board the Privateer.

They were carried into Port L'Orient and on the 11^th. Inst. sailed from thence with Seventy other Prisoners in a French Brig for England.

The Ann Susannah, laden with 500 Hogsheads of Sugar, John Taylor Master and the Jamaica, a Ship of three Decks (both taken by the Raleigh) left L'Orient the same Day, said to be bound to some Port in Spain, but are supposed to have gone back again to Port L'Orient, so soon as the French Brig which carried the Prisoners was out of sight. The Seventy Prisoners intended to have attempted retaking the two Jamaica Ships, had they not been escorted out of the Harbour by Boats manned and Armed with French Officers and Men.¹

Descriptions of the two Rebel Privateers

The Raleigh, Thomas Thompson Master, carries 36 Guns and 200 Men.²

116 feet keel, 36 feet Beam small Quarter Galleries and a yankey Head with a feather in his Cap, a Sabre in his right Hand: is designed for Sir Walter Raleigh the greatest part of her Stern and Head Painted white. her Ports are very large.

On her Main Deck, Twenty 12 and Six 9 Pounders

Runs her two stern Chases out of the Cabin Windows

Her Sails are cut like an English Man of War's except her Top gallant sails which are more like a Merchant Ship’s

Whole Mizen Yard. short top gallant Mast heads very large main topmast Stay sail, Studding sails and Driver. All her yards very Square This Ship sails very fast before the wind.

The Alfred, Elisha Hinman Master. carries 20 Guns and 160 Men.

A Merchant Built Ship very lofty. her head is much like the Raleigh

On her main Deck. Twenty 9 Pounders

Swivels on her Fore Castle.

Four Cohorns in each Top with a Chest of Arms

This Ship's yards are not square, her Sails are the same as when in the Merchant Service. Taunt Masts, two Top gallant masts, with long Royal Masts and sets a flying Mizen Top gallantsail, her Studding sails are very large Waist Cloths black with white borders as in the Tops. her breast work on the quarter Deck is is about 5½ feet which the Master said should be cut down in France.

She can run out four Stern Chases. 2 in the Cabin, and 2 on the Quarter Deck.

This Ship sails poorly particularly on a wind

They both have a Top and Poop Lanthorn. The Raleigh is now cleaning at L'Orient and the Alfred is cleaning opposite Port Louis.

The Raleigh's Powder was taken out by the King's powder boat, and put into the King's Store. her Guns are landed on S^t. Michael's Island. A main Mast was making for her in the King's Yard, if her own would not do—on the 10^th. Sept^r: it was sprung, but well fished again.³

These Ships were well found with every thing, and were in no distress—they only wanted to clean their Bottoms.

Two thirds of the Crews of the above Rebel Privateers consist of English, Irish and Scotch. In their Ensigns are thirteen stripes, and where the Union formerly was, is a blue field with thirteen white Stars, these Colours are only carried by the Continental Ships, which have Commissions from the Congress.—