Copie de La lettre Ecritte par monsieur Le ch^er. de Gouzillon Belisal Lieutenant de v^aux. du roy a Monsieur Guillot Comissaire de la marinne a St malo

Je suis surpris Monsieur de La fanfaronade du Cap^ne du Brick de 14 ou 16 C. Corsaire de Grenezey,¹ il faut quil ayt la memoire Bien Courte pour ne pas se ressouvenir que dans plusieurs chasses que je luy ay appuyée en 8^bre. il a toujours fuy touttes voilles de hors et que meme Le lundy 27 dudit mois d 8^bre., a 4 ^h. du soir Lorsque je le rencontray au vent a moy sous la p^te a Canon de Belleisle, d'un grand frais de NE. venant a ma rencontre Basbord amure a petittes voilles, etant fort prés, je luy Criay sans porte voix et fis signe avec La main de me venir parler, il me repondit en son françois, oui monsieur, mais je fus fort surpris de le voir tenir le vent et mettre son grand foc, voille d Zétay et Larguer des ris, pour Lors, je n'hezitay point a tirer dessus, Luy envoyay sept Coups de Canon chargés a Boulets et mitraille et cinq a Boulet rond desquels douze Coup. jestime qu'il n'en a reçu que trois La Grosse mér nay Em pechant de Bien pointer, je le chassay jusqu'a la nuit mais sa marche toujours su perieure a la mienne, m'empecha de lejoindre il avoit tous ses mats hautson Beauprés navoit pas Lair avariér, et je le crois trop Bon marin pour du temp qu'il faisoit chargér ses mats de toille sils avoient eté endomagés, tout cecy sest passér a la vuê de 4. Batt^nts. nantois et des habitants de Belleisle

Faitte L'usage que vous vouderéz de Cette Lettre je vous en laisse le maitre Flatéz que cet evenement me procure Le plaisir de vous assurér de Lattachement que je vous ay voué et avec Lequel jay Lhoneur detre [&c.]

Brest a Bord de la Curieuse
le 12 X^bre 1777

[Translation]

Copy of the letter written by Monsieur the Chevalier de Gouzillon Belisal, Lieutenant de Vaisseau of the king, to Monsieur Guillot Commissaire of the navy at St. Malo

I am surprised, Sir, by the boast of the captain of the brig of 14 or 16 guns, privateer of Jersey.¹ He must have a rather short memory not to recall that in the several chases that I gave him in October he always made all sail to escape and that even on Monday, the 27th of the said month of October, at 4 o'clock in the evening when I met him to the windward of me under Canon Point of Belle Isle, in a strong breeze from the northeast, coming to meet me on the port tack, under short sail. Being very near, I called to him without hailing distance and signalled with my hand to come speak to me; he answered in French, “Yes, Monsieur," but I was very surprised to see him keep the wind and set his standing-jib, staysail, and let out reefs, upon which I did not hesitate at all to fire on him, firing seven cannon loaded with ball and grape, and five with cannon balls, of which twelve shots, I estimate that only three hit him, the high seas preventing my aiming well. I chased him until nightfall, but his speed being always superior to mine prevented my catching him. His upper masts and his bowsprit did not have the appearance of having been damaged, and I believe him to be too good a sailor in that weather to have stressed his masts with sail if they had been damaged. All this happened in view of four vessels of Nantes and of the inhabitants of Belle Isle.

Make what use you wish to of this letter, I leave it up to you. I am pleased that this event gives me the pleasure of assuring you of the attachment I have sworn to you and with which I have the honor to be [&c.]

Chevalier Gouzillon de Bélizal,
Lieutenant de Vaisseau commanding
the royal corvette La Curieuse of 12
Cannon of 4 pounds and of 6 swivels
of ½ pound^l

Brest, on board la Curieuse
12 December 1777