"On the 25th of November,1 about two, P.M. we were attacked within four leagues of Santa Cruz by a provincial brig, of sixteen guns and ninetyodd hands, Wm. Cole Commander, last from Bilboa, who had taken in the space of fifteen days four English vessels. After a short contest, a shot carried away part of our bowsprit, and we were obliged to strike our English ensign to the thirteen Continental stripes.2 The Americans granted us our sloop's boat, with which we all, except three negro sailors, whom Capt. Cole detained, got on shore, and were most hospitably treated by Mess. Pasleys. Ten days afterwards Capt. Burden, myself, and four of our people, embarked for England on board the Scipio snow, Samuel Kirkman Commander, and in lat. 35 N. long. 14 W. in the Atlantic Ocean, we fell in with an American frigate and brig,3 which had left Nantz a short time before. As we were by no means able to contend with the rebels, they soon boarded and took us. They treated us very roughly, and detained us for several days during their cruise off the Madeiras; they dispatched the Scipio for Boston, and put us on shore at Teneriffe, where I am now waiting with impatience for some favourable opportunity of conveyance home."
