In conversation with the president,¹ respecting the naval armament; he assured me, that there were a number of vessels expected in, every day, with military stores, and other articles which we were very much in want of; that unless the men-of-war were driven from our coast, they could not possibly get in; and also, by our vessel[s] taking a short cruize, they might pick up a prize or two of some English ships out-ward bound to the West-Indies, loaded with such stores aswe wanted.

These reasons induced me to alter my opinion from the council of war.²

Our little fleet consisted of the Randolph frigate, of 36 guns, Capt. Biddle;³ the ship General Moultrie, 18 guns, Capt. Sullivan;⁴ the Notre-Dame brig, Capt. Hall,⁵ 16 guns; the Polly brig, Capt. Anthony,⁶ 16  guns; and the Fair American, Capt. Morgan,⁷ of 14 guns: The troops were put on board, on 27th of January, and in a few days the fleet sailed: They were gone about 10 weeks, when they fell in with the Yarmouth, a British 64 gun ship, which the Randolph immediately engaged, and in a short time after the action began, she blew up, and every soul on board perished, except 2 or 3 who were picked up on some of the wreck, by the Yarmouth's crew.⁸

The first regiment lost a fine company of fifty men, that were put on board as marines;⁹ The remainder of our fleet made the best of their way home;* and thus ended the expedition from which the president and privy council expected so much.

When the captains of the British men-of-war Carrisford, &c. were informed of our preparations to attack them they quitted our coast, while they continued on it, some apprehensions were entertained of their going to Beaufort to take off our cannon and stores; upon which a company of Col. Robert's artillery,¹⁰ were ordered to take post in the battery at that place.

*Some of them on their return home, picked up a few prizes.