The Providence Rebel Frigate¹ of 30 Guns & 350 men escaped to Sea last night about 10 o'Clock. The night was very dark, with much rain, and the Wind N.N.E. The Lark,² stationed off Greenwich³ had sufficient notice of her coming down, and was under way when she came opposite to her, and they engaged till they came near the N. end of Connonicut,⁴ when the Lark, having received a good deal of damage, 3 men killed and 7 wounded, and finding the Providence had come under the fire of The Juno,⁵ came to an anchor. Many shot were exchanged between the Providence and the Juno, but as the latter did not get under way, the Providence passed her, and then fired several shot which raked her and shot away her Ensign Staff; after which she proceeded to Sea unmolested. The Commodore⁶ on observing the firing made a Signal for The Orpheus to slip, and go out of the harbour, which was not complied with, as neither the Pilot or Master would take charge of the ship under the circumstances of the weather. The night was so dark that it was above half an hour before the Commodore knew that the Orpheus had not gone out, he would then have gone out with his own Ship⁷ but it was too late. In short there appears to have been some misconduct on the part of our ships. The Lark should have endeavored by every possible means to have retarded the Providence, and even have run foul of her at any risque. If she had been lost and driven the Enemy on shore, the advantage would have been on our side. The Juno should certainly have engaged her, and followed her to Sea: her fire would have directed the ships from the harbour where to have gone to her assistance; and the Captain of the Orpheus,⁸ in such a case should have taken the charge of the ship upon himself: it was possible to get out, and if he had lost his ship, a Court Martial would have acquitted him. At any rate he was blameable for not giving immediate notice to The Commodore why he did not obey the Signal, as The Commodore might then have gone out with the Nonsuch, which lay in a more favorable situation. 

By all accounts the Enemy's ship was worked & fought well, and in good order. She must have suffered considerably, as the Lark was very close, and fired a great deal at her.⁹