[off Oyster Bay]¹ 

AM) at 8 weighed & made sail standing to y^e SE saw 3 Whaleboats pulling from y^e Connecticut Shore to take a Schooner coming from the E^rd. Maned & Armed all y^e Boats (as did the Neptune)² & sent 'em after them set studing ^sls: after y^e Schooner fired 2 Guns as a sign^l: of Alarm, 

[off Oyster Bay]

First part light airs Mid: & latter fresh breezes & Cloudy return y^e Boats found that y^e Rebels had been onboard of her but y^e Cerberus Boat's³ coming up they quitted her after seting fire to her but it was extinguished in time came too again with y^e small B^r: & veered to ⅓ of a Cable At 3 weighed & made sail (y^e Neptune in Company) to y^e W^rd. At 9 came too with y^e small Bower in 10 f^ms. in y^e middle of y^e Sound abreast of Oyster Bay