May 1778 Tuesday 26
Do [Lying in Canso Harbour] [Nova Scotia] at 2 AM Saw 2 Sail pass through the Gutt Slipt & went after them the Tender in Comy.1 fired Several Guns the Tender Coming up with Chace fired Several Guns Retook one Brig2 and burnt Another3 Gave chace to the Reble privateer—
Lying in the Gutt of Canso Light Breezes and Clear at 1 PM Saw a Sail to the Southard Giving Chace to the Brig we had Retook from the privateer left of[f] Chace and Gave chace to the Other She having Engaged the Tender fired Several Broad Sides but Could Not bring her too She Being a Schooner of 8 or ten Guns light airs out Sweeps and fired 20 Shot at 6 A Small Breeze Sprung up at 7 Do Got Within Gun Shot and Got the Broad Side to bear, and fired 21 guns fell Calm She Got off with Rowing Joined the tender and prize Hauld our Wind to the Noward at 12 TKd
Wednesday 27th
at 4 AM Saw a Sail to the SW gave Chace fell little Wind the Chace Rowing off at Meridn. Thick fogg—
Canso NW Diste. 6 Leags. light Airs & hazy [PM] lost Sight of the Chace TKd and Stood for the land Saw a Sail to the SE4 at 8 Do Made the Signal for the prize to go into Canso—
D, UkLPR, Adm. 52/1636, part 3, fols. 46–47.
1. As seen at the notes at Cabot’s journal entry of 18-19 May, above, the tender was the recently-captured Massachusetts privateer sloop General Montgomery.
2. Brig William, master unknown, 160 tons burthen, manned by 14 seamen, owned by Robien/Robun of Jersey, from Chesion bound to Boston with salt and stores, sent into Canso. Howe’s Prize List, 30 Oct. 1778, UkLPR, Adm. 1/488, fols. 484–85; Gambier’s Prize List, 20 Dec. 1778 printed in The London Gazette, 2–6 Feb. 1779.
3. Brig Fortune, master unknown, 180 tons burthen, mounting 2 guns and manned by 14 seamen. Ibid.
4. On 28 May Cabot “spoke the chace” and found it to be a snow from Grenada bound for Halifax. UkLPR, Adm. 52/1636, part 3, fol. 47.
