[Augst. 1778] Monday 10.
The middle of Block Island, West, 8 Miles. at 7 AM The Admiral made the Signal for the Commodores1 of the Respective divisions. The Galley - - - gave chace to a Schooner & brot. her into the Fleet. At 9 heard a heavy Cannonading [from] Narraganset passage & saw the French Fleet coming out. at 10 Weigh’d & sail’d in Company with the Fleet. at 11 Our Sigl was made to take the Volcano fire Ship2 in Tow.
Block [Island] North N 27 Leagues [Vari]able Wr. at 1 PM Hoisted out a Boat in order to take the People out of the Volcano if occasion for it. At 3 Recd. Orders from the Eagle’s tender to Tack, and haul our Wind on the Starbd. Tack & make the best use of the Volcano we could. Wore Ship, The Admiral3 soon after hoisted a Red & Blue Flag at his Ensign staff with the Experiment’s4 Sigl. & ours to continue on our Larboard Tacks as before Wore Ship
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/675, fol. 58.
1. Commo. John Elliot and Commo. William Hotham.
2. Fire ship Volcano, Lt. William Henry King O’Hara.
3. Vice Adm. Viscount Howe.
4. H.M.S. Experiment, Capt. Sir James Wallace.