August 1778 Saturday 15th
at 3 AM 8 sail in Sight, at 7 md. the Private Signl. which they answer’d, Saw ye land bearg. NW abt. 3 Leagues, at 8 Joined Co: Commdore. Elliott in H.M: Ship Eagle1 with the Somerset,2 Trident,3 Cornwall,4 Nonsuch5 and 2 Fire Ships,6 The Commdore. made ye. Signal to speak us, At Noon the Commdore. and 10 Sail in Sight.
At Single Anchor off Sandy Hook Modte. breezs. and Hazy with drizling rain In 1st. reef Topsls. at 4 PM Saw a Ship in distress at Anchor Close under the high land of Neversunk, The Commdore. made our Signl. to go to her assistance mde. sail, ½ past 4 he made our Signl. to join the fleet, Do. shortned sail at ½ past 6 Got down Topgallt. Yards, The Commodore made the Signal to Anchor, ½ past 7 Anchord wth. the Bt. Br. in 10 fms. Sandy bottom & Vear’d to a Cable, Do. Anchor’d the fleet. Light House bore NWbW. Bent the sheat Cable & got ye Anchor over the side.
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/776/7, fol. 6.
1. H.M.S. Eagle, Capt. Sir Roger Curtis; at this point, Commo. John Elliot was flying his flag from her.
2. H.M.S. Somerset, Capt. George Ourry.
3. H.M.S Trident, Capt. Anthony James Pye Molloy.
4. H.M.S. Cornwall, Capt. Timothy Edwards.
5. H.M.S. Nonsuch, Capt. Walter Griffith.
6. H.M. fire ship Strombolo, Comdr. Peter Aplin, and H.M. fire ship Sulphur, Lt. James Watt.