The Shark man of war, Capt Bennett [sic John Chapman], on her way from Antigua to this island, opposite the island of Martinico, fell in with a North American privateer, mounting 18 ten pounders. The action lasted near two hours, when the latter was obliged to sheer off; and the former pursued till she received two twenty-four pound shot from the fort at Martinico, which obliged her to desist; and the captain went on shore to make his complaint to the French governor, who declared he would not suffer any English man of war to come within reach of his cannon after the Americans; that if they were pirates he would not countenance them, but by no means looking on them in that light; they claimed his protection while they remained at Martinico; when they put to sea it was their own affair.
Captain Bennett [sic] learned at Martinico, that this same American vessel had taken two English ships homeward bound, and that they had 39 prisoners on board; but the captains nor names of the vessels he could not hear; the colours which the American shewed were a field white and yellow, with, 13 stripes.
