[August 1778] Sundy 9.
Rhode Island Light house NbW about 4 Leagues at 5 saw sail in ye. NE at 10 am ye. adml.1 made ye Sigl. for seeing the Land Modt. and Cloudy 1⁄4 Past 12 made sail at 1⁄2 Past Do. short. sl. The Commo.2 made ye. sigl. to Tack Do. Tackd at 1⁄2 pt. 4 made the sigl. to speak ye. adml. Tack’d occasionally at 8 PM ye. Adml. made ye. sigl. to anchor Do. anchor’d in 17 fm. the adml. and fleet in Company The French fleet in Rhode Island Harbour. saw a sail in ye. NE Qr. The adml. made ye. sigl. for the Pearl2 to give Chace in that Qr. 1⁄2 pt. the adml. made the sigl. to speak the Commr. of ye. 2d. and 3d Division
D, UkLPR, Adm. 52/1953, fol. 272.
1. Vice Adm. Viscount Howe.
2. Likely Commo. William Hotham, aboard H.M.S. Preston, part of the division to which H.M. frigate Renown belonged.
3. H.M. frigate Pearl, Capt. John Linzee.