JOURNAL OF THE SECOND CRUISE.

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April 7th the Defence had Five Men Broke out With the Small Pox.

9th they Lost a Man wth the Small Pox.

10th Exersisd Cannon & Musquetry.

11th Saw a Sail the Defence Spoke with her She was a Frenchman from Bourdeaux Bound to the West Indies.

13th Crosd the Tropick Shavd & Duck About 60 Men.

14th at four Oclock Afternoon Saw a Sail Bearing E S E. We Gave Chase to her & Came Up With her at 8 Oclock She was a Large French Ship we Sent the Boat on Board of her She Informed us of two English Ships which She Left Sight of at the time we Saw her.

15th at Day Break We saw two Sail Bareing SEbS Distance 2 Leagues We Gave Chase Under a Moderate Sail at 9 oClock P. M. Came Up with them they at First Shew French Colours to Decoy us when we Came in About half a Mile of us the Ups with English Colours We had Continental Colours Flying We Engaged the Ship Admiral Kepple as Follows When We Came in About 20 Rods of her We Gave her a Bow Gun She Soon Returned us a Stern Chaise & then a Broad Side of Grape & Round Shot Capt Orders Not to fire till we Can See the white of their Eyes We Got Close Under their Larbard Quarter they Began Another Broad Side & then We Began & held Tuff & Tuff for About 2 Glasses & Then she Struck to Us at the Same time the Defence Engaged the Cyrus who as the Kepple Struck Wore Round Under our Stern We Wore Ship & Gave her a Stern Chase at which She Immediately Struck. The Loss on our Side was One Killd & Six Wounded one Mortally Who Soon Died Our Ship was hulld 9 Times with Six Pound Shott Three of which Went through Our Birth one of which wounded the Boatswains yoeman the Loss on their Side was two Killd & Six wounded their Larbourd quarter was well filld with Shott one Nine Pounder went through her Main Mast. Imployd in the After-noon Takeing out the Men & Maning the Prise The Kepple Mounted 20 Guns 18 Six Pounders & two Wooden Do with about 45 Men, the Cyrus Mounted 16 Six Pounders with 35 Men Letters of Marque Bound from Bristol to Jamaica Laden with Dry Goods Paints & C.

18th Capt Day Died.

19th Capt Brown of The Ship Adml Kepple & Capt Dike of the Cyrus with Three Ladies & 8 Men Sett off in a Long Boat for St Kitts Or Captns Parker & Smedleys Permition. 20th Imployd in taking things out of the Prise Viz. One Chist of Holland a Quantity of Hatts & Shoes Cheeses Porter & Some Crockery Ware Small Arms Pistols Hangers two Brass Barrel Blunderbusses a Quantity of Riggen & C.

21st At Three oClock Afternoon we wore Ship to the Southward The Prises Made Sail to the Northward we Lost Sight of them at Six.

May 2nd Sprung Our Foretopmast Struck it & Shipd Another in its Room.

8th Saw a Sail over Our Starboard bow We Gave Chase to her She was a French Guineaman Bound to the Mole With 612 Slaves on Board Our Capt Put 6 Prisoners on Board of Her Left her Just at Dark.

11th At 5 o’Clock in the Morning Saw a Sail at the Windward two Leagues Distance Bearing Down Upon Us we Lay too for her till She Came in half Gun Shott of us the Man at Mast head Cryd out 4 Sail to the Leeward Our Officers Concluded to Make Sail from her Supposing her to be a Frigate of 36 Guns after we Made Sail We Left as Fast as we wanted She Gave Over Chase at two oClock Afternoon She was the Seaford of 28 Guns.

22nd Sprung our Maintop sail Yard.

28th Made the Land at Port Royal.

29th the Ship Struck Bottom Thrice.

30th Came over the Bar this Morning & Arrivd in this Harbour In Company with the Ship Defence Comed by Samll Smedly. Charlestown, Sth. Cna. May ye 30th 1778.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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