All hands were set at work wetting the
sails, from the royals down, with the engines and fire buckets, and
we soon found that we left the enemy very fast. At a quarter past
eight, the enemy finding that they were fast dropping astern, gave
over chase, and hauled their wind to the northward, probably for
the station off New York. At half past eight, saw a sail ahead,
gave chase after her under all sail. At nine, saw another strange
sail under our lee bow, we soon spoke the first sail discovered,
and found her to be an American brig from St. Domingo, bound to
Portland; I directed the captain how to steer to avoid the enemy,
and made sail for the vessel to leeward; on coming up with her, she
proved to be an American brig from St. Bartholomew's, bound to
Philadelphia; but, on being informed of war, he bore up for
Charleston, South Carolina. Finding the ship so far to the
southward and eastward, and the enemy's squadron stationed off New
York, which would make it impossible to get in there, I determined
to make for Boston, to receive your farther orders, and I hope my
having done so will meet your approbation.
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