The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Capt. James Nicholson, late of the Trumbull, dated Long Island, 28th of August.

"On the 8th instant, we sailed from the Capes, in company with a privateer of 24 nine-pounders, and a letter of marque of 14 six pounders, and 28 sail of merchantmen. The first of which ships received my signals, and gave me every assurance of standing by me to the last extremity. In three hours after leaving the Capes, we discovered three sail to the Eastward, two of which stood for us. We hauled our wind and weathered them about two leagues. Night was then coming on, and they four leagues astern, with their topgallant sails out, ours handed and under an easy sail; the greater part of our fleet a-head, when our fore-topmast went away and carried the main topgallant-mast with it. This misfortune the enemy discovered—the whole fleet then left me—a squally rainy night come on, and we could steer no other ways than right before the wind—the wreck of the topmast with the yard and rigging lying aback of the foresail and over the bows—the topsail yard-arm came through the foresail and on the forecastle, so that with our utmost exertion we could not clear ourselves of the wreck until one of the ships came alongside, and the other in sight; immediately all hands were called to quarters—instead of coming, three quarters of them ran below, put out the lights, matches, &c. With the remainder and a few brave officers, we commenced an action with the Iris for one hour and thirty five minutes, at the end of which time the other ship came up and fired into us; seeing no prospect of escaping in this unequal contest, I struck, having my first and third lieutenants, and Capt. Murray a volunteer, with 8 others wounded, and 5 killed. My crew consisted of 180 men, 45 of whom were taken out of the new gaol (prisoners of war) they thro' treachery, and others from cowardice, betrayed me, or at least prevented my making the resistance I would have done: At no time of the engagement had I more than 40 men upon deck. The Iris took me in tow, being a perfect wreck, and carried me into New-York: in a week after I was paroled to this place, with my officers. I have wrote to the Commodore desiring my parole to go to my family: this, he answers, is inadmissible. Our officers having not returned agreeable to their paroles, before, and we being indebted a large number of prisoners, which we decline sending in; so that I am likely to continue here till a person of equal rank can be exchanged for me."