The New Hampshire Gazette

NEW-YORK, May 21. NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. The brig James, Capt. Morris, arrived this morning in 17 days from St. Croix. Capt. Morris, in lat. 37, 28, off Cape Henry, was witness to the engagement said to have taken place on Saturday last, between two English frigates and five French ships. Capt. Morris, was about 2 leagues distant from the engagement. The following is an abstract of the minutes Capt. M. had made upon his log-book. Saturday, March 16--being then in lat. 37, 28, long. 73, at 5 P. M. 5 sail of vessels hove in sight, standing about N. W. supposed to be French; at the Same time was boarded by a boat from the frigate Thetis, which was then heaving out signals to a British frigate, about a league to the southward, shortly after he spoke her, when they both bore down upon the French ships, which had formed a line; they engaged the sternmost first, and proceeded on to the 4th ship, when after engaging her for some time, the others scattered-both of the English frigates continued to play upon the Frenchman until 12, when they had carried away his mizen mast, they then sheered off for about 15 minutes, to repair their rigging. The Thetis, then stood to the southward, after one of the French ships, which struck shortly after he came up with her: The other British frigate again bore down upon the disabled ship, and fired several broadsides into her, by which her main and mizen masts were carried by the board, after which the firing ceased. The other three ships, it is probable escaped, as they were standing to the N. E. and were about 4 leagues distant. Capt. Morris supposes that they must have burnt one of the French ships, as in the evening he-observed considerable smoke to the southward.