The Virginia Gazette

WATERTOWN, August 12. We hear, that on Wednesday last [a ship] was sent into Portsmouth, by the Hancock privateer of Philadelphia, a large ship (formerly a twenty gun ship) now mounting 14 guns, bound from Jamaica for London, having on board 700 hhds. of sugar, and 200 [tons] of rum, besides other valuables; a fine prize. We hear she was taken by one of the tyrant's pilferers, was very much rejoiced to fall in with her, and doubtless vice versa, when the Hancock at night threw out a light as a signal for a pilot. At day-light the next morning the Captain of the ship invited the Captain of the Hancock to come on board and take breakfast; who replied, his hands were so few, and sick, that he had not enough to man his boat and work the vessel, and in his turn invited the Captain of the ship to come on board him, which he readily complied with, by ordering his boat out, when he and about a dozen of his hands went on board the Hancock, and were taken as good care of as men in such circumstances could allow. The Hancock then sent an equal number of her own hands on board the ship, when, alas! she fell into the hands of the United States of America.