The New Hampshire Gazette

ANTIGUA. December 21.

Extract of a Letter from Penhallow Cuming, Esq; captain of his Majesty's sloop Salisbury, dated in English Harbour.

The first instant we sailed from St. John's with an intent to stretch far enough to the northward of Antigua to weather Barbuda and get 15 or 20 leagues to the windward of Antigua, among the French privateers : But on the 4th instant at day light, being then in the latitude of 19 : 40. Antigua bearing S.S.E. 45 leagues, we saw a sail to windward bearing eastward two or three leagues distance, steering W. by S. right before the wind. which we soon discovered to be a large ship and French built. A little after sun rising she hauled close to the wind, on which we gave chase, and about noon got in reach of our bow chase, which we fired at her under English colours; she returned the compliment with her stern chase under French colours, hoisted her studding sails,and went away large with all the sail she could make, & we with all the sail we could crowd after her, still plying our bow chase and she her stern chase. This sport continued about 2 hours, till we got within musket shot of her stern. We then gave the sloop a large sheer & gave her our starboard broad side, and immediately wore round again and gave the other broad side. Many broadsides were exchanged in this manner till about 2 P. M. when we got close along side of her (right before the wind ) and began a smart action, which continued till past sunset with equal warmth, at which time we parted, being both in a most miserable condition, shattered and torn to pieces, our sloop having scarce a running rope in her, our masts, yards, sails, and every thing else in the like condition, with several shot between wind-and-water : 10 of our men were killed, and 16 wounded. two of which are since dead of their wounds. Among the wounded is the Master miserably shattered in the face with the loss of one eye, and I am afraid totally ruined ; the boatswain, with the loss of one arm ; and the gunner with a fractured thigh. At this time the enemy was in a much worse condition than our selves, having her masts, yards, sails and rigging cut to pieces, and scarcely any standing or running rigging left. They had their topsail yards and top gallant yards shot down several times, which they got up again ; but at last every thing was shot away, and remained down, with two large heaps of dead bodies on their quarter deck, which we could plainly see from our tops ; my officers and people behaved themselves like true Englishmen, and did all that men could do on the occasion. We imagine she was a man of war of 28 or 30 guns, though she fought only 18. She had 9 pounders in her waist, and 7 pounders on her forecastle (we having weighed some of their shot) and had five ports on a side abaft the main mast between decks, which were all caulked in. She had swivel guns in her tops, with a great many swivels and blunderbusses along her quarters, and very full of men, but very deep. We believe she was from France with stores for St. Domingo, and upwards of 200 tons burthen. The night and following day we were pretty briskly employed in every shape, and the 6th we fell in with a French privateer sloop, which we chased within three leagues of Barbuda in the night time, and must have taken her could we have ventured to stand on, being within random shot of her when we were obliged to leave chase. By being so far to leeward it was the 16th before I got to windward of Antigua ; where I fell in with the Ann, James M'Gee from London for Jamaica, who were all well. The 17th I saw him safe as far as the north side of the island ; and we arrived here the same day. where I am refitting. I have got out my mizen yard and mizen mast (which were both shot away) and am making new ones ; and shall use my utmost dispatch to get ready for sea again. My foremast will be made serviceable with the help of two fishes ; my main and topsail yards will want some repairs, and likewise my hull ; most of my sails are condemned and sent ashore.