Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

A letter from Capt. Tingey, of which the following is an extract, was received on Saturday at the office of the Secretary of the Navy.

Ganges, off St. Bartholomews, 26th June, '99.

SIR,

AGREEABLY to the tenor of my correspondence, by the Baltimore, capt. Barron, of the 18th inst. I proceeded with the Ganges to this coast of St. Bartholomews, where I met as heretofore only fruitless chases till the morn of the 16th. after being joined by capt Bainbridge with the Norfolk, when rather before day, a sail was discovered under our lee—chase was immediately given to the N. W. the course the vessel took; our Situation being about N E. by N. from St. Bartholomewe 16 or 18 leagues.

As the day opened we knew or believed her to be a French privateer Sloop of 10 guns which we had seen a few days ago in the harbour of that island, and he was scarce more than three or four gun shot distance.

She led us, however, with every sail in the ship set, till three in the afternoon, having run near 60 miles. and discharged upward of 40 guns at her, some of the last of which were loaded with canister shot, which went round him like hail, without doing him any material damage, and fortunately for him none of his numerous crew were hurt.

During the chase he had cast overboard (in order to lighten his vessel, and facilitate his sailing) the boat, some of his provisions, all his guns, except two, and much other heavy material, but to no effect. After or about 1 P. M. finding we approached him, and that he must fall, he hoisted French colours, and fired a gun to the windward, to give him opportunity of striking in form; which he at length—did, —but so near that a broadside from the ship would probably have totally destroyed him. It proved to be the privateer sloop Vainqueur of Guadaloupe, of 8 guns and 85 men. She is Bermudian built. coppered up to the bends, was most completely fitted, & from her rate of sailing (being by their account, the swiftest privateer of Guadaloupe except one) and the number of her men, she would have proved extremely mischievous to our trade - She had been 14 days from Guadaloupe, and had taken nothing.