The Kentucky Gazette

SALEM, June 17.

Extract of a letter received from a gentleman belonging to this town, and directed to his owner here, dated Isle of France, March 25, 1795.

"The Modesty privateer arrived here 3 days ago from a most successful cruise off the Sand Head in the Bay of Bengal—and has brought in all her prizes; the most valuable of which is the Triton, English country ship from Madras for Bengal. The circumstances of this capture are perhaps the most extraordinary that ever occurred, and are as follow: the Modesty had first had 30 men, and has distributed the greater number on board her prizes—when the Indian (which she had in sight, a Bengal pilot boat which was prized to the Modesty, and which they used as decoy) then bore down upon the Triton, having on board only 23 men in all, and hauled from their yards a main topsail, this formidable ship—17 republicans only got on board, and with sword and pistol in hand completely mastered her in about 15 minutes. The Indian had 130 Europeans on board, was well armed and taken 30 men extra from Madras. The English captain, and 8 or 9 others were killed in the action—the rest ran below, and were secured. They then captured another vessel, which the prisoners ransomed, and sailed for Madras. The generous French captain (who is a young hero not 21 years old) gave the passengers, among whom were several ladies, all their private property. He fought the English captain hand to hand, and shot him with his own pistol. It seems the Vollely was not in company at all—and indeed it would have been a sad digression from her name to have engaged in such an unequal combat—17 men overpowered 132, protected by 40 guns at least mounted!—the remaining 6 could not get on board. The English prisoners were made pass one by one, in irons from their own ship into the ransomed vessel—and the invincible tars of old England, exclaimed, as they passed,— 'Damn my eyes, Jack, where are the men that took us?' The French privateer had only a letter of marque commission, and went originally to take turtle—she is an American built vessel and belonged last war to, and sailed from Baltimore—schooner rigged, and was called the Antelope. In consequence of this success, the Governor here has granted permission for 4 privateers to sail for India, and they are now equipping."