The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, January 9.

Extract of a Letter from Capt. Jason Vaughan, of the Sarah, dated from Fort Catalina in Cadiz, December 4, 1738.

I Sailed from Port Royal in Jamaica the 1st of June last, bound to Bristol: but on the 20th of the same Month, being in the Latitude of 24 Degrees 28 Minutes, Cape Anthony bearing South and by East, distant 55 Leagues, I was chased by a Spanish Man of War, who soon came up with me, and having fired several Times, I brought too: they ordered me to send my Boat aboard, which I accordingly did, but they detained my Men, and sent 18 of theirs in the Boat, who ordered me out of my Ship, with all my Men, on board their own, which carried us to the Havanna, where my Ship came some Days after. I was there detained a Prisoner three Months. and then put on board one of their Ships and brought to this Port. and from thence to this Castle. The Consul here offered to be Security for my Appearance, if I could have the Liberty of walking about the City; but that Favour could not be obtained; so I have, by this Post, wrote to the British Minister in Madrid.

My Ship and Cargo was worth 9000 l. Sterling: the latter was sold before I left the Havanna, for about 1-20th Part of what it cost; and the Ship was also put up for Sale.

P. S. I was bound from Jamaica, and was on my Passage home when taken, and had not been in any Port.

Reader, observe, this Ship was not taken by a Guarda Costa, but by a King's Ship. It has been mentioned, that the Convention was to produce great Advantages to our Merchants! ---- The Lord open the Eyes of the P-----t and our Mouths shall her forth their Praise!