The Virginia Gazette

Dec. 1. The Lisbon letters are full of commendation of a most gallant action which happened on the 20th of October, between his Majesty's ships the Jupiter of 50 guns, Captain Reynolds, and the Medea of 28 guns, Capt. James Montague, with a French 80 gun ship, off cape Finisterre. Captain Reynolds and Captain Montague conceiving her to be an Indiaman, got so close to her without apprehensions of danger, that it was too late to escape it, they therefore attacked her like Englishmen. Captain Reynolds at once laid alongside of her to the windward, at five o'clock P. M. the Medea placed herself on the lee quarter, and continued for some time giving her broadsides, but from the superiority of her force could do very little execution, and was soon driven to leeward with an 18 pounder between wind and water, and never after able to recover her station, so as to be of any service to the Jupiter. Captain Reynolds continued close engaged till eight o'clock, when the French ship gave way, and took the advantage of a very dark night, and escaped to Ferrol, with the loss of her Captain and about 200 men. The Jupiter is arrived at Lisbon in a shattered condition to refit, and found the Medea there on the same business.