The New Hampshire Gazette

Portsmouth, March 11.

Extract of a Letter from Ferley, dated on board the Charming Nancy Privateer of that Island, Captain Winter, who has been out about three Weeks.

We have brought in a French privateer of 16 carriage guns, 14 swivels and 50 men; also a French sloop loaded with wheat and peas; and a brig from Bourdeaux to Nantz, laden with wheat and flour, and six twelve-pounders, guns, and two anchors for a privateer: we took a brig which we had but just time to ransom: we also took another brig, loaded with cheese, but retaken; we afterwards chased three large ships going into Bourdeaux River, who run up the Bank, called the Olive, two of which, in less than an hour after, were lost, and all the men went ashore in their boats; the third, being about 40 tons, our boats were manned, and got her off of the bank, and proved to be a St. Domingo Man, laden with sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo; but so much damaged with striking on the banks, that our men could not possibly keep her free. Upon which we bro't her to an anchor, and took out about 20 or 30 hogsheads of indigo; soon after which she sank. And in the interim a French bark taking us for a man of war of the same nation that was assisting this ship, came in close to us, though we had English colours, which she took for a signal: This bark we also made a prize of. She is loaded with fine wines, hams, pitch, oars, &c. all for the French king's account.

We also gave chase to eight ships to windward of us, bound for Bourdeaux, but they all got in before we could come up; one of them came to an anchor between the banks, about two leagues from the tower of Cordouan, which we took to be a merchantman, and as night was coming on, we anchored. The next morning we got under sail, and found her to be a man of war of 24 nine pounders upon her deck, and six upon her quarter deck, and as we were within shore of her, it obliged us to come almost alongside of her: She would not let us pass quietly, so we engaged her for two hours and a half, during which time we played pretty smartly. At last I suppose she being satisfied, left us, giving us a broadside at parting, which we returned, and went about our business.

Our rigging and sails were much shattered. We received five shots in our hull, but God be praised had but one man slightly wounded. Our people, I do assure you, have behaved extremely well: and no sooner was any of the rigging cut or damaged but it was immediately repaired, notwithstanding the great fire from the enemy.