On the afternoon of the 26th, our sentries made the appointed signal of seeing three ships; on which we immediately put all our prisoners into the bark, from which we removed her sails, and took away all our men, except two lieutenants and twenty-two men, whom we left to look after our prize and the prisoners.  As the prisoners, though 170 in number, were secured in the bark, without sails, arms, rudder, or boat, and moored near a mile distant from our prize, there were more than sufficient for guarding them and giving them provisions and drink during our absence.  This being arranged, we immediately weighed and stood to sea, in order to assist our consorts in attacking the great ship.  Captain Dover thought proper to go on board the prize, instead of one of our lieutenants, whom he sent to me.  I was still in a very weak condition, my head and throat being very much swelled, so that I spoke with great pain, and not loud enough to be heard at any distance; insomuch that all the chief officers and our surgeons wished me to remain in the prize, but I would not consent.  We got under sail about seven p.m. and saw lights several times in the night, which we supposed to be false fires in the boats of our consorts.  In the morning of the 27th at day-break, we saw three sail to windward, but so far distant that it was nine o’clock before we could make out which were our consorts and which the chase.  At this time we could see the Duchess and the chase near together, and the Marquis standing to them with all the sail she could carry.  We also made all the sail we could, but being three or four leagues to leeward, and having a very scant wind, we made little way.  At noon they bore S.E. from us, being still three leagues right to windward.  In the afternoon we observed the Marquis get up with the chase, and engage her pretty briskly; but soon fell to leeward out of cannon shot, where she lay a considerable time, which made us conclude that she was somehow disabled.

I sent away my pinnace well manned, with orders to dog the chase all night, making signals with false fires that she might not escape us; but before our boat could get up to them, the Marquis made sail again towards the chase, and went to it again briskly for more than four glasses.  At this time we saw the Duchess steer ahead to windward, clear of the enemy, as I supposed to stop her leaks or repair her rigging.  Meanwhile the Marquis kept the enemy in play, till the Duchess again bore down, when each fired a broadside or two, and left off because it grew dark.  They then bore south of us in the Duke, which was right to windward, distant about two leagues; and about midnight our boat came to us, having made false fires, which we answered.  Our people had been on board both the Duchess and Marquis, the former of which had her foremast much disabled, the ring of an anchor shot away, one man killed and several wounded, having also received several shots in her upper works and one in her powder-room, but all stopt.  The Duchess