squadron having got out of New York, waiting the arrival of the
Constitution, the latter of which I had reason to believe was the
case.

At four in the afternoon, a ship was seen from the masthead,
bearing about north-east, standing in for us under all sail, which
she continued so to do until sundown, at which time she was too far
off to distinguish signals, and the ships in shore only to be seen
from the tops; they were standing off to the southward and
eastward. As we could not ascertain before dark what the ship in
the offing was, I determined to stand for her, and get near enough
to make the night signal.

At ten in the evening, being within six or eight miles of the
strange sail, the private signal was made, and kept up nearly one
hour, but finding she could not answer it, I concluded she and the
ships in shore were enemy.

I immediately hauled off to the southward and eastward, and made
all sail, having determined to lie off till daylight to see what
they were. The ship that we had been chasing hauled off after us,
showing a light, and occasionally making signals, supposed to be
for the ships in shore.

On the 18th, at daylight, or a little before it was quite light,
saw two sail under our lee, which proved to be frigates of the
enemy's. One frigate astern within about five or six miles, and a
line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig, and a schooner, about ten
or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase of us, with a fine
breeze, and coming up fast, it being nearly calm where we were.