light until eleven at night, and the boats were kept ahead towing
and warping to keep out of reach of the enemy, three of the
frigates being very near us; at eleven, we got a light breeze from
the southward, the boats came along side and were hoisted up, the
ship having too much way to keep them ahead, the enemy still in
chase and very near.

On the 19th, at daylight, passed within gunshot of one of the
frigates, but she did not fire on us, perhaps, for fear of
becalming her, as the wind was light; soon after passing us she
tacked, and stood after us--at this time six sail were in sight,
under all sail after us. At nine in the morning, saw a strange
sail, on our weather beam, supposed to be an American merchant
ship; the instant the frigate nearest us saw her, she hoisted
American colors, as did all the squadron, in hopes to decoy her
down; I immediately hoisted the English colors, that she might not
be deceived; she soon hauled her wind, and, as is to be hoped, made
her escape. All this day the wind increased gradually, and we
gained on the enemy, in the course of the day, six or eight miles;
they, however, continued chasing all night under a press of sail.

On the 20th, at daylight in the morning, only three of them could
be seen from the masthead, the nearest of which was about twelve
miles off, directly astern. All hands were set at work wetting the
sails, from the royals down, with the engines and fire buckets, and
we soon found that we left the enemy very fast. At a quarter past
eight, the enemy finding that they were fast dropping astern, gave
over chase, and hauled their wind to the northward, probably for
the station off New York. At half past eight, saw a sail ahead,
gave chase after her under all sail. At nine, saw another strange