Friday 11th. The first Settled day Since we left providence. the Joyners made an Arm Chest to Carry in the pinnace when we Go on the Look out. Lattitude per Mas'rs Obs'n 24:32.
Saturday 12. Fresh breezes of Wind with some Squalls of Rain. att 11 AM. the Capt. Saw the Land off the poup. it was the Crocassess.[71]
Sunday 13th. The Capt. Gave the people a Case bottle of Rum for a Tropick bottle[72] for his pinnace. the people Chrisned her and Named her the Spaniards dread. Att 11 AM. made the Land of Hispaniola and the Island of Tortudas.[73] We have now Gott in Cruizing Ground, the Lord send Us Good Success against our Ennemies. Squally Rainy Weather for the most part of these 24 hours.
Munday 14th. Hard Gales of Wind. brought too off of trotudas Under Our foreSail. att 5 AM. Saw a Sloop bearing down Upon us. Gott all things Ready to Receive her. fired Our bow Chase then Hoisted our Jibb and Main Sail and Gave her Chase, and we out Sailing of her she brot. too. she was a Sloop from Philadelphia bound to Jamaica. We then brot. too again Under Our ballast main, it blowing a meer frett of wind att No. Opened a bb. of beef and a tierce of bread.
Tuesday 15. Still Under Ballast-main Sail. about 5 AM. the Gale abated. Loost Our fore Sail and took the Reef out of our Main Sail. about 7 AM. Saw the Land which proved to be Cape Maze.[74]
Wednesday 16. Moderate Weather but an Uncommon Wind att So. Cruzing off of Cape Maze. delivered to Saml. Nixon a New hand a Gun and Cartouch Box, to Marshall a pistoll and Cartouch box he having Lost his that he had found him before, to Ephraim Read and Benjn. Blanchard Each a pistoll theirs being broke, and to Humphry Walters a Cutlasses having lost is [his] Given him before, all which Arms they are to pay for.
Thursday 17. Still Cruizing as above. att 7 PM. saw 2 Sloops, one on Our Starbord and the other on the Larboard Bow, steering No.West. We fired Severall Shott to bring them too but one of them was Obstinate. Capt. Hubbard brot. too att the first Shott. he was Come from Jamaica and bound to York. he Informd Us that there was a large fleet Just Arrived from England to Join the Admiral, that Admiral Vernon was Gone to St. Aga[75] de Cuba, that there was a hott press both by Sea and Land, and that the Spanish Admiral with a Large Man of Warr was blown up att the Avanah,[76] which News We hope is true, that the other Sloop was one Capt. Styles bound also to York and Saild in Comp'y with him, that there was a Ship also to Load,[76a] which we Saw with a Schooner, the former bound to London and the Schooner to Rhode Island. Styles Received Some damage by his Obstinacy for not bringing too, having hulled him and tore his Sails. Att 5 AM. Saw a top sail Vessell, the Master Going to Mast-head to See what Course she Steer'd had the misfortune to break his Arm Just above his wrist. Gave the Vessell Chase as farr as Inagua Island[77] where she brot. too. We made the Capt. Come on board with his papers. he Came from Lougan[78] and was bound to Nantz in france, Loaded with Sugar, Indigo and Hydes, also 300 ps. of 8/8 Sent by the Intendant to the Receiver of the Customs of Nantz. We went aboard in his Yawl and found his Cargo Agreeable to his Bills of Lading and Manifest togather with his Clearance, so lett him past. he Informed Us that there was a Brigt. belonging to the Spaniards att Lougan that Came in there by disstress having Lost his Mast, Which Gentleman we hope to have the Honour to dine or Sup with before Long. he further told Us that the Last North Wind had done Great damage having drove Severall Vessell to Sea all Unrigged.
Friday 18th. Calm Weather for these 24 hours. Opened a bb. of beef and a bb. flowr. Att 5 AM. saw two Sails Under Cape Nicholas[79] but coud not speak with them it being start[80] Calm. the Mas'r is in a fair way of doing well with his Arm.
Saturday 19th. Still moderate Weather. Saw a Sail. Gave Chase.
Sunday 20th. Att 5 PM. Came up with the Chase. she proved to be a french Ship that was blown out of Loogan in the Hurricane 6 days ago. she was obliged to Cut her Mizenmast to Gett Clear of the Land. her Quarters were all Stove in and her head Carried away and neither Anchor nor Cable aboard but perrishing for want of water. she had 16 hands aboard and but one Sailor, which was the Master. she had on board 30 hhds. of Sugar, one hhd. and a barrell of Indigo, 13 hhds. of Bourdeaux Wine and provisions plenty. We ordered his boat on board. as soon as the Master Came over the side he fell on his knees and beg'd for help and told us his deplorable Case. We Spared him some Water and put one of Our hands aboard to Navigate his Vessell he being an Intire Stranger on the Coast. he kept Comp'y with Us all Night. the Mas'r Sent us a hhd. of Wine. Att 5 AM. saw the Ship a League to Windward of Us. We then made in for the Mole by Cape Nicholas[81] and she Steering after Us We bro't her in, but the Wind Coming ahead and his Ship out of trim coud not work up as far as We, So she Came to an Anchor a League below Us. the Capt. of the Ship is named Doulteau, the Ship La Genereuse from Rochell in france, Dutch built. Opened a bb. pork and a bb. flowr.