“We have brought in here a French Privateer of six 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 Wine and Flour, and six 12 Pounders, Guns and two Anchors for a Privateer; we took a Brig we had just Time to ransom; 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 the Men went ashore in their Boats; the third, being about 400 Tons, our Boats were manned, and got her off the Bank, and proved to be a St. Domingo Man, laden with Sugar, Coffee, Cotton, and Indigo; but she was so damaged with striking on the Banks, that our Men could not possibly keep her free; upon which we brought her to an Anchor, and took out about 50 or 60 Hogsheads of Indigo; soon after which she sunk. 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, tho’ we had English Colours, which she took for a Signal: This Bark we also made a Prize of; she is laden with fine Wine, Hams, Pitch, Oars, &c. All for the French King’s Account.

The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 2, 1757.

The Fire soon increased, burnt that Store house, and next seized the Dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Nusam adjoining thereto; from thence the Flames caught the opposite and adjacent Houses of Messers. Haggatt, Lampy, Walker, and Codrington Carrington, Esq; and afterwards took its Course Westward to James Fort; which being consumed, the Fire still increasing, burnt the Houses down in Crown Alley up to Cheapside, its progress was then Eastward, burning and Raging in a most dreadful Manner on the South of Broad-street, toward the high House, called the Coffee-House; which being seized, the Flames communicated their destructive Influence to the House of Mr. Blackman, that of Richard Husbands, Esq; the Secretary, where the publick Records were kept (but those were happily preserved) the House and Stores of General Barwick, Messers. Lary, Black, and some other adjoining Houses, which put the whole Town in Danger of being consumed to Ashes.

The Fire abated about Five o’Clock next Morning. It is computed, that about 160 Houses have been burnt, and ‘its said it was in the richest Part of the Town.”

Manchester Mercury, 20 April 1756.

‘The 20th of November his majesty’s ship Assistance chaced a French privateer of 18 guns, and a schooner privateer with a prize, into Tiberon bay, on the west end of Hispaniola, where the French had a battery of five guns. The vessels hauled close to the shore, under cover of the battery; but it falling calm, capt. Weller, was obliged to tow in with his boats. The 21st he burnt the snow and schooner, sunk the prize, and dismounted all the guns on the shore. He had two men killed in the action, and his masts and rigging much damaged. The privateer snow was late the Duke Pacquet, taken in January last, commanded by one Palanqui, who has done great prejudice to our trade in this and the late war.

The 24th of November the Princess Mary returned from cruizing off Monte Christi, and brought in a Dutch ship loaded with sugar, coffee, and indigo, one of the fleet that sailed from Cape François under convoy of the French ships on the 13th of November. It appears by the confession of her men, that she carried out from Holland to Cape François, cannon, powder, shot, and other military stores, and was returning freighted with their produce. I have ordered her to be tried in the Admiralty court.

I sailed from Port-Royal, the 6th of December, with his majesty’s ships the Augusta and Princess Mary. The 13th I made the Augusta’s signal to chace off Cape Tiberon, who took a small French sloop loaded with sugar; and the French set fire to a large ship in the bay, to prevent her falling into our hands. She blew up before the Augusta’s boat could get on board. I have since been informed she mounted 16 guns, and had 65 men on board.

The 14th we took two French privateers with our boats, one of eight carriage and 12 swivel guns, the other of four carriage and eight swivels: Most of their men swam ashore.

By the prisoners I was informed, that a rich fleet was ready to sail from Port au Prince, under convoy of two armed merchant ships of 24 guns each. I directly sent a good sailing small sloop, that I have hired for a tender, to look into that port, who returned with an account, that eight loaded ships were come out of the harbour into the road, and lay, with their mizen top-sails loose, unmoored.

I immediately ordered the Augusta to stretch to the southward to guard the passage between the island of Guanava and Petit Guava, and I kept to the northward with the Princess Mary between the Guanava and Cape Nicolau. The 24th, in the night, the Augusta fell in with the French fleet, consisting of eight ships, a snow, and a brigantine, and by noon, next day, had taken the eight ships and the brigantine; the snow only escaped. I have sent capt. Forrest, with the prizes, to Jamaica, with orders to return to me directly, as I hope to meet the fleet that is expected at Cape François from Europe. The prisoners say the ships we have taken are the richest that ever sailed from Port au Prince.

The Hornet sloop has drove ashore and destroyed a French snow of 12 carriage guns, and taken a small schooner privateer off Cape Rose.’”

The London Magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, February 1758.