es, vol. 64, pp. 245-246.]

The Deposition of John Flood and Zachariah Foss who sail'd from Boston
on the 25th of June last in the Privateer _Hawk_, Samuel Waterhouse
Commander.

The Deponents testifye that being on Board the Brigantine _Hawk_
commanded by Saml: Waterhouse, They on the 29th of June last, in the
forenoon, betwixt the Hours of Eleven and Twelve, about 40 Leagues to
the South East of Cape Briton, spied a Sloop steering northward, and
observing that she had a White Pennant out[2] they gave her Chace, and
easily outsaild her and having got within about a Mile of her the
Sloop fir'd a Shot which fell about half a mile to Leeward of the
_Hawk_, at the same time making all the Sail she could to run from us;
upon which we fired at the Sloop five times successively; our first
and second shot fell to Leeward, The third went thro' her Foresail,
The fourth went thro' both her Mainsail and Foresail, The fifth struck
her forward towards her Bow: upon which we were ordered to bear away,
(being then at the Distance of about forty Pole from her, as near as
we can judge) and as we bore away from the Sloop, we gave her three
Chears (which were return'd us) and fir'd another Gun; The Sloop in
the mean time bearing close upon the Wind in order to make her
Escape. within the Space of about an Hour after, the Company in the
_Hawk_ agreeing (all save the Captain and the owners Quartermaster) to
follow the Sloop and Engage her, We gave her Chace, but She having by
that time got to the Distance of about 3 Leagues from Us to windward,
and a thick Fog arising, we lost Sight of her by about four of the
Clock in the afternoon; we however, kept our course in pursuit of her
till the next morning, but saw her not again.

[Footnote 2: And therefore was presumed to be French.]

The Deponents further declare that the Number of Hands on Board the
_Hawk_ (including Boys to the number of 10 or 12) was one hundred and
thirty eight; That she had twelve Carriage Guns--(viz: 2 nine
Pounders, 2 six Pounders, and 8 four Pounders,) beside 20 or 22 Swivel
Guns.

That the Sloop (so far as they could judge) was of not more than half
the number of Tun as the Brigantine _Hawk_. The Number of her Men they
could not guess at, being in great Measure cover'd by a Netting, which
Surrounded them; Save that they observ'd em to muster thick on the
Quarter Deck. That not coming a Breast with the Sloop, the Deponents
could not discover the Number of her Guns