400 Hogsheads of Sugar, and a considerable Quantity of
Indigo, Cotton-Wool, Hides, etc. valued at about 9000L Sterling. She
sail'd out with 4 other Vessels bound also to France, and had parted
from her a Day or Two before she was taken: One of which is the Prize
carried into Bristol as beforementioned; and another of them is said
to be the trading Sloop that was seized at Rhode-Island last Week. Two
other Vessels, they say, sail'd the Day before them for Cape-Breton.

Several French Letters found on board this Prize confirm the Arrival
of the Squadron mentioned in our last, commanded by Monsieur
Beaufremont;[4] and that he had sent out two Frigates to clear the
Coast of our Privateers; but that the English Squadron approaching,
they ran into Porto Paix,[5] and informed the French Admiral thereof;
who thereupon put to Sea, and a great Number of Cannon were heard for
several Hours; so that we may expect to hear of some smart Engagement.

[Footnote 4: The Chevalier de Bauffremont, prince de Listenois, _chef
d'escadre_ in the French navy and later vice-admiral, had sailed from
Brest at the end of January, with a squadron of six vessels, for St.
Domingo, capturing the _Greenwich_, 50, on his way. From the West
Indies he sailed for Louisbourg, where he arrived May 23.
Lacour-Gayet, _La Marine Militaire de la France sous Louis XV._, pp.
383, 495.]

[Footnote 5: Port au Paix, on the north coast of Haiti.]

_199. Letter of William Smith, jr. April 8, 1757._[1]

[Footnote 1: London, Public Record Office, Admiralty, 1:3882.]

NEW YORK 8 April 1757.

_Sir_,

On the 6th Instant, a French Snow[2] laden with Sugar[3] and Indigo,
to a very considerable Value, was brought into this Port, by two
English Merchant men, who captivated her on the High Seas in March
last, tho they had neither Letters of Marque nor other Commission.

[Footnote 2: _Le Bon Rencontre._ The case was a curious one (notes of
Judge Hough, from the papers relating to it in the files of the New
York vice-admiralty court). On March 22, 1757, this French snow of 160
tons, while on a trading voyage from Port Louis in Guadeloupe to
Bordeaux, was captured off Bermuda by the English ship _Maxwell_,
Etherington master, and the New York sloop _St. Stephen_, Thomas, who
sent her with an English crew to New York; but neither of them had any
letters of marque, or commission authorizing them to take prizes. The
snow was brought to anchor inside Sandy Hook. Early in the