In a few Days two Sloops were equipped and manned: The _Henry_ with 8 Guns and 70 Men, commanded by Captain _John Masters_, and the _Sea Nymph_, with 8 Guns and 60 Men, commanded by Captain _Fayrer Hall_, both under the entire Direction and Command of the aforesaid Colonel _Rhet_, who, on the 14th of _September_, went on Board the _Henry_, and, with the other Sloop, sailed from _Charles-Town_ to _Swillivants_ Island, to put themselves in order for the Cruize. Just then arrived a small Ship from _Antigoa_, one _Cock_ Master, with an Account, that in Sight of the Bar he was taken and plundered by one _Charles Vane_, a Pyrate, in a Brigantine of 12 Guns and 90 Men; and who had also taken two other Vessels bound in there, one a small Sloop, Captain _Dill_ Master, from _Barbadoes_; the other a Brigantine, Captain _Thompson_ Master, from _Guiney_, with ninety odd Negroes, which they took out of the Vessel, and put on Board another Sloop then under the Command of one _Yeats_, his Consort, with 25 Men. This prov'd fortunate to the Owners of the _Guiney_ Man, for _Yeats_ having often attempted to quit this Course of Life, took an Opportunity in the Night, to leave _Vane_ and to run into _North-Edisto_ River, to the Southward of _Charles-Town_, and surrendered to his Majesty's Pardon. The Owners got their Negroes, and _Yeats_ and his Men had Certificates given them from the Government. _Vane_ cruised some Time off the Bar, in hopes to catch _Yeats_, and unfortunately for them, took two Ships coming out, bound to _London_, and while the Prisoners were aboard, some of the Pyrates gave out, that they designed to go into one of the Rivers to the Southward. Colonel _Rhet_, upon hearing this, sailed over the Bar the 15th of _September_, with the two Sloops before mentioned; and having the Wind Northerly, went after the Pyrate _Vane_, and scoured the Rivers and Inlets to the Southward; but not meeting with him, tacked and stood for Cape _Fear_ River, in Prosecution of his first Design. On the 26th following, in the Evening, the Colonel with his small Squadron, entered the River, and saw, over a Point of Land, three Sloops at an Anchor, which were Major _Bonnet_ and his Prizes; but it happened that in going up the River, the Pilot run the Colonel's Sloops aground, and it was dark before they were on Float, which hindered their getting up that Night. The Pyrates soon discovered the Sloops, but not knowing who they were, or upon what Design they came into that River, they manned three Canoes, and sent them down to take them, but they quickly found their Mistake, and returned to the Sloop, with the unwelcome News. Major _Bonnet_ made Preparations that Night for engaging, and took all the Men out of the Prizes. He shewed Captain _Manwaring_, one of his Prisoners, a Letter, he had just wrote, which he declared he would send to the Governor of _Carolina_; the Letter was to this Effect, _viz. That if the