Journal Entry of Moses Bond

[Page 34, July 7, 1808]

In May we left this Island for Tangiers to which we had a very pleasant passage but getting within Cape [ ] in the night we were not able to fetch the harbor on account of the current which [seth] strong into the straight; we therefore put away for Tetouan but had not proceeded far before we were chased and captured by a number of Spanish Gun boats who carried us into a small place on the Spanish shore and after having searched us strictly suffered us to proceed.

In this instance as in many others, we had to experience the overbearing conduct of those wretches who follow the employment of privateering within the Straits of Gibraltar and as I have observed wherever this mercenary business is practiced.  Men who obtain their sovereign’s commission to annoy the Enemy for want of other Employ are a sure trouble to Friends…