338 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1782. 



now scarcely reached hundreds;^ but the people, though appa- 

 rently relieved from heavy impositions, found even greater 

 difficulty in meeting the demands of the tax collector than be- 

 fore, so great was the scarcity of the precious metals. 



The money orders of Council now generally directed payment 

 to be made in specie, or in paper issued by the State, provision for 

 the redemption of which had been made. Province Island, which 

 belonged to the State up to this period, was divided into lots and 

 sold, the proceeds of the sale being appropriated for the redemp- 

 tion in part of this paper. 



But little property was confiscated within the limits of Dela- 

 ware County. The largest portion was on Tinicum and Hog 

 Islands, the property of Joseph Galloway, who was never a resi- 

 dent of the county. 



On the 8th of April, 1782, near the entrance of the Delaware 

 bay, the remarkable action took place between the Pennsylvania 

 ship Hyder Alt, commanded by Captain Barney, mounting six- 

 teen six-pounders, and carrying one hundred and ten men, and 

 the British ship Creneral 3Ionk, mounting twenty nine-pounders, 

 and carrying one hundred and thirty-six men. The Hyder Ali 

 had sailed down the Delaware as a convoy to several merchant 

 vessels. Upon approaching the Capes, Capt. Barney discovered 

 a frigate and otlaer vessels of the enemy inside of the Capes, 

 whereupon he signalled the merchantmen to return. In order 

 to prevent a successful pursuit by the enemy's ships, he deter- 

 mined to occupy their attention for a time. The frigate not 

 being able to reach the position of the Hyder Ali, she was im- 

 mediately engaged by the General 31onk, at close quarters. 

 Capt. Barney, by a ruse de guerre, in giving an order in a loud 

 voice, so as to be heard by the enemy, but which, by a private 

 understanding with the helmsman, was to be construed differ- 

 ently, acquired for his ship a raking position, which soon gave 

 him the victory. Another r^ise Avas necessary to avoid pursuit 

 by the frigate. The British flag was again run up on the 3Ionk, 

 while that of the Hyder Ali was struck, giving the appearance 

 of a British victory, while both vessels followed, as if in hot 

 pursuit of the defenceless merchantmen. Capt. Barney did not 

 know the extent of his victory till he was out of reach of danger, 

 when he ascertained that the loss of the enemy was twenty killed 

 and thirty-three wounded; the first lieutenant, purser, surgeon, 

 boatswain, and gunner being among the former, and Capt. Jack- 

 son, the commander, among the latter. In his trip up the Dela- 

 ware he captured a refugee schooner called the "Hook 'em 

 Snivey." 



^ In 1780-81, two poor-taxe^ in Chester township amounted to £4,156 lfi«. Conti- 

 nental money, while the next tax was £55 I9«. 3c/. in " good money." — Township Book. 



