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next morning d'Eftaing weighed and failed toward the 1778, Hook, and in the evening of the 11th anchored with- i. out it. Had not bad weather and unexpected impediments prevented, the count must have furprised Howe's fleet in the Delaware, as the latter would not have had time to escape after being apprized of his danger. The deftruction of the fleet must have been the confequence of fuch furprifal; and that must have occafioned the inevitable loss of the royal army, which would have been fo enclosed by the French fquadron on the one fide, and the American forces on the other, that the Saratoga catastrophe must have been repeated. This fatal ftroke would have been of an amount and magnitude (with respect to both the marine and land fervice, and the confequences hanging upon it) not easily to be conceived. The prevention of it, by the various hinderances that d'Estaing met with on his voyage, ought to be confidered by Great Britain as a fignally providential deliverance.

Lord Howe's fleet confifted only of fix 64 gun ships, three of 50, and two of 40, with fome frigates and floops. Count d'Estaing had twelve fhips of the line; feveral of which were of great force and weight of metal, one carrying 90, another 80, and fix 74 guns each; he had beside present with him, three of the four large ftout frigates, that had attended him on his voyage. He anchored on the Jersey fide, about four miles without the Hook; and American pilots of the first abilities, provided for the purpose, went on board the fleet: among them were perfons whofe circumstances placed them above the rank of common pilots. Lord Howe had the advantage of poffeffing the harbour formed

1778. by Sandy Hook; the entrance of which is covered by a bar, and from whence the inlet paffes to New York. As it could not be known whether the French would not attempt paffing in force over the bar, it was neceffary that the British fhould be prepared to oppose them. On this occafion, a fpirit difplayed itself not only in the fleet and army, but through every order and denomination of feamen, that is not often equalled. The crews of the transports haftened with eagerness to the fleet, that it might be completely manned: masters and mates folicited employment, and took their stations at the guns: with the common failors: the light infantry, grenadiers, and even wounded officers fo contended to serve as maFines on board the men of war, that the point of honor: was obliged to be decided by lot. In a word, the pa-> triotism, zeal, bravery, and magnanimity which appeared› at this juncture, was a credit even to Great Britain. It must however be acknowledged, that the popularity of lord Howe, and the confidence founded on his abilities, contributed not a little to thefe exertions. But the American pilots declaring it impoffible to carry the large fhips of d'Eftaing's fquadron over the bar into the Hook, on account of their draught of water, and [uly gen. Washington preffing him to fail to Newport, he left the Hook after eleven days tarriance, and in a few hours was out of fight. Nothing could be more providential. While he remained, about twenty fail of veffels bound to New York fell into his poffeffion; they were chiefly prizes taken from the Americans: but had; he stayed a few days longer, admiral Byron's fleet must have fallen a defencelefs prey into his hands. That fquadron had met with unufual bad weather; and being

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feparated in different ftorms, and lingering through a 1778 tedious paffage, arrived, fcattered, broken, fickly, dif

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masted, or otherwise damaged, in various degrees of: distress, upon different and remote parts of the American coaft. Between the departure of d'Eftaing and the -30th of July, the Renown of 50 guns from the West 30. Indies, the Raifoñable and Centurion of 64 and 50 from Halifax, and the Cornwall of 74 guns, all arrived fingly at Sandy Hook. By his fpeedy, departure a number of provifion fhips from Cork efcaped alfo, together with their convoy. They went up the Delaware within fifty miles of Philadelphia after lord Howe had quitted the river, not having obtained any information of what had happened. The British miniftry had neglected countermanding their deftination, though orders for the evacuation of Philadelphia had been sent off fo early, ás to have admitted of their receiving fresh directions where to have fteered before failing. Great rejoicings were -made at New York upon their fafe arrival, especially as provifions were much wanted by both the fleet and

army.

As the bar prevented all attempts on the part of d'Estaing against Howe's fleet within the Hook, a plan was concerted for attacking Rhode Island; and gen. Sullivan, who commanded at Providence, was employed in affembling an additional body of New England militia. Such was the eagerness of people to co-operate with their new allies, and their confidence of fucceeding and reaping laurels, that some thousands of volunteers, gen, tlemen and others from Bofton, Salem, Newbury Port, Portsmouth, &c. engaged in the fervice. When d'Eftaing was arrived off point Judith on the 29th, the

1778. which increased to a violent tempest, and continued for near 48 hours, put by the engagement. Two of the French fhips were difmafted, and others much damaged. The Languedoc of 90 guns, d'Eftaing's own fhip, loft her rudder and all her mafts; and was met in that condition on the evening of the 13th, by the Renown of 50 guns. Capt. Dawfon bore down without hoifting colours. The count ordered capt. Caleb Gardner, who was on board as a pilot, to hail him, that he might know what ship it was. Dawson made no anfwer, but ran with a full fail and fair wind till he was under the ftern of the Languedoc, then hoifted English colours, fired in great and small shot, and musketry, and failed off. The Languedoc upon that fired two chace guns after him, when he never attempted to approach her more. The fame evening the Preston of 50 guns, commodore Hotham, fell in with the Tonant of 80 guns, with only her main-mast standing, and attacked her with fpirit, but night put an end to the engagement. The junction of fix fail of the French fquadron, prevented Aug. all further attempts upon their two disabled ships, by the 16. Renown and Prefton the next morning. On the 16th, the Ifis of 50 guns, capt. Raynor, was chaced by the Cæfar, capt. Bougainville, a French 74 gun. Neither had fuffered in the tempeft. A clofe and defperate engagement was maintained on both sides, with the greatest obftinacy, for an hour and a half, within piftol fhot. The Cæfar at length put before the wind and failed off, the captain having loft his arm, the lieutenant his leg, a number of men being killed and wounded, and the ship confiderably damaged. The Ifis had fuffered fo in her

mafts and rigging, that he could not attempt a purfuit.

1778.

The troops under gen. Sullivan now demand our attention. When they had landed, they poffeffed themfelves of the heights near the north end of the island. They fuffered no lefs than the fhips by the tempeft. The wind blew moft violently, attended with a flood of rain through the whole day of the 12th, and increased fo at night, that not a marquee or tent could stand: feveral of the foldiers perished by the feverity of the ftorm, many horses died, the greatest part of the ammunition delivered to the troops was damaged, and the condition of the army was deplorable. On the 14th, the ftorm was over, and the weather clear and fine. The garrifon having enjoyed better accommodations and greater security than the Americans, Sir Robert Pigot had a fair opportunity of attacking the latter while difpirited and worn down by the painful fcenes from which they had just emerged. Gen. Greene and fome British officers are of opinion, that a bold and vigorous onfet under these circumstances would have been highly proper and fuccefsful. But as nothing of this kind happened, the day was spent by the Americans in drying their clothes, &c. and getting in order for an advance. The next morning they marched at fix o'clock, and took poft about two miles from the British lines. By the 20th 20. they had opened two four gun batteries; but their approaches were flow. About two o'clock in the afternoon the French fleet was discovered standing for Newport. At seven gen. Greene and the marquis de la Fayette went on board the Languedoc, to confult upon meafures proper to be purfued for the fuccefs of the expe

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