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taing, on returning from his more prejudicial than useful enterprise upon the sea, had chosen to cooperate with the Americans, it is certain, that the position of general Pigot would have been excessively critical.

Assailed on the one side by the Americans, the English could not have hoped to defend themselves, if the French on the other, in addition to the fire of their ships, had landed, as they easily might have done, a strong detachment on the southern point of the island, in order to assault the left flank of the town, which was known to be the weakest. But the count d'Estaing had very different intentions. He despatched a letter to Sullivan, informing him that, in pursuance of orders from his sovereign, and of the advice of all his officers, he had taken the resolution to carry the fleet to Boston. His instructions were, it is true, to sail for that port if his fleet should meet with any disaster, or if a superior British fleet should appear on the

coast.

The injuries sustained by the storm, and the information which had been received that Byron had arrived at Halifax, were considered as producing the state of things contemplated by the instructions of the ministry. The Americans, convinced that the departure of the count d'Estaing would be the ruin of the expedition, added entreaties to remonstrances, in order to dissuade him from so fatal

a measure.

Generals Greene and La Fayette besought him that he would not, by persisting in his resolution, abandon the interests of the common cause; they represented to him the importance, to France, as well as America, of the enterprise commenced; that it was already so well advanced as to leave no doubt of success; that it could not be relinquished in its present stage without shaming and disgusting the Americans, who, confiding in the promised cooperation of the French fleet, had undertaken it with alacrity, and made incredible exertions to provide the requisite stores; that to be deserted at so critical a moment would furnish a triumph to the disaffected, who would not fail to exclaim, that such was French faith, and the fruit of the alliance; that the successive miscarriages of the Delaware, of Sandy Hook, and finally this of Newport, could not but carry to its height the exasperation of minds. They added, that with a fleet in so shattered a condition, it would be very difficult to pass the shoals of Nantucket; that it could be repaired more conveniently at Newport than at Boston; and finally, that its present station afforded advantages over Boston for distressing the enemy, while in the event of the arrival of a superior fleet, it would be no more secure at Boston than at Newport. All was fruitless. The count d'Estaing got under sail the twenty-second of August, and three days after came to anchor in the harbor of Boston.

Whatever is to be thought of this resolution of d' Estaing, which, it appears, was not only approved, but even strenuously recommended by his council, it is certain that it made a violent impression upon the minds of the republicans, and excited loud clamors throughout America. The militia, who with so much zeal had hastened to join Sullivan in Rhode Island, finding themselves thus deserted by their allies, immediately disbanded, so that the besiegers were reduced in a short time from about ten thousand men to not more than half that number, while the force of the enemy consisted of six thousand

veterans.

In so abrupt a reverse of fortune, and seeing the allied fleet retire, while that of the enemy approached, the American general soon determined to fall back upon the main land, and evacuate the island entirely. He began the twenty-sixth of August to pass his heavy artillery and baggage towards the northern point of the island, and on the twenty-ninth he put himself in motion, with all the army. Though warmly pursued by the English and Hessians, he rejoined his van without loss. But the enemy coming up in more force, there ensued a very hot affair in the environs of Quaker Hill, in which many soldiers fell on both sides. At length, the Americans repulsed the English with admirable resolution. In the night of the thirtieth, the corps of Sullivan recovered the main land by the passages of Bristol and Howlands Ferry. Such was the issue of an expedition, undertaken not only with the fairest prospect of success, but which had been carried to the very threshold of a brilliant termination. The American general made his retreat in time; for the next day general Clinton arrived with four thousand men and a light squadron, to the relief of Newport. If the winds had favored him more, or if general Sullivan had been less prompt to retreat, assailed in the island by an enemy whose force was double his own, and his way to the continent intercepted by the English vessels, his position would have been little less than desperate. His prudence received merited acknowledgments on the part of Congress.

Admiral Howe having refitted his ships with astonishing despatch, stood out to sea, and sailed towards Boston. He hoped to arrive there before his adversary, and consequently to intercept his retreat thither, or at least to attack him in the outer harbor. He arrived, indeed, on the thirtieth of August, in the bay of Boston. But he was unable to accomplish either the one or the other of his designs; the count d'Estaing was already in port; and the batteries erected by the Americans upon the most commanding points of the coast rendered all attack impracticable. The British admiral, therefore, returned to New York, where he found a reenforcement of several ships, which rendered his fleet superior to that of the French. He availed himself of this circumstance, and of the permission he had received some time before, to resign the command to admiral

Gambier, until the arrival of adıniral Byron upon that station, which took place the sixteenth of September. Lord Howe soon after returned to England. This illustrious seamen rendered important services to his country, in the campaigns of Pennsylvania, New York and Rhode Island, services which would have had more brilliant results, if the ability of the commanders on shore had equalled his own. Even to say nothing of the activity he displayed in transporting to a distant country so numerous an army as that of his brother sir William, the talent and firmness with which he surmounted the obstacles that opposed his entrance into the Delaware, deserve the highest commendation. When the count d'Estaing made his appearance with a formidable fleet, and much superior to his own, he nevertheless prepared to receive him at Sandy Hook; afterwards by offering him battle he baffled his designs against Newport; and then the French admiral, disabled by the tempest, forced to seek refuge in the port of Boston, issued no more, except to make the best of his way to the West Indies; thus totally abandoning the execution of the plan concerted by the allies for the campaign of this year upon the coasts of America. Finding Newport secure, general Clinton returned to New York He afterwards detached general Grey, who was at New London, upon an expedition of much importance, towards the east. Buzzards Bay, and the adjacent rivers, served as a retreat for a multitude of privateers, the number and boldness of which occasioned infinite prejudice to the British commerce of New York, Long Island and Rhode Island. Clinton resolved to chastise an enemy that seemed to defy him, and to put an end to his maritime excursions. This task was committed to the charge of general Grey. He arrived with some transports, effected. his landing in the bay, and destroyed about sixty large vessels, besides a number of small craft. Proceeding then to New Bedford and Fair Haven, upon the banks of the river Acushnet, and conducting himself more like a pirate than a real soldier, he destroyed or burned warehouses of immense value, full of sugar, rum, molasses, tobacco, drugs and other merchandise. Not content with these ravages, he passed into the neighboring island, called Martha's Vineyard, the soil of which is very fertile, and which served as a refuge for the most daring cruisers. He levied on the inhabitants a contribution of live stock, to the great refreshment of the garrisons of New York. He carried off, besides, a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition.

Returned to New York, he soon undertook another expedition, against the village of Old Tappan, where he surprised a regiment of American light horse. His conduct on this occasion was not exempt from the reproach of cruelty. A few days after, the English made an incursion against Little Egg Harbor, upon the coast of New Jersey, where they destroyed much shipping, and brought off a

considerable booty. They afterwards attacked by surprise the legion of Pulaski, and made great slaughter of it. The carnage would have been still greater, if Pulaski had not come up, with his usual bravery, at the head of his cavalry. The English reembarked, and returned to New York.

It was at this epoch that the French and American generals meditated a new expedition against Canada. Besides the possession of so important a province, there appeared a possibility of ruining the British fisheries upon the banks of Newfoundland, and, by reducing the cities of Quebec and Halifax, of putting an end to the maritime power of England upon those shores. The French were the principal movers of this enterprise; their minister, and d'Estaing, perhaps, with covert views; the marquis de la Fayette, whose youth answered for his ignorance of these political wiles, with frankness, and from the love of glory. He was to have been employed in the expedition

one of the first generals. The count d'Estaing published a manifesto, addressed to the Canadians in the name of his king, in which, after reminding them of their French origin, their ancient exploits, and happiness they had enjoyed under the paternal sceptre of the Bourbons, he declared that all the ancient subjects of the king in North America, who should cease to acknowledge the English domination, should find safety and protection. But Washington showed himself opposed to this project, and he developed his motives to the Congress; his opinion prevailed.

The Congress alleged that their finances, their arsenals, their magazines, their armies, were not in a state to warrant the undertaking of so vast an enterprise; and that they should experience too pungent regrets to find themselves in the event unable to fulfill their engagements towards their allies. Such was their public language; but the truth is, they apprehended a snare, and that the conquest of Canada would have been made for France, and not for America.

The retreat of the count d'Estaing, at the moment when Newport was about to fall into the power of the combined armies, had greatly irritated the minds of the Americans, particularly in the northern provinces. Many began to entertain a loathing towards allies who seemed to forget all interests except their own. To this motive of aversion was added the remembrance, still recent, especially with the lower classes, of ancient quarrels and national jealousies, which the new alliance, and the need of French succours, had not sufficed to obliterate. Washington and other leading Americans endeavored to appease these discontents, which, they foresaw, might lead to serious mischief. The count d'Estaing, on his part, was no less careful during his stay in the port of Boston, not only to avoid all occasion of misunderstanding, but also to conciliate by every means in his power the affection of his new allies. The conduct of the French officers, and even of the common sailors, was truly exemplary. This extreme

circumspection, however, did not prevent the occurrence, on the thirteenth of September, of a violent affray between some Bostonians and the French. The latter were overpowered by number, and the chevalier de saint Sauveur lost his life in it. The selectmen of the town, to allay the resentment of the French, showed themselves very solicitous to punish the offenders. They published a reward to whoever should make known the authors of the tumult. They declared, at the same time, that the citizens had not been in fault, but English sailors made prisoners by the cruisers, and deserters from the army of Burgoyne, who had enlisted in the Boston privateers. Tranquillity was restored. The count d'Estaing, whether he was satisfied, or that from prudence he chose to appear so, made no further inquiry into this affair. No offender was discovered. The government of Massachusetts decreed a monument to be erected to saint Sauveur.

The night of the sixth of the same month of September had witnessed a scene far more serious, at Charleston, South Carolina, between the French and American sailors. It terminated in a formal battle. The Americans were the first to provoke their allies by the most reproachful language; the latter resented it. From words it came to blows; the French were soon driven out of the city, and forced to take refuge on board their ships. Thence they fired with artillery and musketry against the town; the Americaus, on their part, fired upon the French vessels from the adjoining wharves and shore. Many lives were lost on both sides. A reward of a thousand pounds sterling was promised, but in vain, to whoever should discover the authors of this broil. The commander-in-chief of the province exhorted the inhabitants, in a proclamation, to consider the French as good and faithful allies, and friends. There was even a law passed, about this time, to prevent the recurrence of similar licentiousness, whether of words or actions. Thus ended the riots of Boston and of Charleston, which were attributed, if not with truth, at least with prudence, to British artifice and instigation. For the chiefs of the American government were not without apprehension that these animosities might deprive them of their new allies, whose resolutions, they knew, were not irrevocable.

The savages took a more active part than ever in the campaign of this year. Though they had been intimidated by the success of general Gates, and had sent him congratulations for himself and the United States, the intrigues and presents of the British agents had not lost their power over them. Moreover, the emigrant colonists, who had retired amongst these barbarians, excited them continually by instigations, which, together with their natural thirst for blood and pillage, determined them without scruple to make incursions upon the northern frontiers, where they spread terror and desolation. The most ruthless chiefs that guided them in these sanguinary expe

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