To fuppofe

them forth in the most defpicable light. that General Clinton and his officers fhould have been nineteen days in that fmall ifland, without ever examining until the very time of action the nature of the only paffage by which they could render any service to their friends, and answer the purpose of their landing and the end of the expedition, appears an intolerable want of military prudence and circumfpecrion. In the way the Gazette tells this ftory, General Clinton deferved to have been feverely cenfured and punished for his negligence and inattention; for provided he had intended to have driven a flock of fheep over the continent, it would have been neceffary to have founded the depth of the water, before hand, to have found whether it was poffible to pafs them over without drowning of them. There might perhaps be reason for concealing the true ftate of this affair, and probably no blame to be imputed to the commander and officers. General Clinton certainly acted wifely in not attempting to pafs over to the continent, for there was fuch a force under General Lee, and fo well posted, that had our men advanced, as was expected, it would have been impoffible to have faved them from a total overthrow. The commander in chief in that expectation was never believed to have written thefe accounts that were written in his name concerning his mistake about the depth of the water: this was always confidered as a minifterial apology framed by those who manufactured the Gazette, who for want of common fenfe, put in that abfurdity into the paper.--They were not willing to allow that the colonists had either force or courage to oppose our men, and therefore they created feven feet of water to preferve their power and courage,

and

and to fupport their own idea of the American pufilanimity. It was not the depth of the water that prevented General Clinton from attacking Sullivan Fort, but his own prudence and fagacity, who when he perceived upon a nearer infpection the force of the enemy, and that to attack them would be attended with certain deftruction to his own army, he wifely defifted from an experiment that could do no good, but would have been attended with much evil, both to himfelf, and the caufe he was engaged in. It has been the happinefs of thefe brave officers who have ferved the prefent government in this ruinous war, never to have their actions fairly stated in the public ac÷ counts of their proceedings. They have at one time been extolled beyond all the limits of difcretion, as heroes of extraordinary magnitude, and by the very fame authority leffened and depriciated to the lowest degree. of character.

By comparing all accounts concerning the attack upon Sullivan's Ifland, it appears that our people had. been mistaken in eftimating the force and ftrength of the colonists, and that they found that they had much more to do than fubdue Sullivan fort. An army rea dy appointed and well pofted was prepared to receive them, which if they had proceeded to attack, they must have fallen a facrifice to their own folly and rafhnefs.

This action continued till the darknefs of the right compelled the affailants to defift; they however fhewed much eagernefs, notwithading their weariness, lofs, and fatigue, to give up the enterprife. Sir Peter Parker after ufing every effort which bravery is capable of, finding that all hope of fuccefs was at an end, and the ebbing tide near fpent, withdrew his fhat

tered

tered veffels between nine and ten o'clock of the evening, after an engagement which had been fupported for above ten hours with uncommon courage and bravery. The Bristol had 111, and the Experiment 79 killed and wounded, and both ships had received fo much damage, that the provincials conceived hopes that they could not have been got over the bar. The frigates did not fuffer fo feverely, for the provincials pointed their fire principally at the great fhips. The bomb yeffel did little fervice upon this occasion; there appeared to be a real want of art in the management of the mortars, for fome were overcharged, and the beds fo fhattered and loofed that they were rendered ufelets.

It was not expected that their finall infignificant fort would have been able to have withstood the heavy fire of our fhips the space of one hour, though upon trial it was found that after ten hours fevere cannonade, it was as far from being reduced as at the beginning. The provincials fhewed on this occafion both skill and intrepidity, which would have done honour to veteran troops; both officers and men performed their duty to the amazement of their enemies, and conducted their fire with fuch deliberation and defign, that almost every fhot did execution, The carnage aboard the Bristol and Experiment was dreadful, and the fhips were hulled in a terrible manThe guns of the fort are faid to have been 42 pounders, and were formerly thofe that belonged to the Foudroyant man of war, which had been former, ly taken from the French: thefe did dreadful execution. The British failors did all that brave men could do, but as the land forces could not poffibly

ner.

M

affin

and to fupport their own idea of the American pufilanimity. It was not the depth of the water that prevented General Clinton from attacking Sullivan Fort, but his own prudence and fagacity, who when he perceived upon a nearer infpection the force of the enemy, and that to attack them would be attended with certain deflruction to his own army, he wifely defifted from an experiment that could do no good, but would have been attended with much evil, both to himfelf, and the caufe he was engaged in. It has been the happiness of thefe brave officers who have ferved the prefent government in this ruinous war, never to have their actions fairly ftated in the public ac counts of their proceedings. They have at one time been extolled beyond all the limits of difcretion, as heroes of extraordinary magnitude, and by the very fame authority leffened and depriciated to the lowest degree. of character:

By comparing all accounts concerning the attack upon Sullivan's Ifland, it appears that our people had. been mistaken in eftimating the force and ftrength of the colonists, and that they found that they had much more to do than fubdue Sullivan fort. An army rea dy appointed and well pofted was prepared to receive them, which if they had proceeded to attack, they must have fallen a facrifice to their own folly and rafh nefs.

This action continued till the darkness of the night compelled the affailants to defift; they however fhewed much eagernefs, norwithading their wearinefs, lofs, and fatigue, to give up the enterprife. Sir Peter Parker after ufing every effort which bravery is capable of, finding that all hope of fuccefs was at an end, and the ebbing tide near fpent, withdrew his fhattered

tered veffels between nine and ten o'clock of the evening, after an engagement which had been fupported for above ten hours with uncommon courage and bravery. The Bristol had 111, and the Experiment 79 killed and wounded, and both fhips had received fo much damage, that the provincials con-ceived hopes that they could not have been got over the bar. The frigates did not fuffer fo feverely, for the provincials pointed their fire principally at the great hips. The bomb veffel did little fervice upon this occasion; there appeared to be a real want of art in the management of the mortars, for fome were overcharged, and the beds fo fhattered and loofed that they were rendered ufelets.

It was not expected that their finall infignificant fort would have been able to have withstood the heavy fire of our fhips the space of one hour, though upon trial it was found that after ten hours fevere cannonade, it was as far from being reduced as at the beginning. The provincials fhewed on this occafion both skill and intrepidity, which would have done honour to veteran troops; both officers and men performed their duty to the amazement of their enemies, and conducted their fire with fuch deliberation and defign, that almost every fhot did execution. The carnage aboard the Bristol and Experiment was dreadful, and the fhips were hulled in a terrible manner. The guns of the fort are faid to have been 42 pounders, and were formerly thofe that belonged to the Foudroyant man of war, which had been former, ly taken from the French: thefe did dreadful execution. The British failors did all that brave men could do, but as the land forces could not poffibly