'giments; and with this increased strength ' he gave it to be understood, that he waited only the addition of the second division of French ships and troops to make an attempt upon New York.

• Your fortunate arrival upon this coast has, I am persuaded, entirely defeated every idea of such a plan, supposing it really ever to have been intended. The rebels seeing the little likelihood of being so greatly assisted by the French as at first ' propagated, have grown slack in their augmenting the Washington army, which, on the contrary, has diminished very much by ' desertion.

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Thus, Sir, in a defensive view of things, your coming on this coast may have proved of the most important consequences.

Respecting offensive operations, which

'your zeal, Sir, has engaged you to wish possible to be improved into advantage by an attempt upon the enemy's force at Rhode Island, I am free to own that I am apprehensive the enemy have had so much time ' and assistance in labour, and they can be so soon and so considerably reinforced, that

"I scarcely think an attempt practicable with any assurance of success. As to land ope⚫rations against the French force at Rhode ⚫ Island, I must give it as my opinion to you, 'Sir, as I did to Admiral Arbuthnot-that as long as there was appearance of a coup de 'main before the enemy were intrenched or ⚫ reinforced, I thought an attempt practicable,

and with six thousand men I would have 'made it; but when I found the enemy had had at least fourteen days to prepare against it, I naturally gave up all hopes from a coup de main. The army could no longer then be a first or principal. It was then I offered ⚫ co-operation with the navy; but I have every 'reason to suppose that Admiral Arbuthnot

saw very early that the navy could not un'dertake anything, situated as the enemy's ships were. However, Sir, that you may be 'better able to judge of the whole business, I have sent you my correspondence with • Admiral Arbuthnot. Should he, so considerably reinforced by you, Sir, think any attempt still practicable, he will of course report it, and in that case, I offer to your Excellency, as I did to him, every possible

"secondary assistance of the army; for, with ' about three thousand men, all I can now

spare from this important post, I cannot ' undertake a siege against an army of ten "thousand men, and in a situation where "Washington might assemble the whole force "of America.

"If, therefore, Admiral Arbuthnot, rein"forced so considerably by you, does not 'alter his opinion, I am persuaded you will

agree with me in mine, that we should give

our whole attention to the plan I laid before "you yesterday, and finally, in sending an ex"pedition into Chesapeake Bay, as to the neces⚫sity and importance of which we both agreed.

I sincerely wish it may be your Excellency's intention to stay upon this coast, at least as long as there is a possibility of the ' arrival of a superior naval force. I am

equally sincere in my wishes that the course of service may bring us together early next ' year, for I have a pleasure in co-operating 'with you, as I have in assuring you of the 'perfect esteem with which I am,

&c. &c. &c.,

H. CLINTON.'

FROM THE EARL OF SANDWICH.

'Admiralty, September 25th, 1780.

"I am favoured with your private letter of the 31st of July, and cannot avoid expressing how much I think myself obliged to you for "the friendly language it contains, which you may be assured you will always find reciprocal on my part.

You will perceive that you are become a senator, in the most honourable and distinguished manner, without expense, and with almost the unanimous concurrence of the • most opulent city in the world* ; and though 'I am not one of those who think popularity

always creditable or desirable, yet when it is

⚫ obtained in the way you have acquired it,

it is certainly highly honourable, and the greatest reward that can be bestowed on a military man.

I find that you have made your option as to an immediate mark of his Majesty's 'favour, and I think you have made it wisely,

* Sir George Rodney was elected a representative for the city of Westminster, in the month of September, 1780.

VOL. I.

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and with the proof that you are a good father, and a true friend to your family, ' which in an honest mind must always be the uppermost thought.

'I am very glad that you tell me you 'shall hold yourself in readiness to assist in

America, or wherever the enemy may en'deavour to make their impression, for that is 'the only measure that can give us security.

It is impossible for us to have a superior ' fleet in every part; and unless our Commanders-in-chief will take the great line, as you do, and consider the King's whole dominions as under 'their care, our enemies must find us unpre

pared somewhere, and carry their point against us.

I own, I think, that they are now gone to

⚫ America, and am pampering myself with the

idea of the glory you will acquire by pur

suing them with your coppered ships, and ' rendering their designs abortive.

Our official letters will tell you what reinforcement is coming to you immediately, ' and also that Admiral Graves has positive ' orders to join you with five sail of the line,

as soon as the winter sets in. You will then