8^th Aug^t 1778—All perfectly quiet last night. The Moon shone clear, and we could have easily perceived any movements of the Enemy's boats, had they been made.

Very thick at Sea this morning. Wind S.W. 

At 7 this morning we perceived another Encampment of the Rebels, to the Northward of Howland's ferry: nearly opposite the N. point of Commonfence Neck. There appears to be about three Battalions there. Many large Batteaux are passing this morning from Mount Hope, to Howland's ferry. Not less than 100 of them have been observed within these few days going into Wanton's Cove. 

At 6 this morning the two French ships off the N. point of Connonicut got under way, and stood over between that Island and Prudence; about 8 they had worked down as far as Gold Island,¹ when it was generally supposed they intended to proceed as far as the town to attack the N. Battery; but they soon after put about and run up the W. side of this Island, nearly as far as Dyer's Island; from whence they stood over again to Connonicut, and anchored about 10 o'clock near the N. point, but on this side of it. 

There are two other Line of Battle ships in the Narraganset passage this morning. 

The two Frigates in the Seconnet have made no movement since the day the Kingsfisher was burnt.²

About 10 o'clock the haze cleared away, and we could see the French fleet at anchor off the harbour, exactly in the same position in which they have been for some days. About 11 o'clock they got under way with their heads to the Eastward, and the Wind about S.S.W. At 1 they tacked and stood as if intending for the Narraganset passage; but when they had reached so far as to have the harbour of Newport open, they bore away for it with a croud of sail. Every thing in all our Sea Batteries being prepared for their reception, about 3 o'Clock, the French Admiral, Count D'Estaing, in the Languedoc of 84 Guns, leading in, came within shot of Brenton's-point battery, when the Action began. The fire from the above Battery, and from those on Goat Island, & the North Battery, was kept up with great briskness, and returned by a heavy fire from the ships as they passed. It was soon perceived that the Enemy did not mean to bring up against any of our Batteries; for upon getting within the Dumplins, they kept close over to the Connonicut shore, and stood up the harbour between that Island and Gold Island, and about 5 o'Clock they all anchored in a line under the Connonicut shore. The nearest Ship anchored about 3 miles from the N. Battery. It was conjectured that the sight of the Masts of the ships sunk in front of Goat Island, deterred them from bringing up off that Island. 

The fire from the Batteries and the ships was prodigious, and formed a very grand Scene, even to us who were on the Northern part of the Island, at a distance of about 7 miles. Notwithstanding the fire of 8 Ships of the line, not one man was hurt on our side, nor was the smallest damage done to any of our Guns or Batteries. 

No particular damage could be observed on board the French ships, except that the Foreyard of one of them was shot down; and the Halliards of the Admiral's Ensign being shot away, the Colours of that ship were for a short time down. The ships were struck many times from our Batteries, particularly that on Brenton's point. 

The Cannonade continued without any intermission for an hour and a quarter. 

It having been determined, that as soon as the French fleet came into the harbour, the troops at the N. end of the Island should be withdrawn, even though there should be no appearance of an attack from the Rebels, orders were accordingly given for it. . . . 

Soon after the French fleet anchored within the harbour, the General³ gave orders for all the houses and buildings within reach of our Guns in the Redoubts of the outer line, to be set on fire; which was accordingly done, and about 20 were burnt. 

While the French were coming in, orders were given by The Commodore to scuttle and sink The Flora & Faulcon; the former between the Long wharf and Goat Island, and the latter off the S.E. end of Goat Island.⁴

The Grand Duke Transport, formerly an East Indiaman,⁵ was run on shore between Goat Island and the N. Battery; and in a very inconsiderate manner set on fire, tho not further than 20 yards from the Wharfs, and near Storehouses in which a quantity of provisions and other stores still remained. She burnt with great violence, and greatly endangered that part of the town. Parties of the troops were employed most part of the night in preventing the adjacent buildings from catching fire. 

The burning of the houses and the ship, the sinking of our only remaining Frigates, the sight of the Enemy's fleet within the harbour, the retreat of the Troops within the lines, and the dismay and distress so strongly impressed upon the Countenances of the Inhabitants, who concluded that the Rebels were on the point of landing, and that their lives and property were in the utmost danger, formed altogether a very extraordinary Scene. 

A number of men from the French ships were put on shore on Connonicut soon after they anchored. 

Parties of our Seamen have been employed in throwing down the Stone walls and fences in front of our Encampment.