This fleet, which was bound to the attack of New York, consisted of his Majesty's ships, Chatham, Rear Admiral Shuldham of the White (who had on board General Lord Percy, General [Robert] Pigot, &c.), the Centurion, the Greyhound (having on board General Sir William Howe), Rose; Senegal and Merlin sloops of war, with about two hundred sail of transports hav ing on board the army. The Greyhound parted company with the fleet the 13th, in the night; with an intention to go ahead and reconnoitre, and the niain body of the fleet moved slowly on, from the frequent light winds and calms that accompanied us.

We arrived at Sandy Hook on the 2nd of July without meeting any remarkable circumstances, where we found his Majesty's ship Phoenix with several sail of merchant ships. At noon the 4th the signal was made for the whole fleet to weigh, when the Chatham, passing through the cent:re, was cheered by every ship. I do not remember seeing a more pleasing sight, which the fineness of the day greatly contributed to, more particularly as we expected we were immediately going to the attack of New York. We made the necessary preparations for landing, on our passage up; and at sunset anchored in Gravesend bay; but, for reasons only known to the commanders-in-chief, we put off the landing the troops for this night. At day-light the 5th the signal was made to weigh, the Phoenix, Rose and Senegal leading the fleet through the Narrows, but the wind dying away obliged us again to anchor. At four o'clock the signal was once more made to weigh, and the fleet boats manned; at six we passed the Narrows amidst a very unsuccessful fire from the rebels, having killed but very few; at seven we landed the army or Staten Island without opposition, when two or three hundred men of the enemy surrendered themselves prisoners of war to the first division of grenadiers.