The Preparations for the Campaign are compleated, and the major Part of the Troops already in the Field: the Generals [William] Howe and De Heister left New York two Days since for the Jerseys; the Army are in the highest Health and Spirits and I assure you hold all Obstacles to their Success in sovereign Contempt. The Recruits lately arrived from England, with the Isis and Somerset, had a very favourable Passage.
The Enemy occupy the Pennsylvanian Side of the Delaware, having it is said evacuated the Jerseys; they have thrown up a Chain of Works, which I suppose they will desert with their usual Expedition. It is really laughable to observe the Pains our Paragraph-Mongers are at, at home, to magnify the Importance of the Posts possessed by the Rebels, and their superior Intelligence with respect to local Advantages and Knowledge of the Country. Will any Person believe they can again occupy Works more tenable than those from which we have seen 30,000 Men fly with the most dastardly Precipitation? Itmay be urged, that they were intimidated by our Shipping; this however could not hold true at Fort Washington; had the Rebels chose to have supported their Works on the Jersey Shore, we know by Experience no Ships could have prevented the Garrison in the Fort from receiving Supplies of Provisions and Men. The Advocates for the Americans think the Rivers, which so plentifully intersect this Country, will greatly impede our Progress; I believe very little: The most judicious.Means have been taken to obviate this Difficulty; —The Pontoons are of a new and excellent Construction; and we Yesterday dispatched 20 flat Boats to attend the Army: Each of these will transport 70 Men; they move over land on Carriages, which are put together when required, and drawn by four Horses at a considerable Pace. I was present when Lord Howe and the General viewed them; in less thari twelve Minutes the Carriages were taken out of the Boats, the Wheels put on, the Boats rolled up, and the whole in Motion; they promise to be of great Utility in the Course of the Campaign.
General Lee is removed to the Centurion, for greater Security; He is permitted to walk the Quarter Deck.
We cruized in the Phoenix from the 25th of December, to the 15th of March off Virginia: in which Time we took, sunk, or urnt 14 Sail, all laden: We had a Series of tempestuous Weather; we went twice into Virginia; the first Time carrying a Flag of Truce to York for Exchange of Prisoners.The People there are the most deluded imaginable, forced to accept Information thro' the Channel of their Committees: They have no Idea of their real Situation; Losses are concealed, Defeats· made Victories, and French Assistance represented as at the Door. By such Subterfuges, three fourths of the Rebels are engaged in the nominal Support of a desperate Cause.
In a few Days we go round to the Delaware, to co-operate with the Army. My Lord Howe comes on board immediately. We take a considerable Fleet with us — the Augusta, Somerset, St. Albans, Nonsuch, Isis, Preston, Centurion, and several Frigates are at present here.
