Our Frigates¹ employed in landing their Guns, Stores, &c. The Lark received orders, after most of her things were on shore, to re-ship them, and be ready to run through Bristol ferry into Mount Hope Bay, if The French Fleet should come in.

At day break The French Fleet appeared in the same position they were in last night. Soon after day break, a two-decker,² with her Colours out, stood over for the Narragansett passage,³ with the wind at W. As soon as she had passed the Light house⁴ she crouded sail, and stood up the passage. At 6 she reached opposite Fox-hill battery, which fired 4. 24 l^b shot at her, each of which she returned with 7 or 8. However, she passed without any apparent damage, and about 7 o'Clock anchored half way between the N. point of Connonicut⁵ and Hope Island.

About the same time another large Ship stood in, and anchored off the entrance of the harbour, about 2 Miles from the S. point of Brenton's Neck, there she was soon after joined by two of the Easternmost ships of the fleet, who also anchored.

The two French Frigates⁶ in the Seconnet⁷ came up early this Morning, and anchored in the Station lately occupied by The Kingsfisher.

At 8 this Morning a Frigate appeared to the Eastward, near Martha's Vineyard. As soon as she discovered the French Fleet at anchor off the harbour, she crouded all the sail she could, and stood off to the S.E. We suppose her to be an English Frigate.— Probably the Sphynx.⁸ The General, judging it would answer but little purpose to risque the loss of the Detachments upon Connonicut, sent orders, as soon as The French ship had passed the Battery on Fox-hill, to withdraw them and the Guns from that Island. The Troops were brought off; but as there was not a sufficient Number of Oxen to remove the Guns, those on Fox-hill were spiked, and the 2. 24p^rs on the Dumplins⁹ were thrown down the Rock into the Sea. The Island was entirely Evacuated by 10 o'Clock, without any interruption. 

At 9 oClock another two Decker¹⁰ stood up the Narragansett passage, and at 12 anchored near the first. 

Wind W. after 12 o'clock. 

At 1 o'Clock, the Two French frigates in the Seconnet got underway with the Wind at N.W. and stood up towards Fogland.¹¹ As soon as they reached Black point, orders were given to set fire to The Kingsfisher, which was immediately done. The Gallies¹² ran up as far as the S. side of the Sandy point, where they were also set on fire, and in a short time the three vessels were in flames. The moment the fire appeared the Frigates shortened sail, and they soon after anchored about a mile and half S. of the bluff point of Fogland, near the Rebel shore. There is a Brig in company with them.¹³ Our vessels continued to burn fiercely, and about 3, the Alarm blew up and went to atoms. The Spitfire having some sails set, kept under way down the passage, and did not blow up 'till she got near the Bluff-point. The Kingsfisher burnt almost to the waters edge, and then breaking off from her anchor, drifted over behind the Bluff point where she went ashore, and soon after blew up. As there was not time to land the guns of these vessels, and they were loaded, they went off as the fire reached them. Several of the shot fell near the Barracks, but fortunately no damage was done by them. 

I think our people were rather precipitate in burning the vessels, for had the Gallies run to the N. Side of the Sandy point, and there waited the approach of the Enemy, who must have advanced under the fire of the 2. 12p^rs at Fogland, and the 18 p^rs of the Gallies, which last would have raked them as they came up, they might have been saved for the present, and probably the Frigates might have suffered in attempting to come so high up. The preservation of the Gallies would have been a matter of great consequence to us. They might have run into Shoal water under Quaker-hill, or even higher up under the protection of the guns at Windmill hill, and the Howland's bridge Redoubt where the Enemy could not have annoyed them. 

The Frigates appear to be about 28 Guns each. Several boats went from them to the Rebel shore as soon as they anchored, but no considerable numbers of people appear on the shore. 

We have not observed any particular movements among the Rebels since the arrival of The French fleet. They are in general perfectly quiet at all the posts near us, and certainly are not prepared for a descent on the Island. 

Some small Sloops came up the Seconnet in the Evening, and joined the Frigates. The 54^th Regiment returned to their Encampment this Day. 

76 Rebel prisoners were landed this Morning from the Prison ships in the harbour, and lodged in the Barracks within the Redoubt at Fogland Ferry. 

We have a party employed in repairing the Redoubt at Bristol ferry. The Rebels fired two shots at them to day, but without effect. 

The French took possession of Connonicut this day and hoisted a White Colour there. 

It is expected the Rebels will place some Guns in the Battery on the Dumplins, in order to annoy our Battery on Brenton's point, and facilitate the entry of the French Fleet. 

Several boats passed from the Narraganset shore this day to the French fleet.

The French ships off the harbour continued in the same position at Nightfall as they had been all day. 

Wind W. towards night. 

Orders given for sending in the baggage of the Regiments encamped without the Lines; that they may not be incumberd therewith when ordered to march. 

Abbattis are ordered to be made round the Redoubts. 

It is the Generals intention to withdraw the Troops from the outposts on the Island, and concentrate his whole force for the defence of the position near the town, as soon as The French fleet enters the harbour.