Duplicate
Number 8.

Sir, By the Halifax Packet, sent to make known the Progress of the Army since the Date of the General's last Dispatches, I have Opportunity to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 25th of June by the Galatea, giving Advice of the Reinforcement ordered for the Fleet and Army, and enclosed with the Duplicates of Letters forwarded by the Captain of the Diamond, who is charged with the Conduct of that Reinforcement.

I have the Satisfaction of being able to inform their Lordships that a Disposition having been made for landing the Army on York Island on the Morning of the 15th, the Captains [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] and [James] Wallace, whose Abilities and distinguished Resolution point them out for the most important Services; with the Captains [Charles] Hudson, [Robert] Fanshawe and [Andrew Snape] Hamond, Officers of great Merit, passed the Fire of the Town of New York with their Ships on the Evening of the 13th, to wait off Bushwyck Creek, opposite to Kepp's Bay where the Landing was proposed to be forced, in the East River. The Flat Boats, Batteaux and Gallies under the Direction of Commodore Hotham, but arranged in Divisions commanded by the Captains [George] Vandeput, [Benjamin] Caldwell, [Archibald] Dickson, [Toby] Caulfield, [Charles] Phipps and [Anthony] Molloy, and the Lieutenant [John] Hotvorth of the Eagle; assisted by the Lieutenants [John] Henry, [Anthony] Parrey, [Henry] Chads and Bristow, Agents of Transports; were manned from the two-decked Ships and Transports as on the former Debarkation, and sent up at different times under the Shore of Long Island, undiscovered by the Enemy on the opposite Side.

Six Transports, which Messrs Robt Roughhead, Richd Fowler, John Randall, Tho: Brown, ---- Chambers and ---- Stuart, the different Masters, making a voluntary Offer of their Services engaged to conduct, were sent up the East River on the 14th, under the Direction of the Agent Lieutenant [John] Knowles, and Lieutenant Laird whose active Assistance in the most fatiguing Parts of the Debarkation-Duty, the Conveyance of the Artillery, has marked his Zeal for the King's Service in a particular Manner. They were appointed to take in a number of Troops from Bushwyck Creek for facilitating the more timely Support of the first Division em-barked in the Flat Boats at New Town Creek.

The Pilots declining on Account of the Strength of the Tide, to take Charge of the particular covering Ships that were intended to be placed toward Hell Gate, for countenancing the Appearance of a Descent on that Part of the Coast, all the five were placed in Kepp's Bay on the Morning of the 15th and having by the Effect of their well-directed Fire compelled the Rebels to quit their Intrenchments upon the Shore, the Debarkation was made without further Opposition.

The General's public Acknowledgments addressed to the Commodore and the several Officers and Seamen employed, will be the best Testimony I can render of their meritorious Services on this Occasion.

In order to facilitate the Operations of the Army in the East River, another Detachment of the Ships of War was appointed, by the General's desire, to proceed up the North River; to give Jealousy to the Enemy on this Side. The Renown, Captain [Francis] Banks, with the Captains [Henry] Davis and [Thomas] Wilkinson in the Repulse and Pearl, were ordered for that Purpose. They passed the Enemy's Batteries without material Injury early on the 15th to a Station about six Miles to the Northward of the Town. On the ensuing Night the Enemy directed four Fire-Vessels in Succession against them; But with no other Effect than that of obliging the Ships to move their Stations, the Repulse excepted. The Renown returned to this Side the Town: But the two Frigates remain still in the North River, with the Tryal Armed Schooner, to strengthen the left Flank of the Army extending to the Western Shore of York Island, as Circumstances will admit.

Since my last No 6, of which a Duplicate is herewith enclosed, the Carysfort, Pearl and Tartar from the St Lawrence are arrived, and yet remain here, to be employed as the Service may require.

The Galatea being the first Frigate which the State of Things, with respect to the Operations of the Army, has allowed me to detach for a Continuance to the Southward, Captain [Thomas] Jordan is under Orders to proceed off the Island of Bermudas; In quest of several small Privateers of the Enemy ranging the Stream of that Island to intercept the West India Trade. Concluding the Nautilus will be in great Want of Naval Stores as well as provisions and probably Repairs, I have sent Orders by the Galatea for Captain [John] Collins (if still at Bermuda) to join me at this Port.

In the Duplicate of your letter of the 23d of June by the Galatea, on the Subject of the large Supplies [of] Naval Stores provided, You mention, Sir, their Lordships Reliance that the Ships will be kept in constant Employment. I conceive from thence, that they will expect to receive some Report from me touching suitable Disposition of the Ships for effecting the intended Restraint upon the Trade of the Rebellious Colonies, and for suppressing the Armed Force fitted out from the different Ports along the Coasts of this extensive Continent.

It is with great Concern that I am still unable to make a satisfactory Return to their Lordships probable Expectations therein. But I flatter myself that my Deficiency will be deemed less singular, when they are pleased to consider the full Employment which a much inferior Land Force afforded for the Fleets that attended their Operations in the last War, Tho' I conceive, it is not from the Numbers in either Profession that a true Judgment of the Proportion they should bear to each other is to be deduced, But from the Nature of the Service to be carried on; the Country, and Communication. Seeing that from the Ships must be provided practised Men to be employed in Boats, for landing with the requisite Expedition, and transporting, the Troops, Baggage and Artillery; And, where Water Carriage is so much in Question, the Means also of intercepting the Enemy's Supplies: Besides the Protection of the Transports, on which the Existence of the Army has depended, so far as the Operations of this Campaign have hitherto advanced.

I shall dispose of the Supernumerary Men their Lordships have ordered out in the Hulks and Frigates, according to their Qualifications. And as Reference is had in your said Duplicate to the Provisions in the prohibitory Act amongst the Expedients their Lordships have in Contemplation for keeping the Complements of the Ships complete; I beg leave to observe of the Men to be so procured, that the Europeans are unquestionably the most preferable; And, from all I have yet experienced, the only Men on whom any Dependence is to be placed. The Prejudices the native Americans have imbibed, disqualify them for every Trust. And the extravagant Advantages with which they tempt the European Seamen to desert, render their Continuance dangerous in the Ships. Wherefore, I presume to think no Aid can be derived from the Capture of American Ships at the present Crisis; Except in the Exchange of their Crews with the British Seamen now Prisoners in the different Colonies, upon the Plan submitted in my last Letter.

The Want of a sufficient Naval Force for the various Occasions consequent of the Movement of the Army, obliges me still to detain the Frigates on that Account. The State of many of them, and of the two-decked Ships is such, as will require their being sent to Europe or different Ports in the West Indies, when the Operations of the Army become more confined during the Winter Season: That they may be made ready with most Dispatch, for cruizing Service in the Spring. I may then be able to keep them fitted and employed in more regular Succession. But as no Port on the Continent is yet open for supplying the Cruising Ships with Water to the Southward, I must plead for their Lordships favorable Construction of my Endeavors to use the Means with which I have the Honor of being entrusted, to the best Advantage, according to the Exigencies of this complicated Service.

Due Attention will be given to the Contents of the Abstract of Lord George Germain's Letter to the Generals Carleton and Howe, respecting the Dismission of the Transports, as they can be spared. I flatter myself his Lordship will be satisfied from his subsequent Knowledge of the actual State of the Operations here, that no Want of Regard has yet been shewn to that highly interesting Consideration.

I have only to trouble you further as of immediate Consequence, with Relation to that Paragraph in your Duplicate aforesaid, concerning the Supply of Ordnance-Stores.

The Store-Ships referred to in Mr. [John] Boddington's Letter of the 9th of June, contained Articles suited principally to the small Armed Vessels and Frigates of the lower Class; But had neither Powder, Ball, or Cartridge, in any adequate Quantity for the Ships of superior Rates. Wherefore, but for the Ball the Enemy have left in and near the Town of New York, whereof the Numbers of 12 and 18 lb have not yet been ascertained, the Service of the thirty two and forty Gun-Ships would have been greatly confined. I have added a State of the Expence of Ordnance Stores in the Ships here, as a Rule for proportioning the future Supplies, which I am to request, thro' their Lordships Interposition, to have sent out by such safe and expeditious Conveyance, as the Importance of the Concern may induce. Proper Supplies of Medicines for the Fleet will be equally necessary; the Surgeons having no Means of providing Medicines in this Country.

I learnt on my Arrival here, from the Accounts Captain [Charles] Douglas transmitted to Vice Admiral Shuldham, the Progress of the Naval Operations under his Direction; And the Success of His Majesty's Arms in the Province of Canada. By the Carysfort and Pearl he let me know his subsequent proceedings to the 4th and 12th of last Month, as contained in the Copies of his Letters herewith enclosed. My Letter of the 13th of June, of which I likewise trouble You with a Copy, will have informed Captain Douglas of my general Ideas in respect to the Appointment of the Ships under his Order at that Time. I have not yet had an Opportunity to forward any more particular Instructions to him in consequence of his later Informations. The necessary Preparatives for the Service on the Lakes will have detained him in the St Lawrence whilst the Season ad[mits] of his Stay there. And his diligent Attention to that Service will, I make no Doubt, engage further Testim [ony] of their Lordships indulgent Approbation.

To the other Papers enclosed, I have added [a] State of the Disposition of the ship;² And am, With great Consideration, Sir [&c.]