AMERICA. [309.] "Admiralty-office, July 25. 1778. Extrait of a letter from Ld Howe to Mr Stephens, dated on board the Eagle, in the Delaware, June 19. 1778, received the 22d inftant.

"I am informed by Capt. Griffith, that a detachment of the garrifon of Rhode ifland, under the command of Lt-Col. Campbell, of the 22d regiment, was embarked the 25th of last month, in the flat boats conducted by Capt. Clayton; and, by a well-concerted operation, deftroyed 125 boats, collected by the rebels in Hickamanet river, together with a galley under repair, meant to be employed, in conjunction with the boats, for a purpofed invafion of Rhode island. A large quantity of pitch, tar, plank, and other materials for ship-building, was burnt with them.

Another divifion of boats from the fhips of war, fupported by the Pigot galley, (lately armed, and commanded by Lieut. Stanhope of the Nonefuch), under the direction of Capt. Reeve, were at the fame time ordered against, and fucceeded to surprise and take a galley of force, which the rebels had placed in Warren creek. On the 30th of the fame month, a fecond detachment of the troops were fent in the boats of the fquadron conducted by Lieut. Chriftian, commander of the King's-fither, to destroy the fawmills on a creek near Taunton river, then in ufe for preparing materials to build boats and other fuitable craft for the purpofe as before mentioned. This fervice was performed with equal good effect.

The behaviour of Capt. Reeve, and of Lieut Kempthorne, Stanhope, and Chriftian, is greatly commended by Capt. Griffith. I am at the fame time to obferve, that the good disposition made for thefe undertaking, as well as the vigorous execution, appears to have contributed much to their fuccefs."

"Philadelphia, By advices from Newport, Rhode ifland, of the 27th of May, we have the following authentic intelligence, viz. That Lt-Col. Campbell of the 23d regiment, with eight battalion-companies of the 22d regiment, the flank-companies of the 54th regiment, and Capt. Noltenius's company of Heffian chaffeurs, the whole making about soo men, marched the evening of the 24th of May from Newport to Arnold's point, where they embarked about twelve o'clock on

board the flat bottom boats, under the direction of Capt. Clayton and Lieut. Knowles of the navy, and proceeded up the harbour towards Warren river. His Majefty's fhip Flora then moving up above Papafquafh point, to cover the ope rations of the troops, and the other fhips changing their station, fo as to give every affiftance in their power, foon after day-break the troops landed undiscovered a mile above Bristol, and three miles below Warren, and Col. Campbell difpatched Capt. Seir of the 22d regiment, with thirty men, to Papafquash point, to take and deftroy the rebel-battery of one eighteen-pounder; which was cafily effected, and a captain of artillery and feven privates made prifoners.

The main body moved on to the town of Warren; and after taking the precaution of establishing posts to secure the paffes, proceeded to Kickamuct river, where they found the boats. They were immediately collected in feveral heaps, and the whole fet fire to, amounting to 125, many of them fifty feet in length; a galley of fix twelve-pounders, two floops, one of them loaded with ftores, and a quantity of materials for building and repairing, were likewife burnt; as was a mill, and a bridge across the river. The guns of the galley, together with three eighteen-pounders, mounted on travelling - carriages, were fpiked, the trunnions knocked off, and the carriages burnt. This fervice being effectually performed, the troops returned to Warren. The party of chaffeurs left there had deftroyed a park of artillery, confisting of two twenty four-pounders, two eighteen-pounders, and two nine-pounders, mounted on travelling carriages, with fide-boxes, ammunition, and sidearms complete, by fpiking up the guns, and burning the carriages, limbers, &c. In the town of Warren they difcovered a houfe full of ammunition, combustibles, and other warlike ftores, and fome casks of rice, rum, and fugar, which was blown up, and the whole deftroyed. A new privateer-floop, mounting fixtecn four-pounders, and fit for fea, was burnt in Warren river; the town-house, church, and feveral houfes, were likewife burnt to the ground. The objects of this enterprise being thus far effected, the troops returned by way of Briftol. On the march near Warren, two field-pieces were spiked, and a light three-pounder, abandoned by the rebels, was rendered

ufclefs

Frigate, Samuel Nicholfon commander, arrived at Portsmouth from France. She had nine weeks paffage; and has brought a valuable cargo, confifting of 12,000 fuits of cloaths for the army complete, a large quantity of copper, tin, and lead, befides many other valuable articles."

On Monday, May 18. a fuperb entertainment, called the Meschianza, was given by fome officers of the army, to their General, the Hon. Sir William Howe, before his departure for England. The various amufements confifted of a Regatta, Fete Champetre with Tilts and Tournaments, and a proceffion through two triumphal arches, conftructed with naval and military attributes and their devices, fucceeded by a grand exhibition of fire-works, and a ball. The whole concluded with a fumptuous entertainment prepared for the occafion, in a magnificent room of 180 feet in length, with 400 covers, illuminated with luftres and branches confifting of 700 tapers. The company was attended by mutes in Oriental dreffes. The tickets for admiffion vere ornamented with the emblems of war- a fetting fun, with the words, "Luceo defcendens, aucto fplendore refurgam;" and at the top of the ticket thefe words, "Vive, vale."

According to letters brought by the Andromeda frigate, which left Philadelphia on the 5th of June, and arrived at Portsmouth on the ift of July, in which Gen. Howe came paffenger, a council of war was held on the 24th of May, in which it was determined to evacuate that place.

A letter of May 23. fays, that Gen. Washington had found means to circulate a declaration in Philadelphia, fetting forth, that he understood the British army was about to evacuate Philadelphia; and giving affurance that the inhabitants who had deferted the cause of their country, need not go along with the British army, as they would be fuffered to remain unmolefted by the army of the A

merican States.

"Philadelphia, June 18. The British army marched out of this city on the 16th inftant, and are gone through the Jerfeys to New York. The troops confift of 16,700 effective men: they were followed by about 3000 of the inhabitants. The want of baggage-waggons occafioned the army to leave a great quantity of falt, and numerous other neceffaries behind them.- Notwithstand

ing the fufferings of the foldiery, it is aftonishing the regularity and decorum obThere have not ferved among them.

been three inftances of violation on the property of the inhabitants, who acknowledge their moderation, and do not hefitate to applaud the spirit of patience that has enabled these brave fellows to fupport themselves under the most galling afflictions of body without repining.

The commiffioners arrived a few days before the army quitted the city, and immediately fent a deputation to the Congrefs, acquainting that affembly with the terms of negotiating peace between G. Britain and the Colonies: but the answer "That America could not, conwas, fiftent with her alliances, enter upon a treaty with G. Britain, until the was formally allowed her independency." There was not the leaft equivocation in the members of the congrefs; the treatment of the offered terms had been fettled previous to the arrival of the Commiffioners [185. 247.].-However, the Commiffioners attempted to tamper with fome of the leading men, in order, if poffible, to remove the ftumbling-block to a reconciliation. Mr Rushworth, Mr Tomlinfon, and several others who were fuppofed to have a fway, were confulted and cajoled; but the commiffioners were told, that it was impoffible to effect a compromife on any other terms, than confirm the vote of independency; that matters were come to a crifis, treaties with foreign powers had been entered into, and must be fupported; that America had been infulted, defpifed and oppreffed; he was now roufed, and capable of fupporting her own confequence, and therefore was not to be lulled into a fatal fecurity upon thofe men who contrived to effect her ruin.-The commiffioners continued feveral days entertaining hopes that fome mode might be adopted to heal the unhappy difference; and finding all loft, went in the Trident to New York, waiting the return of a packet for further orders."

"Philadelphia, June 20. The men of war fent to convoy the fleet to New York are, the Eagle and Trident of 64 guns; lis, of 50; Roebuck and Phoenix, of 44; Pearl, Thames, Richmond, and Delaware, of 32; Emerald, Solebay, and Greyhound, of 28; Vigilant floating battery, of 24; Perfeus, Galatea, and Camilla, of 24; Zebra, Senegal, Otter, Vulture, Nautilus, and Difpatch,

Loops,

floops, with feveral more armed vessels, and five or fix galleys. The army is to march through the Jerfeys."

A letter from Philadelphia to a gentleman in Dublin, dated, Camp, Cooper's Ferry, June 18. defcribes matters thus.- "You have taken our general

from us.

You have made us abandon the only place that has been of fervice to us, where our armies increased, and our enemies diminished.At a time that we might have impofed our own terms, to retire with difgrace, is fearce to be borne.The back fettlements, unable longer to bear the tyranny of their imperious lords, had taken up arms; the Indians fought revenge for the treacherous butchery of their brethren; and the handful of troops that remained at Valley-Forge were torn to pieces by diffentions, which spread far beyond the limits of their camp, and had put almost a total ftop to their recruiting. In the midst of these distresses, Congress talked loud of their French alliance but we know, that out of forty four ships that had been fent from France with ftores, thirty-fix had been taken; and that an early blow would have annihilated their force, and set our friends at liberty, who were panting to join us. One would have thought, that the ill fuccefs of our northern army would have put a top to peremptory orders from home: for, what might be very proper at the time of iffuing it, may become highly the reverse when it comes to be executed four months afterwards. No perfon wifhed more anxiously for an end to this war than I did, was it but a creditable, if not an honourable one; and, to have procured it, would have loft 1000 lives, if I had them but to be infult. ed, to be laughed at, is intolerable: to fly with 20,000 men from 5000 is a mor. tification referved for the annals of 1778; for, difguife it as you pleafe, it will be called a flight. I apprehend fome bad confequences from this manoeuvre; for the army are not only difpirited, but enraged, and are fit for any thing. It is a ftonishing with what regret they faw their old general depart; a man who had more the art of gaining the affections of the foldiery than any man, except Gen. Wolfe, I ever ferved under. Of his abilities in his profeffion I am no judge; but I had confidence enough to fleep in peace when he was with us."

-

NEW BOOKS. [310.] The AYIN AKBARY; or, The inftitat of the Emperor Akbar. Tranflated from the original Perfian. 5s. boards. Longman, &c.

THE Ayin. Akbary is a description of

the Indian empire, which was written in the fixteenth century, by a fociety of fkilful men. It was drawn up by or der of the Emperor Akbar, who wa himself a man of curiofity and learning; and the immediate fuperintendence of it was committed to his fecretary Abol Fazel, who has univerfally been confi dered as an ornament of the age in which he lived.

Befide a particular description of each province in the Moghol dominions, under the title of, the Hiftory of the Subaks, it contains a full account, and lift, of the Emperor's army; the wages, falary, and duty of each particular fervant or officer about him; the attendants falaries, and daily expences allowed for the Haram; the different forts of weights, measures, and coins throughout the empire; the charges and method of refining gold and filver in the royal mint; and the several in scriptions, weight, and value, of the fe veral coins. It comprehends, likewife, an account of all the herbs, fruits, flowers, and grains at the different fea fons of the year. To which is added, the ceremonies of marrying in the royal family, their feaftings, &c.; the Empe ror's manner of holding a divan, and receiving his people; the honours they do him; and his method of employing his time. Thefe, with a variety of other curious particulars, form the two first parts. The third part contains a full account of the Gentoo religion, their books, and the subjects of them; the fes veral fects, and the points in which they differ; with the particulars of their wor fhip, purifications, eating, drinking, marrying, &c.

The utility of this performance will be fufficiently apparent from the above recital of its contents. But it comes farther recommended by the encomium be towed upon it by Mr Jones, in his Perfian grammar. That learned and ingenious writer hath inferted it in his cata logue of the most valuable books in the Perfic language: and he obferves, that a translation of it would be extremely nfeful to the European companies that trade in India.

These