counties of Berkshire and Hampshire to enquire into the cause of these delays and to hasten on the militia. I wrote at the same time to the Governor of this State consenting to suffer the 4 companies of Courtlandts Regiment (now at Albany) to remain in that Quarter till the militia did come in, but observed that if the States instead of filling their Battalions and sending forth their militia, were to be calling upon and expecting me to dissipate the small operating force under my command for local defences, that all offensive operations must be relinquished and we must content ourselves (in case of compliance) to spend an inactive and injurious campaign which might-at this critical moment-be ruinous to the common cause of America.

August 6th. Reconnoitred the Roads and Country between the North River and the Bronx from the camp to Philips's and Valentines Hill and found the ground everywhere strong-the hills four in number running parallel to each other with deep ravines between them-occasioned by the saw mill river, the sprain branch, and another more easterly. These hills have very few interstices or Breaks in them, but are more prominent in some places than others. The saw mill river, and the sprain branch occasion an entire separation of the hills above Philips's from those below commonly called Valentines hills. A strong position might be taken with the saw mill (by the widow Babcocks) in front, and on the left flank, and the North River on the right flank-and this position may be extended from the saw mill river over the sprain branch.

A letter from the Marquis de la Fayette of the 20th ult gives the following acc't. That the two Battalions of light infantry-Queen's Rangers-the Guards-and one or two other Regiments had embarked at Portsmouth and fallen down to Hampton R'd in 49 transports: he supposed this body of troops could not consist of less than 2000 men that Chesapeak Bay and Potomack River were spoken of as the destination of this detachment,-but he was of opinion that it was intended as a reinforcement to New York. Horses were laid for the speedy communication of intelligence and an officer was to be sent with the acc't of the Fleets sailing.

August 7th Urged Governor Greene of Rhode Island to keep up the number of militia required of that state at Newport, and to have such arrangements made of the rest as to give instant and effectual support to that post, and the shipping in the harbour in case anything should be enterprised against the latter upon the arrival of Rodney: who, with the British fleet, is said to be expected at New York, and in conjunction with the troops which are embarked in Virginia and their own marines are sufficient to create alarms.

August 8th. The light company of the 2nd York Regiment (the first having been down some days) having joined the army were formed with two companies of York levies into a Battery under the command of Lieut. Colo Hamilton and Major Fish, and placed under the orders of Col° Scammell as part of the light troops of the army.

August 9th A letter from the Marquis de la Fayette of the 30th ult° reports that the embarkation in Hampton Road still remained there—that there were 30 ships full of troops, chiefly red coats in the fleet-that eight or ten other vessels (Brigs) had cavalry on board-that the winds had been extremely favorable, notwithstanding which they still lay at anchor, and that the Charon and several other frigates (some said seven) were with them as an escort; the troops which he now speaks of as composing the detachment are the Light Infantry-Queen's Rangers-and he thinks the British and two German Regiments. No mention of the Guards as in his former acc't.

August 10.

Ordered the first York, and Hazens Regiments immediatly to this place from West Point. The Invalids having got in both from Philadelphia and Boston-and more militia got in from Connecticut, as also some from Massachusetts Bay, giving with four companies of Courtlandt's Regiment in addition to the detachment left there upon the march of the army, perfect security to the posts.

August 11th. Robert Morris Esq', Superintendent of Finance, and Rich Peters Esq', a member of the Board of War, arrived at camp to fix with me the number of men necessary for the next campaign, and to make the consequent arrangements for their establishment and support. A fleet consisting of about 20 sail, including 2 frigates and one or two prizes, arrived within the harbor of New York with German recruits to the amount-by Rivington-of 2880, but by other and better information to about 1500 sickly men.

August 12th. By accounts this day received from the Marquis de la Fayette it appeared that the transports in Hampton Road had stood up the Bay and came too at a distance of 15 miles-and in consequence he had commenced his march towards Fredericksburg.

August 14th Received dispatches from the Count de Barras announcing the intended departure of the Count de Grasse from Cape Francois with between 25 and 29 sail of the line, and 3200 land troops on the 3d Instant for Chesapeak Bay and the anxiety of the latter to have everything in the most perfect readiness to commence our operations in the moment of his arrival, as he should be under a necessity from particular engagements with the Spaniards to be in the West Indies by the middle of October-at the same time intimating his (Barras's)

AN ENGLISHMAN'S POCKET NOTE BOOK IN 1828

WHAT HE SAW IN AMERICA

(Continued from page 512, vol. xix.)

December 9. A fine day, though rather close and oppressive. The agreeable information was announced this morning in the papers that a small vessel would positively sail for Vera Cruz on Sunday next. The said vessel is about 50 or 60 tons, with no accommodations deserving the name of cabin, and we understand there are already 14 or 15 passengers who go with us. So much for our prospect of comfort during a passage of 10 days, in a warm climate.

December 10. An exceedingly close and oppressive day. The thermometer at 80 in the shade; our manner of life here has become so monotonous and regular that the incidents of one day are scarcely varied from those of the other days of the week. We have seen everything in or near the town (New Orleans) and are now quite annoyed at the delay of the vessel which detains us here. I observed in walking through the streets several large rooms fitted out as slave markets, and generally filled with unhappy blacks, dressed up for the occasion. The men and women are ranged on opposite sides of the apartment, where they may traffic for human beings with the same indifference as purchasing a horse. New Orleans I conclude is a good market for this kind of human stock, brought down from different parts of the Union, and where they will always find a ready sale, as cultivation of sugar and cotton is daily extending along the banks of the Mississippi in which the black slave population is alone employed.

December II.

We have taken our places on board the brig which sails from here to Vera Cruz. She is larger and has rather better accommodations than the small vessel we originally intended to go by. So heartily am I tired with this place that I would venture in any boat that was practicable.

December 12.

The Baron de Manginay called upon us to-day we have made very few acquaintances here, with the exception of his family. and a few gentlemen we met at dinner at his house. We do not regret it, as society, I am of opinion, is rather below par here, notwithstanding the favorable account his Highness of Saxe Weimar gave of it. His book is

altogether the most trumpery and uninteresting I ever read. The best account yet published of the Southern States is by an American Missionary of the name of Flint.

Dismissed my man Friday, whom I brought with me from Nevis. He has been for a long time past idle and careless. I procured a very good place for him as steward on board a ship at this port.

December 13. Another melting day: Equally oppressed by heat and ennui. I am endeavoring however to fill out the mornings until one o'clock in studying Spanish, in which language I flatter myself I have made some advances. Took an excursion into the country towards the north. Passed some beautiful green pastures near the river. They appeared dry and

more elevated than the situation of the town. It would have been better for New Orleans had they built their town on this spot, where there is no stagnant water. This evening walked along the levee, where ships, and business of all sorts, have increased wonderfully since our arrival; it is quite a scene of confusion. We hear scarcely any language but French and Spanish. There is considerable trade carried on here with Havana.

December 14. . . . Sunday I observe is very indifferently kept, at least, according to our notions in England. All the shops are open, and business of all kinds pursued with the same eagerness as on other days. In the evening we observed two-thirds of the blacks drunk. In this moral town every 2nd house is what is here denominated a coffee-house, which is the commonest kind of spirit shop where any man may get drunk on whisky of the country for the small price of 2 cents. ... The room in which this traffic is carried on is generally large, with a bar at the farther end ranged round with bottles and spirits of every descriptionthe natural consequence of the cheapness of the article, and the universal taste and disposition for drunkenness, which is well exemplified, as I before said, in this town on Sunday.

December 15. A sudden change in the weather-the thermometer at 58 in the evening. . . . These sudden changes so common in all parts of the country, must be doubly injurious here, in a generally warm and relapsed climate. . . . Took a walk of 6 or 7 miles in the neighborhood, and met nothing new or worthy of remark. The vessel will not sail before the 17th. Our miseries are, however, coming to a close, and the prospect of release drawing near. We have no great reason to be satisfied with our quarters at the boarding house, where the dinners are execrably bad; and our only places of refuge are our bedrooms. The company, upwards of 30 persons, are so uninteresting that I have scarcely exchanged a word with a single person, unless an Englishman who is my

next neighbor at table, and who has resided here for years as a merchant. He has never left the town during that period, although at some seasons of the year he tells me he has known 40 or 50 persons die daily of the fever, out of a population, too, at that time, not exceeding 20,000. For persons not accustomed to the climate the chances of life are 2 to 1 against them during the sickly seasons, commencing generally in August and ending in November.

December 16. A fine bracing day. The intelligence of the vessel's sailing this evening was communicated to us at breakfast, to our infinite joy and satisfaction. On proposing to settle with my Spanish master, the high minded Castilian refused to take any money although I urged in the strongest manner. At 6 this evening we were all aboard, our party consisting of 16 persons in the cabin; men of all nations, speaking different languages-2 or 3 Spanish and Mexicans, French, English, Mexicans, Italian, and Sir William's Greek servant. At seven the steamboat took us in tow with another vessel lashed to her side. Notwithstanding this weight we proceeded down the river at 6 or 7 miles an hour. Our cabin being crowded, we slept on board the steamer, where we had better accommodations.

December 17. Early this morning we were at the mouth of the river upwards of 100 miles from New Orleans. The whole country as far as the eye could reach was a low swamp, without trees or cultivation, the river forcing its way by numerous channels into the sea. The land appeared scarcely above the level of the water; numberless trees deposited on the narrow strips of land, and the dark and heavy water of the river gave to the scene a desolate and melancholly appearance. Our spirits were however revived by a fine wind, which gave every promise of a short voyage. Having left our steamboat we were in 2 hours in the blue waters of the ocean. The wind strong with a high sea running, our fellow passengers of all nations were soon laid down with sea sickness. Eden and myself were the only persons who escaped this malady.

December 18. Wind still favorable: as it is impossible to keep a journal at sea with any success, and where the events of one day are so little varied from those of others, I shall compress the whole together until our arrival at Vera Cruz.

The wind continued most prosperous until the 21st, without any vari ation, and we were within 60 or 70 miles of our port. We were however destined to exemplify with others the truth of the old maxim "between the cup and the lip" etc. On this day a furious gale come on from the