their settlement, where they are to be disbanded on their arrival,
provided it does not exceed the 20th of October, on which day
Captain Prevost, deputy inspector of British American Forces, has
directions to disband them.... You will give directions to the
officer commanding each corps that, in case of separation, they
will proceed on their arrival at the River St. John's in
forwarding their respective corps to the places of their
respective destination.... The debarkation of the troops must not
on any account whatever be delayed, as the transports must return
to this Port with all possible dispatch. Directions have been
given to Mr. Colville, assistant agent of all small craft at the
River St. John, to afford every assistance in his power to the
corps in getting to the places of their destination, and the
commanding officers of corps will make application to him for that
purpose.

[143] The names of the corps found in the margin of the original
letter are, Queens Rangers, Kings American Regiment,
Detachment of Garrison Battalion, New York Volunteers, 1st
De Lanceys, 2nd De Lanceys, Loyal American Regiment. 2nd
Do., 3d Do., Prince of Wales American Regiment,
Pennsylvania Loyalists, Maryland Loyalists, American
Legion, Guides and Pioneers, Detachment Kings American
Dragoons, Detachment North Carolina Volunteers.

I am, etc., etc.,
GUY CARLETON.

The perils of navigation in the olden time are seen in the experience
of the Esther and the Martha, two of the vessels of the Fall fleet.
The ships left Sandy Hook, on or about the 15th of September, and all
went well until they arrived near the Seal Islands, off the South-West
coast of Nova Scotia. Here the Esther, having on board Colonel Van
Buskirk's battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers, got out of her
course and narrowly escaped destruction, reaching St. John several
days after her sister ships. The Martha, Capt. Willis, was even more
unfortunate. She was wrecked on a ledge of rocks off the Seal Islands,
afterwards known as "Soldier's Ledge." Her passengers numbered 174
persons and including a corps of Maryland Loyalists and part of Col.
Hewlett's battalion of De Lancey's Brigade. Of these 99 perished and
75 were saved by fishing boats.

According to the account of Captain Patrick Kennedy of the Maryland
Loyalists, the accident was due to gross neglect. T