in-law. All that was ended. I should never
again see the kind, good old man. I dashed the tears from my eyes, and
in a hoarse voice gave the order to trim sails as we once more shaped a
course to the southward.

We arrived off the Heads of Virginia on the 9th of July, and found there
the Richmond, Guadaloupe, Fowey, and Vulcan fire-ship. It had been for
some time seen that the town of Portsmouth was not a tenable post. The
neighbourhood, especially in the summer season, was unhealthy, and ships
of any size could not get up sufficiently near it to assist in its
defence. The commanders-in-chief had accordingly resolved to evacuate
it, and to occupy York Town, on the James River, instead. The latter
place was supposed to possess many advantages over the former, while the
river was navigable for ships of far larger burden than those which
could approach Portsmouth.

The first division of the army having embarked on board the transports
by the 30th of July we sailed with them, Lord Cornwallis himself, who
took the command, being on board the Richmond. We landed the troops on
the 2nd, and took possession of York Town and Gloucester without any
opposition. It was not, however, till the 19th that the second division
of the army arrived, Portsmouth being entirely evacuated. There was a
general feeling that events of considerable importance were about to
occur. While we were eagerly looking for a reinforcement of troops and
the arrival of a fleet capable of competing with the French, the enemy
were assembling their forces in the neighbourhood, and it was very
evident would bring the whole of their strength to bear upon York Town,
and to endeavour to crush our army there before the arrival of the aid
we so much required. I resolved at all events to note down from day to
day with even greater care than heretofore the occurrences which might
take place in the stout brown journal which had already been so long my
companion, and which I had preserved through so many chances of
destruction both by fire and water--from thieves and the carelessness of
servants and others to whom I had from time to time been compelled to
entrust it. Yet here it still is, battered on the outside, like its
owner; but, though its leaves are somewhat yellow and stained, as sound
as ever in the main, and with the ink as black as the day it was
written. Brief but, believe me, perfectly accurate, according to my
means of information and my own obs