he vessel was in a blaze from stem to
stern. The Vulcan was the last vessel fired. She was, at the time,
within her own length of a French twenty-four. What had become of her
gallant commander and crew I could not discover. The French launches
were after me. My people pulled away with all their might. It was,
indeed, a matter of life and death. The other boats were ahead, and I
hoped safe. Several bullets came whizzing past us. As I looked astern,
my satisfaction was great to see our fire-ships still blazing away, and
the Frenchmen drifting, as it appeared, towards the shore. As it
afterwards appeared, two of them did drive on shore, and I believe that,
had our ships had their guns on board, we might by prompt action have
run down and destroyed them before reinforcements could have come to
their aid. Happily for me the French launches were recalled to go to
the assistance of their ships, and, finding myself no longer pursued, I
lay on my oars to try and discover what had become of Captain Palmer.
To my great satisfaction, he soon made his appearance, having, at first,
wisely pulled across the stream, where he had not been observed. All
the boats assembling together, we returned considerably crestfallen and
dispirited to our tents. Whether it was treachery, cowardice, or want
of consideration induced the privateer's man to set fire to his vessel I
cannot say, but owing to him alone was the failure of our expedition to
be attributed.

23rd.--The French this morning got off their ships, and removed to a
more respectable distance from the garrison. Guard-boats were sent down
the river, and continued rowing all night. This duty pressed very
severely on the seamen of the fleet. The enemy began their march from
Williamsburg, and on this day attacked and drove in our pickets.

24th.--The seamen were directed to man the guns in the front, and they
were then to-day reviewed by Lord Cornwallis.

25th.--To-day the seamen were again inspected by Lord Cornwallis, and
went through the exercise of the great guns before him, when his
lordship expressed himself highly pleased with our conduct. At this
time, the first lieutenant of the Charon commanded a battery in the
centre of the lines of one twenty-four, two eighteens, and two twelves;
I had charge of a battery with three eighteenss and four sixes, in front
of the 17th Regiment to the right; Lieutenant Symonds, one of three
nines to the left of mine; Lieutenant Conw