The weight and execution of the naval equipment, fell of course upon the officers and men of that department, whofe ability, zeal, and perfeverance in the performance, can never be too much applauded. The tak was indeed ardaous. A fleet of above thirty fighting veffels, of different kinds and fizes, all furnished with cannon, was to be little less than created; for though a few of the largeft were re-contructions, the advantage derived from thence depended more upon the ufe of materials which the country did not afford, than upon any faving as to time, or leffening of labour. Whear to this is added, the tranfporting over land, and afterwards dragging up the rapids of St. Therefe and St. John's, 30 longboats, a number of flat boats of confiderable burthen, a gondola, weighing 30 tons, with above 400 battoes, the whole prefented a complexity of labour and diculty, which feemed fufficient to appal even the fpirit of British feamen. However it must be allowed that the labour did not fall folely on them. The foldiers had their part; and what is to be lamented, the peasants and farmers of Canada were taken from their ploughs, and compefled by power to bear a fhare in toils, from whence they could derive no honour or advantage.

Though the equipment was compleated in about three months, the nature of the fervice, as well as the eagernels of the commanders and army, required, if it had been poffible, a ftill greater difpatch. The winter was faft approaching, two inland feas to be paffed, the unknown force of the enemy on each to be fubdued,

and the ftrong polls of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, defended and fupported by an army, to be encountered fword in hand. To add to thefe impediments, the communication between the Lakes Champlain and George, did not admit the paffage of thofe veffels of force, which, after being fuccefs'ul on the one, might be equally wanted on the other. And if all thofe difficulties were furmcunted, and Lake George paffed, there fill remained a long and dangerous march through intricate forefts, extenfive moraffes, and an uncleared country, ftill in a flate of rature, before they could reach Albany, which was the firft poft to the fouthward that could "afford them reft and accommodation.

The fpirit of the commanders rofe in proportion to the difficulties which were to be encountered. The objects in view were great, the glory to be acquired tempting, and the defire of their attainment feemed to lefen or remove obftacles, which to a cold or "lukewarm fpeculation would have appeared infuperable. If the Lakes could be recovered, and Albany poffeffed, before the feverity of the winter fet in, the northern army would hold a principal share in the honour of bringing the war to a speedy conclufion. It was conceived that they could then pour deftruction at will, into the heart either of the middle or the northern colonies, each of which would be expofed to them in its most tender and defencelefs part. Whilft the poffeffion of Hudson's river would establish and secure their communication with General Howe, it would equally fever and disconnect the fouthern and nor

thern

thern provinces, leaving thereby the latter to fink under the joint weight of both armies, or to accept of fuch terms as they could obtain, without the participation of the others. Nor could General Wathington attempt to hold any post in New York or the Jerfeys, with fuch a fuperiority of force as already oppreffed him in front, and General Carleton's army at hs back. The fucceffes of their tellows on the fide of New York, increafed the impatience, and excited the jealousy of this army, every one aprehending that the war would be brought to an end, before he could have an opportunity of fharing in the honour of that happy

event.

With all this ardour, and the moft unremitting industry, it was not until the month of October, that the fleet was in a condition to feek the enemy on Lake Champlain. The force was very confiderable with refpe&t to the place and fervice, extraordinary in regard to the little time spent in its formation, and fuch as, a very few ages ago, would have been deemed formidable even upon the European feas. The thip Inflexible, which may be confidered as Admiral, had been re-contructed at St. John's, from whence the failed in 28 days after laying her keel, and mounted 18 twelve pounders. One schooner mounted 14, and another 12, fix pounders. A flatbottomed radeau carried fix 24, and fix 12 pounders, befides how itzers; and a gondola, 7 nine pounders. Twenty fmaller veffels, ander the denomination of gunboats, carried brass field pieces from 9 to 24 pounders, or were armed with howitzers. Some

long-boats were furnished in the. fame manner. About an equal number of large boats acted as tenders. Those we have taken notice of, were all intended for, or appertaining to battle; we omit the vast number destined for the transportation of the army, with its ftores, artillery, baggage, and proviñons.

The armament was conducted by Captain Pringle, and the fleet navigated by above 7c0 prime seamen, of whom 200 were volunteers from the tranfports, who atter having rivalled thole belonging to the thips of war in all the toil of preparation, now boldly and freely partook with them in the danger of the expedition. The guns were ferved by detachments of men and officers belonging to the corps of artillery. In a word, no equipment of the fort was ever better appointed, or more amply furnifhed with every kind of provifion neceflary for the intended fervice.

The enemy's force was in no degree equal, either with refpect to the goodness of the veff Is, the number of guns, furniture of war, or weight of metal. Senfible, though they were, of the neceffity of preferving the dominion of the Lakes, and aided in that defign by the original force in their hands, with a great advantage in point of time for its increafe, their intentions in that refpect were counteracted by many effential, and fome irremediable deficiencies. They wanted timber, artillery, fhip builders, and all the materials neceffary for fuch an equipment. Carpenters, and all others concerned in the business of thipping, were fully engaged at the fea-ports [4] 2

in

in the construction and fitting out of privateers, whilft the remotenefs, and difficulty of communication, rendered the supply of bulky materials extremely tedious. When we confider the difficulties on their part, we think it not juft to deny the Americans the praife, of having combated, and in part overcome them, with an affiduity, perfeverance, and spirit, which did not in the leaft fall fhort of what had been employed against them. For their fleet amounted to 15 veffels of different kinds, confifting of two fchooners, one floop, one cutter, three gallies, and eight gondolas. The principal fchooner mounted 12 fix and four pounders. They were commanded by Benedict Arnold, who was now to fupport upon a new element, that renown which he had acquired on land in the Canada expedition.

1776.

General Carleton was too full of zeal, and too anxious for the event, not to head the British armament, and having proceeded up the Lake, discovered Oa. 11. the enemy's fleet drawn up with great judgment, being very advantageo fly pofted, and forming a strong line, to defend the paffage between the island of Valicour and the western main. Indeed they had at the beginning placed themselves with fo much kill behind the island, that an accident only discovered their pofition. The King's fquadron, without this feasonable difcovery, would have left them behind; an event, which if it had happened, might have been attended with the moft ferious confequences. It is faid, that the unexpected fight of a three matted hip of fuch Force, upon the Lake, threw the

enemy into the utmost, and moft visible confternation. It does not feem, however, probable, that a matter of fuch public notoriety in Canada, fhould have been so long withheld from them.

A warm action eníued, and was vigorously fupported on both fides for fome hours; but the wind being unfavourable, so that the thip Inflexible, and fome other veffels of force could not be worked up ta the enemy, the weight of the action fell upon the schooner Carleton and the gun-boats, which they suftained with the greatest firmness, fuch extraordinary efforts of refolution being displayed both by men and officers, as merited and received the highest applaufe from their commanders. It is to be prefumed, that when so much praise was due and given to the conduct and valour of a fuperior force on our fide, the enemy must not have acted their part amifs.

The detachment belonging to the corps of artillery, were highly diftinguished, and did most effential fervice in the gun-boats. But the fame impediments ftill continuing, which prevented their being feconded by the other veffels, Captain Pringle, with the approbation of the General, thought it neceffary for the prefent, to withdraw thofe that were engaged from the action. At the approach of night, he brought the whole fleet to anchor in a line, and as near as possible to the enemy, in order to prevent their retreat.

In this engagement the best fchooner belonging to the enemy was burnt, and a gondola carrying three or four guns funk, from whence we may form fome reafonable conjecture of the execution