so NATURAL AND CIVIL 



brcught from a grcnt distance ; and must be 

 transported by a land carriage, over roads almost 

 impassable. Carpenters and ship builders were 

 fiilly employed in the sea ports, in fitting out 

 privateers. The distance and difficulty of the 

 communication rendered the transportation of 

 bulky articles very expensive and tedious ; and 

 several of the 'articles which were w^anted, were 

 not to be procured at all, or widi great deficien- 

 C}^ of quantity and quality. But amidst all their 

 difficulties, such was the resolution, industry and 

 perseverance of the men, that by the eighteenth 

 of August, they had equipped a very considei*' 

 able naval force. It consisted of one sloop, 

 three schooners, and five gondolas, carrying fifty 

 five guns; twelve, nine, six, and four pounders ; 

 besides seventy swivels.* This armament was 

 manned v/ith three hundred and ninety five men, 

 and was completely fitted for action. Consid- 

 ering the state of the country at that time, the 

 difficulties and disadvantages under which this 

 iiaval force had been constructed, instead of 

 enquiring why the Americans did not effect 

 more, the surprise wiH be how they could effect 

 so much, in so short a time. 



At the north end of the lake, the British had 

 been also drligerit and much engaged in forming 

 a fleet, which should give them the superiority 

 and enable th^ir army to pass over tlie lake and 

 attempt the reduction of Crown Point, Ticon- 

 deroga and Albany. Not only their troops and 

 sailors, but a large part of the Canadians were 

 employed all the summer in this business. Six 

 armed vessels had been built in England, and 



* G-ordon. Vol. 11, p. 141. 



