98 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



bells and the uproar made by the disgustingly drunken sailors of 

 our ship who had been in the city until late, made it quite a rest- 

 less night. The fire continued until 3 in the morning, when we 

 could see no more. This noon we saw the American soldiers 

 take possession of Paulus Hook [Jersey City] . 



" Monday, November 24. During the fore and afternoon 

 several ships of our fleet sailed, but not further than Staten 

 Island. N. B. We subaltern officers had no other duty on ship 

 than inspection of the watch, and giving out provisions, which 

 every other day fell to me and to today for the first time. 



" Tuesday, November 25. This morning signals were again 

 given from the Commander's ship, whereupon at 10 a. m. our 

 ship, with the tide and good wind, sailed as far as Staten Island 

 near Kohl's ferry, 10 English miles from New York, where we 

 anchored again at 11, at a given signal from the agent's ship. 

 Here we saw several sloops with English troops and baggage 

 arriving from New York at Kohl's ferry and debarking there, 

 probably, as had already been rumored, to embark there as soon 

 as the expected ships arrived. 



" My whole heart is full of sadness when I see fading from 

 my view the receding landmarks and housetops, in whose midst I 

 leave my whole happiness behind me. At 2 p. m. the anchors 

 were again lifted and we sailed with our beylot [pilot] as far as 

 the bar at Sandy Hook arriving there at 3V2 o'clock in the after- 

 noon, when the pilot left us. I entrusted a letter to him ad- 

 dressed to David Bergen at York. Here we met some ships com- 

 ing from Halifax and some from London. They were transports 

 coming to get the remainder of the troops in New York. We 

 had west wind. The night was somewhat dark. 



" Wednesday, November 26. This morning we saw our whole 

 fleet consisting of 14 ships at different distances around about us. 

 The Agent's ship which was nearest to us, had taken in most of 

 its sails, probably in order to await the Commander whom we 

 had not seen since leaving New York ; accordingly all the other 

 ships had to take in sail. Without knowing anything certain we 



