i66 



purpofe — and fome taken after our arrival up- 

 on the coaft ; but, unfortunately, it proved 

 that even thefe, light as they were, drew too 

 much water for this muddy fhore ; for, about 

 five o'clock, we had the mortification to learn 

 that our little fleet was faft aground deep fix- 

 ed in mud. Finding the fmall veffels in this 

 dilemma, our fhip, together with the others 

 which had failed through a very confined 

 channel towards the fort, came to anchor 

 near the entrance of the Demarara river, having 

 the fort, alfo a Dutch frigate, and a nymber of 

 fhipping in full view before them. 



This was a more unhappy accident than 

 the breaking loofe of the boats with artillery 

 fiores, and might have proved of ferious con- 

 fequence, as the troops were compelled to re- 

 . main until the next flood of tide, being equally 

 unable either to reach the fhore, or to re- 

 turn, 



In the events of this day we had a fur- 

 ther proof of the extreme uncertainty of mili- 

 tary operations, more particularly when con- 

 ceded with, or dependent upon maritime 

 movements. In the morning we had every 



