244 THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COL ONEL FRANCIS DOWN MAN, R.A. 
on this alarming occasion and have offered themselves to go anywhere 
Lord Howe may think proper to send them. 
July 21st. —Returned to Jamaica. It is strongly reported that 
three companies of artillery are going to the West Indies. It is im¬ 
agined to Jamaica to reinforce that island. 
July 22nd. —The French fleet went this day from before our har¬ 
bour, whether from an appearance of blowing bad weather, or from 
intelligence of Admiral Byron’s being near, we are not able to deter¬ 
mine. We are in great apprehension for the fate of a considerable 
Cork fleet which is expected daily. The loss of this fleet may be at¬ 
tended with fatal consequences. 
July 24th. —Went to New York from Jamaica. For a certainty 
the Cornwall , a 74, one of Admiral Byron’s fleet arrived upon the 
coast near the Hook, and the rest of them are hourly expected. It 
is reported the French fleet are gone to Rhode Island. 
August 7th , 1778. —Lord Howe and his fleet sailed from the Hook 
in search of Mons. d’Estaing. It is imagined he has been joined by 
some of Byron’s fleet, if so, the destruction of the French fleet is in¬ 
evitable ; they are now lying before Rhode Island, and wo hear in¬ 
tend in conjunction with Washington’s army to make an attack on 
that place. General Pigot, who commands there, has written to 
Lord Howe informing him of it, and says he has a garrison of good men 
all in health and spirits, in no want of provisions, and in no concern about 
the threatened invasion. Two of d’ Estaing’s fleet w r e hear have been 
very roughly handled by a battery of ours. About twenty transports 
with two frigates are gone up the Sound to the eastward, to be in 
readiness to take troops on board from Long Island, and away at once. 
The 16th dragoons are gone to Huntingdon on that island, the 17th 
lie at Flushing, and the light infantry and grenadiers, with four regi¬ 
ments are encamped at Bedford. General Tryon with some provincial 
corps has gone to the east end of Long Island. 
In the night of the 9th, some rebel rascals set fire to the town of 
New York, and before the flames could be extinguished, 60 or 70 cap¬ 
ital houses from Dock Street to Centre Market were consumed. On 
the 10th, a sloop lying in the east river opposite the coffee house, 
having on board 250 barrels of powder, was blown up, it is supposed 
by lightning. Fortunately only one person was on board. The 
shock was so great that almost every window in the town was broken, 
and the roofs of many houses damaged. 
August 11th. —The wind began to blow about noon excessively 
hard from S.E., and continued with some variation for four days. 
We are under some disagreeable apprehension concerning Lord Howe, 
whether he has been able to act against the French, or whether his 
fleet has been dispersed by the storm. 
August 15th.—We have just been able to learn the following 
account of Lord Howe. 
“Lord Howe’s fleet made the high land off Rhode Island, on 
Sunday the 9th of August at noon, and at 2 o’clock p.m. came in 
