THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 379 
conduct, they would do themselves justice in some way or other, stop 
payment, change sides, and celebrate the 5th of November. The 
committee resolved, that the late expedition against Rhode Island was 
undertaken and determined on, in consequence of the Comte d’ Estaing 
having pledged his honour to Congress that he would block up the 
harbour of Newport until the army of the United States should 
reduce the garrison. 
Resolved, “ that the failure of the said expedition against Rhode 
Island is solely owing to the shameful retreat of Comte d’Estaing at 
a time when the fleet under his command was greatly superior to 
that of the British.” 
Resolved, “ that M. Gerard be requested to transmit the foregoing 
resolves to His Most Christian Majesty, and beseech him to supersede 
the Count, as from his conduct, Congress cannot place any confidence 
in his honour.” 
What think you of all this nonsense ? I should not be much sur¬ 
prised to find ere long, Congress and the French go at it hammer and 
tongs. 
Proceedings of His Majesty’s troops under General Grey, i.e. those 
that went to Rhode Island with Sir Henry Clinton. 
General Sullivan having by a timely retreat from Rhode Island 
evaded the blow that was aimed at him. General Grey turned his 
thoughts towards New London where he hoped to surprise a number 
of privateers. When he arrived off that harbour, not more than 
three or four small vessels were discovered in it. The General there¬ 
fore would not risk the lives of any of the brave followers under his 
command for so inadequate an object. Having anchored there for 
some hours in order to draw the attention of the rebels to that point, 
he again set sail, and in the evening of September 5th arrived off Dart¬ 
mouth, the river running into Buzzard’s Bay. The troops were landed 
immediately and proceeded to the town of New Bedford where they des¬ 
troyed several vessels and many rich stores without opposition. They 
then proceeded to the mills above the town, where they burnt a consider¬ 
able number of vessels, and having crossed the river, demolished 
all the stores at Fair Haven. The rebels having abandoned their 
fort near this last town, a party was detached to it who destroyed 11 
pieces of cannon and blew up their magazine. The troops then pro¬ 
ceeded to Sconticut Neck, where they were re-embarked by 12 
o’clock on the 6th, having had only six men wounded. Above 170 sail 
of vessels, 70 of them large, were destroyed, and nearly 10,000 head of 
sheep and cattle brought from the island of Martha’s Vineyard in this 
expedition. 
September 10th .—Lord Howe and his fleet are returned to New 
York. Monsieur d’Estaing has escaped him and got safe into Boston. 
O shame ! shame ! upon us; what the devil are we about ? At this 
time there are lying snug in the harbour of New York, no less than 
16 ships of the line of 50 and 44 guns, besides frigates, etc. Admiral 
Byron with three of his have arrived at Halifax. One of his ships 
was dismasted in the gale and was obliged to return to England. 
