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'fortification, will be able to tell you, what is 'the use of subterraneans in a fort; I have been ' with our officers already twice through them; though as yet, I do not know much more of ' them than when I began, yet I hope in two ' or three times more, to make myself a little 'acquainted with them.

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I do not intend writing to my Father till 'next packet, but I will to the Duke of Hamilton, so that wherever he may happen to be, he will hear of me.

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'I was going to send my letter without ' mentioning, dear Mother, whether I thought 'this island agreeable or not; I confess the little I have seen I like vastly, though it is 'more upon account of the people than the

country, for there is nothing but rocks in 'the places I have seen, which must make it exceedingly bad for the eyes in summer. 'I am told that in summer you do not see the least pasture. But at present it is

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neither too hot nor too cold. I am just now ' letting my fire go out, and have a window

6 open, which I suppose is quite a different

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'situation from the one you are now in. 'Tell Jeanie to write to me; my love to her, ' and also to my Brothers and Grandmothers. 'Farewell, dear Mother,

'Ever your most affectionate Son,

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'Dear Father,-By my last you would be 'informed of our arrival here, &c.; since that, ' our operations have been rather more inte

resting. Upon the 23d of July, a rebel 'fleet, consisting of about forty ships and ' vessels, eighteen of which were armed, the

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rest carrying troops and stores, sailed up 'the bay and immediately began cannonading

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the Albany, North, and Nautilus, three sloops ' of war, the only shipping we had to oppose 'to them; they were moored across the har'bour, and supported by a battery from us;

though the firing was smart from both

'sides, yet the Y-s kept at such a dis

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tance, that little or no damage was done.

Some of their vessels anchored opposite a 'wood, at one end of the peninsula, and kept

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' up a constant fire upon the British posted 'there, to oppose their landing. They con'tinued this kind of play for several days, ' endeavouring at different times to land; but ' were constantly beaten back, till upon the 28th, when after a very sharp cannonade 'from the shipping upon the wood, to the great surprise of General M'Lean, and the

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garrison, they effected a landing. I hap

pened to be upon picket that morning, ' under the command of a Captain of the 74th 'regiment, who, after giving them one fire, ' instead of encouraging his men (who natu

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rally had been a little startled by the can'nonade) to do their duty, ordered them to ' retreat, leaving me and about twenty men to shift for ourselves. After standing for some time, I was obliged to retreat to the 'fort, having five or six of my own men 'killed, and several wounded; I was lucky 'to escape untouched. This affair of the

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of us.

' mention it. Having got possession of the 'wood, they made roads from the shore, to 'the opposite edge, by which they dragged ' up their cannon, and erected two batteries, 'within about seven or eight hundred yards Before their arrival, the four curtains, and two of the bastions of the fort had 'been raised about eight feet; the other two 'bastions were open, but afterwards a fascine ' work was thrown round the well which was ' in one of them; the interval of the other was 'filled up with logs, the storming which, at first, would not have been difficult. By the addition of cheveaux-de-frise, abatis, &c., this became a serious undertaking; and as

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they had been falsely informed that we were 'short of provisions, they soon expected hunger would oblige us to lay down our arms. But on the 13th inst., Sir George Collier, ' with a 64, two frigates, and three 20 gun

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ships, was seen sailing up the bay; the ' rebel fleet never attempted to make a stand, 'but ran up the river in the utmost confu

sion; two of their vessels only were taken;

'the rest the rascals ran ashore, and burned, 'before our shipping could get up with them.

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Unluckily they had intelligence of our fleet

'the day before; and in the night time their army got on board their shipping, and took ' along with them most of their cannon and ' stores, unknown to us. This is undoubtedly 'the greatest coup for us, that has been done 'this year; it will make up for the defeat at Stoney Point. Upon the whole we have lost 'but few men, in the small skirmishes we had

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with them; the only officers wounded are 'Graham Douglestone's son, and one M'Neil, 'but they are getting very well. Our regi'ment is to return to Halifax in about four 'or five weeks, with General M'Lean; Co'lonel Campbell and his regiment are to be 'left here. I had a letter from Mrs. Macin'tosh the other day; she says you are all well; I am very anxious to hear from your

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self, I do not know how long it is since I ' had that pleasure; I hope to find letters at 'Halifax upon my return. What is become ' of poor Graham? I hear from Captain Dun

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