P REF A C E. HE year of which we treat was so abundant THE in military event, that if all other memorials of the fame nature were loft, it might afford no very imperfect tranfcript of the art of modern war in all its forms, whether by fea or by land. Though we are not astonished by the appearance of fuch inmenfe armies as have fo often defolated the old world, nor by thofe actions which have in a day decided the fate of nations and empires, we fee as vast, though lefs concentrated, operations of war, conducted upon its most scientific principles. When taken in a general view, the combination of its detached parts forms a great whole, whether confidered with respect to action or confequence. We fee the war rage, nearly at the same time, in the countries on both fides of the North River, on the Chesapeak, in South Carolina, the Floridas, North Carolina, Virginia, the West Indies, the American and West Indian feas. Through this arrangement, in part fortuitous and in part the effect of defign, we are prefented with a number of the bestconducted and feverest actions recorded in history. We behold, in an unhappy contention between Englishmen, the greatest exertions of military skill, a valour which can never be exceeded, and all the perfection of difcipline exhibited on the one fide, and oppofed on the other by an unconquerable refolution and perfeverance, infpired and supported by the enthufiafm of liberty. Collection PREFACE. HE year of which we treat was fe abundant THE in military event, that if all other memorials of the fame nature were loft, it might afford no very imperfect tranfcript of the art of modern war in all its forms, whether by fea or by land. Though we are not astonished by the appearance of fuch immense armies as have fo often defolated the old world, nor by thofe actions which have in a day decided the fate of nations, and empires, we fee as vast, though less concentrated, operations of war, conducted upon its most scientific principles. When taken in a general view, the combination of its detached parts forms a great whole, whether confidered with respect to action or confequence. We fee the war rage, nearly at the fame time, in the countries on both fides of the North River, on the Chesapeak, in South Carolina, the Floridas, North Carolina, Virginia, the Weft Indies, the American and West Indian feas. Through this arrangement, in part fortuitous and in part the effect of defign, we are prefented with a number of the bestconducted and feverest actions recorded in history. We behold, in an unhappy contention between Englishmen, the greatest exertions of military skill, a valour which can never be exceeded, and all the perfection of difcipline exhibited on the one fide, and oppofed on the other by an unconquerable refolution and perfeverance, infpired and supported by the enthufiafm of liberty. If the foldier finds abundant matter of entertainment and obfervation in the recital of thefe events, the statesman and philofopher will not find less room for ferious contemplation in the causes and consequences of the contention. They have led to the establishment of a new epocha in the history of mankind; they have opened the way to new fyftems of policy; and to new arrangements of power and of commerce. To the whole British nation, however dispersed in the old or in the new world, every part of the history of this contention, in all its circumftances and confequences, must at all times be in the higheft degree interesting. It would be trefpaffing too far on the indulgence of the public, to trouble them with any detail of the unavoidable and unfortunate interruptions which have occafioned the delay of our prefent publication. We confole ourselves in the hope, that thofe caufes will not appear in any degree to have operated with refpect to the attention which we have paid to a faithful difcharge of our duty in the conduct of the Hiftory. The happy return of the public tranquillity will, by leffening our labours, enable us to recover our former station in point of publication. THE |