and a complication of horror and importance beyond any thing that ever came to my lot to be witness to. I much lament Tom's* absence:--it was a fight for a young soldier that the longest service may not furnish again: and had he been with me he would likewise have been out of danger; for, except two cannon balls that went an hundred yards over our heads, we were not on any part of the direction of the enemy's shot. A moment of the day was critical: Howe's left were staggered; two battalions had been sent to reinforce them, but we perceived them on the beach seeming in embarrassment what way to march; Clinton, then next for business, took the part, without waiting for orders, to throw himself into a boat to head them; he arrived in time to be of service, the day ended with glory, and the success was most important, considering the ascendancy it gave the regular troops; but the loss was uncommon in officers for the numbers engaged.

" Howe was untouched, but his aid-de-camp Sherwin was killed; Jordan, a friend of Howe's, who came, engage du coeur, to see the campaign, (a ship-mate of ours on board the Cerberus, and who acted as aid-de-camp) is badly wounded. Pigot was unhurt, but he behaved like a hero. You will see the list of the loss. Poor Col. Abercrombie, who commanded the grenadiers, died yesterday of his wounds. Capt. Addison, our poor old friend, who arrived but the day before, and was to have dined with me on the day of the action, was also killed; his son was upon the field at the time. Major Mitchell is but very slightly hurt; he is out already; young Chetwynd's wound is also slight. Lord Percy's regiment has suffered the most, and behaved the best; his Lordship himself was not in the action:--Lord Roden behaved to a charm; his name is established for life."

* His nephew, the Hon. Tho. Stanley, Esq; (and brother to Lord Stanley), who is gone a volunteer to Boston, in his Majesty's service.