These mosquito cruisers generally kept aloof by day, so that their harboring places might not be discovered, but would pull quietly along, under shadow of the shore, at night, to take up their quarters at the Roost. Hither, at such time, would also repair the hard-riding lads of the hills, to hold secret councils of war with the "ocean chivalry ; " and in these nocturnal meetings, were concerted many of those daring forays, by land and water, that resounded throughout the border."

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n8

HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

Tlie chronicler here goes on to recount clivers wonderful stork of the wars of the Roost, from which if would seem that this little w • rior nest carried the terror of its arms into every sea from Spiting Dev Creek to St. Anthony's Nose; that it even bearded the stout island > ; Manhattan, invading it at night, penetrating to its centre, and burinim down the famous DeRancey house, the conflagration of which makes such a blaze in revolutionary history. Nay, more ; in their extravagant daring, these cocks of the Roost meditated a nocturnal descent upon. New York itself, to swoop upon the British commanders, Howe and Clinton, by surprise, bear them off captive, and, perhaps, put a triumphant close to the war.

"This doughty Dutchman (continues thesage Diedrich Knickerbocker) was not content with taking a share in all the magnanimow enterprises concocted at the Roost, but still continued his petty warfaic along shore. A series of exploits at length raised his confidence in his prowess to such a height, that he began to think himself and his goosegun a match for anything. Unluckily, in the course of one of his prowlings, he descried a British transport aground, not far from shore, wit!; her stern swung towards the land within point-blank shot.