" mined spirits, than our little crews; one of our tars, "being mortally wounded, cried to his mess-mate, 'I " 'am a dying man : revenge my blood, my boys, and " 'carry me alongside my gun, that I may die there.' " We were so preserved by a gracious Providence, " that in all our galleys, which consisted of six, we " we had but two men killed and fourteen wounded, "two of which are thought dangerous. We hope to " have another touch at these Pirates, before they " leave our river, which God prosper.

" P. S. The following are the particulars of the "galleys, with their killed and wounded, viz.: the " Washington, Captain Hill, four wounded ; the Whit- " ing, McCleave, one killed, four wounded; the Spit- " fire, Grimes, one killed, three wounded ; the Crane, " Tinker, one wounded ; on board a whaleboat, two " wounded."

It appears that one, Anderson, had proposed a scheme to the Continental Congress for destroying the British fleet, then lying in the harbor of New York, with fire-ships ; and he had been ofiiciaily recommended to General Washington, by the President of the Congress, with a request that the experiment should be made.' The General had, accordingly, employed Anderson in constructing two fire-vessels; and, on the eiglitli of August, they were sent up the river,* for the purpo.se of destroying a portion, at least, of the squadron which seems to have continued to occupy its anchorage, off Tarrytown, although, by some, it is said to have dropped down the river, to the vicinity of the Lower Yonkers. One of these vessels was commanded by Captain Fosdick, the other by