Had their purpose been to cut off the supplies of the American Army, as some have supposed and stated -- a project which would have been unnecessary, if the American Army was to be obliged to abandon its strong position, near Kingsbridge, in order to prevent the enemy from falling on its rear -- the ships would not have anchored at so great a distance from the American lines ; nor would they have chosen, as their station, the widest part of the river, at that place quite three miles wide, of which two-thirds or more are shoal-water, over which the small river-craft could pass and re-pass, with impunity ; while, within four miles, equally good anchorage grounds could have been found, equally safe from interference from the Americans, less exposed to the heavy winds of the season, which would have required not more th:in onehalf the extent of guard-duty, and, at the same time, which would have been equally effective, for the purpose named. Had the purpose been, as others have supposed, to have obstructed the retreat of the American Army and the removal of its stores and heavy guns, by water, it is equally strange that the place which was designated for the anchorage of the ships was situated not far from ten miles above the American lines, within which General Washington held an

referred to nothing else than to the Phmnix and the Roebucli and the tenders; and, very cautiously, for reasons which are not unknown to us, he said nothing whatever concerning the purposes of the expedition. Ir- \iog, (Life of Wiishinglon, Ed. Sew York; 185(5, ii., 3(i7-;)73,) in Ihe most carefully prepared descriplion of all, with a grave error in his description of the passage of the ships through Ihe obstructions, and another in making General Washington do what was done by General Heath, recited all the surniisei. of the inhabitants and others, concerning the object of the movement, without pretending to offer any of his own.