To this "end, I would propose eight or ten line-of-battle Ships, to be with us in " February, with a number of supernumerary Seamen, for manning boats, " having fully experienced the want of them, in every movement we have "made. "We must, also, have recruits from Europe, not finding the "Americans disposed to serve with arms, notwithstanding the hopes " held out to me, upon my arrival at this port." -- (General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "New- York Island, 25 September, 1776," received by his lordship, November 2, 1776.)

"With regard to the knowledge of the country, so necessary to be ob- "tained previous to the movement from New-York, I beg leave to men- " tion the difficulties we labored under, in that respect, throughout the " War. The country is so covered with wood, swamps, and creeks, that " it is not open, in the least degree, to be known but from post to post or "from accounts to be collected from the inhabitants, who are entirely " ignorant of military description. These circumstances were, therefore

WBSTCHESTEK COUNTY.

not learned the more modern military theory of "at- " trition," no matter at what cost, nor was he of the same school of politics as that in which Bute and Germaine and Dundas and Wedderburne and Jay and Duane and the Livingstons and the Morrises were preceptors, of high or low degree: on the other hand, he did not expose his command where the object to be attained was inadequate, 1 nor was he inclined to visit the country, even that portion of it which was antagonistic to the Royal Army, with severity. 2