r the nation,
and for the honour of the profession which he had first chosen, he was
destined to display his bravery and splendid talents in a sphere where
there happened to be a much greater range for them, than if he had
followed the fortunes of the noble earl in the other honourable
service. Many years after, when Saumarez's career had proved the
wisdom of his decision, he met Lord Cornwallis at dinner at Lord
Spencer's, then first lord of the admiralty; who, on hearing this
anecdote, observed, "Lord Cornwallis would have deprived the naval
service of one of its best officers."

The Bristol arrived off Cape Fear early in May, where they found
General Clinton; and, having repaired their damages, reached
Charlestown in the beginning of June. The troops were landed on the
island, at a low, sandy spot, in the midst of a heavy surf, and the
guns of the Bristol and the Experiment were put on board the Harcourt
East-indiaman, to enable them to get over the bar.

One of the transports, called the Friendship, having been fitted as a
ship of war to be taken into the service, was commissioned by
Lieutenant Charles Hope, first of the Bristol, an excellent officer,
and he selected Sir James Barclay and Mr. Saumarez to be his officers;
but, after a few days, he prevailed on Captain Hope to allow him to
return to the Bristol, which he did only two days previously to the
attack on Fort Sullivan, which, after passing the bar, it became
necessary to silence and take possession of. This fortress was
considered the key of the harbour, and the fortifications of it were
constructed with great skill: the works being formed of cabbage-tree,
a kind of wood peculiarly calculated, by its porous and elastic
quality, to resist the effects of shot; and, from its not being liable
to splinter, the troops in the batteries were secured from what is
deemed one of the principal means of destruction; while the Bristol's
crew were fully exposed to the fatal effects of the enemy's fire. The
guns being taken on board on the 28th of June 1776, at 8 A.M. the
squadron began the attack by a furious and incessant cannonade, which
continued with little intermission until nine o'clock at night. Never
did British valour shine more conspicuously, nor did our ships in an
engagement of the same nature experience so serious an encounter: the
squadron could not approach within grape-shot of the enemy, and
therefore could not clear the batteries; and the spring of the