reby facilitate the means to succeed
with less risk in a meditated descent on the eastern shore of
the island; which is to be at all times the object of your chief
care to resist and oppose, by endeavouring to destroy the boats
of the enemy employed on that occasion, or otherwise to prevent
the further use of them in the attempt.

"It will therefore be incumbent on you, in conjunction with
other armed vessels stationed with you in Seakonnet Channel, to
intercept the said armed vessels (if possible) before they have
advanced below your first anchoring station, and to keep secret
such directions as the senior officer at the said anchorage may
propose to adopt for that intent.

"You are to continue on this service until further orders; and I
am to recommend your attention, that a careful watch is kept in
the galley at all times, conformable to the tenour of the
printed instructions given in that respect; and that every other
precaution is taken to guard against the attempts of the rebel
for the annoyance of the galley, wherein it is to be observed of
all such enterprises, that those which are the least suspected
are ever the most likely to be attended with success.

"Given on board H.M.S. Nonsuch,
at Rhode Island, 21st May 1778.
S.W. GRIFFITH."

"To Lieut. Saumarez, &c."

It should be mentioned here, that Rhode Island was taken possession of
by his Majesty's forces under General Clinton and Sir Peter Parker on
the 9th December 1776; and some description of it is necessary to show
the arduous as well as perilous nature of the service on which our
young hero was now employed. This island takes its name from the
province, and lies in Narraganset Bay: it is fifteen miles in length
from north to south, and three miles and a half broad; the north end
is only three miles from Bristol, to which there is a ferry. The
Seakonnet Passage separates it from the main on the north-west side,
and the islands of Conanicut and Prudence lie in the passage on the
south-east side, the town of Newport being in the south-east part of
the island.

The Seakonnet Passage was in consequence of the above order allotted
to the Spitfire. Lieutenant Saumarez was now under the orders of
Captain Graeme, and proceeded to his station: it appears from his
journal, now in our possession, that he was constantly on the alert,
and almost daily skirmishing with the enemy. On the 24th he