The Newport Gazette

For the NEWPORT GAZETTE:

Mr. PRINTER,

I READ in one of your Papers an Extract from the Proceedings of a Court of Enquiry, held at Providence.--The introductory Part of a Performance, which was to satisfy the Minds of a People, who had been drawn into an Expence of 18000 Dollars (according to their own Calculation) fixed my Attention to the subsequent Reasons. This Attention was enhanced as I read on, being informed, that all Provision was carefully made of Military Stores, Ammunition, Hospital and Commissary Stores, with a Plenty of Field Pieces, and heavy Cannon, and Boats sufficient to transport them all and five Thousand Men. With all these Conveniences, added to an enthusiastic Zeal, which had brought together so considerable a Body of Men, from different and widely distant Parts, what mighty Cause could be alleged for their returning Home, and leaving the Business unaccomplished? --We are told, that General Spencer, on the 9th of October, gave positive Orders to Brigadier Palmer, to see the Boats numbered, and have an Estimate made of the Number of Men they would carry, with the utmost Dispatch and make Report of his Doings. We are afterwards told, the Brigadier neglected to comply with the necessary Order. This seems a most important Reason! And it is an important one indeed! That the numbering and arranging those Boats, which at most was not a Work of many Hours (and which was in Part, at least, accomplished on the 17th, when a Boat drifted on this Shore, marked No. 73, and in complete Readiness for Service, her Oars being properly muffled) should disconcert a Plan of such amazing Importance! I should rather, Mr. Printer, suppose that it was a Matter concerted between Persons eager to Embrace the Shadow of a Reason for returning Home; for it is known many of them did not before agree to the Expedition, and that others grew sick of lying behind Stone Walls and Hay Stacks, and thought a comfortable Bed at Home with their Families, much more eligible. This the Court of Enquiry might have acquainted the Public with. It would have been happy in the Opinion of this Court, if the General, previous to his Order for making the Preparations for the Descent, had been fully ascertained that the Boats were prepared for Allotment among the several Regiments. That it was the Duty of an Officer, previous to his issuing Orders for a Descent, to be satisfied that every Thing was prepared therefor is evident to any one at the first Glance: But is it any Satisfaction to the Publick, to be informed from that Court of Enquiry, That General Spencer omitted to ascertain a Part of his Duty; and can they think it will encourage them to enter into a like Expence for another fruitless Expedition, to be only told that Brigadier Palmer disobeyed the Orders he received both on the 9th and 15th of October. Surely they would be glad to know, where and at what Distance from the intended Parade, this Brigade was quartered, so that during the whole Day it could not be assembled and got ready for embarkation; for it certainly is a great Reflection on the Brigadier and his Corps, to have it appear to the whole World, that when all the other Brigades were assembled on the 16th, in such high Spirits and eager for Action, they should be the only People who hid themselves and could not be found. Do Mr. Printer, let the Court of Enquiry know, that I am as much in the Dark now as ever I was, and cannot be satisfied with their imperfect Account of this Affair: nor do I think they have paid sufficient Praise to the Commander in Chief, for though they do him the Honour and very deservedly to own that all his Orders from Time to Time were given with Propriety, Clearness and Punctuality, I think they might have added, that he is a Man of great Ability, Sagacity and Penetration: for the even of his conducting the mock Parade, not only by his Orders for the Brigades to attend half an Hour before Sun rise to prepare for a Night Expedition, but by that clever Contrivance of his, muffling the Oars of the Boats, that he might take the Island by Surprise when he marched at the head, and the Night as bright as Day. The Court has not been kind enough to acquaint the Public whether the Boats were afterwards properly distributed and the Troops more obedient to Order, but we must conclude that was not the Case, for they assure us that every Time near assigned for the Attack, but the Weather and other Circumstances proved so unfavourable that it was not proceeded. - Here we are again kept in the Dark with indecipherable Words, other Circumstances. Would to God that I knew the Meaning of them: as to the Weather I am very clear about that, and that there never was a fairer Night for such Purpose than Sunday the 19th, when a Party landed, and by the Cowardice of Taggart and his Sons, carried off little more than a dead General which touched. acquaint the Court of Enquiry, that the Wind was Northerly and favourable for them for ten Days together. I am afraid they did not tell the whole Story: For the Council of War say not a Syllable of the state of the Weather, and therefore it is evident they had other Reasons for diminishing the Remainder of the Army and making no further Trial for landing on Rhode Island Before I conclude. I must confess but one other thing can be intimated concerning and by whom this pretty Plan for a Descent was concerted, and by the Projector, to have so much Confidence did it get some fruit: the Squad can know at least if we want be either Wind or Rain in the Month of October; for it is plain that the Undertaking was called by to depend upon the Weather. This is the first Time I have ever heard that Soldiers are to be of all a little Rain and that it was not prudent for them to cross the Water before it was smooth as a Mill Pond. Such an extraordinary Tale of Safety was never relied before, and I am amazed the Court of Enquiry are not ashamed to impose it upon the Public. O Americans! Take my Advice and never ask for an Enquiry again, believe me it will never answer your Purpose, for depend on it they mean no more than to gloss over s