A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

62 HISTORY OF THE
himself postponed the descent, and without giving previous
notice to the Count of this movement, some suspicions were
excited that the measure was taken with other views than
those which were assigned. The French admiral was so
much offended that he refused to answer Sullivan's letter
the day which ought to have been appropriated to action,
wa3 passed in discussion; and this delicate and magnified
point probably proved, in the end, the destruction of the
whole expedition.
After reaching the island, General Sullivan hoped that the
attack would be no longer delayed, when, on the same day,
the squadron of Lord Howe appeared, which after communicating with General Pigot, came to an anchor off Point
Judith. After a careful examination of the position of the
French ships, the British admiral concluded, from various
concurring causes, that he could entertain no hope of succouring the town. From the same causes, if the French
admiral had been disposed to persist in the concerted plan
of attack, and had not abandoned his station until he had
afforded to General Sullivan all the co-operation in his
power, there is good reason to believe that the town of Newport would have fallen into the hands of the allies. But the
count D'Estaing, full of ardour and impatience, took advantage of a favourable change of wind to sail out of the
hlarbour, in order to attack the enemy. Previously to his
leaving port, he informed General Sullivan that, on his return, he would land his men as that officer should advise.
Having stood out to sea, with the advantage of the weathergage, which Lord Howe did not think it prudent to concede,
the whole day was spent in manceuvreing. On the succeeding day, when on the point of engaging, the two fleets
were separated and dispersed by a violent tempest, which
lasted forty-eight hours, and rendered them both unfit for
action The British squadron returned to New-York, for