“His country’s honour, was his party!  A brilliant example to all military men.  He did more than what he might, if he chose, have considered as his duty.  Where any thing was to be done, he saw no difficulties.

     “Not contented with having carried the armament safe to the harbour
     of San Juan, he accompanied and assisted the troops in all their
     difficulties, and remained with them till the castle surrendered.

“He was the first on shore, at the attack of St. Bartholomew, followed by a few brave seamen and soldiers, in the face of a severe fire.  The undauntedness of the act frightened the Spaniards; who, from the nature of the ground, might have put him and his party to death:  but they ran away, and abandoned the battery.

“By his example and perseverance, the Indians and seamen were encouraged through their toil, in forcing the boats, against the current, up the river:  otherwise, not a man would have seen San Juan Castle.  When they arrived at the castle—­as prompt in thought, as bold in action—­he advised the carrying it, instantly, by assault.  That his advice was not followed, this recital is a lamentable testimony!”

Such is the grand outline of Dr. Moseley’s history of this unfortunate expedition; in the miscarriage of which, it must not be dissembled that, among other causes, Colonel Polson appears in some degree inculpated.  It cannot, therefore, be improper to add, at least, the account which the Colonel himself officially transmitted to Governor Dalling, the day after the surrender of Fort Juan; and which, on the 18th of July 1780, appeared in the London Gazette.  His liberal praises of Captain Nelson, the first ever conveyed to the public, or possibly to government, would alone render it sufficiently interesting.

“When I reached Cape Gratias a Dios, there was not an Indian to be seen:  some villains, there, having taken pains to persuade them, that the English army had come merely with an intent of enslaving them, and sending them to Jamaica.  It was, therefore, some time, before any of them ventured to come in.  I took the opportunity of sending them small presents, by one of their people who had ventured down to observe our motions.  He, being acquainted with Mr. Campbell, was undeceived by him, and brought to me; which had the desired effect, as most of the tribes came in very soon after.

“Your excellency’s letter of the 17th of March, I received the 20th, just as I entered the River St. John.  I shall ever retain a grateful sense of the sentiments you was therein pleased to express for me:  and I am sorry that the many delays I met at the cape, and other places between that and the harbour of St. John, from the want of craft, and the