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 à 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 backwardness of the Indians in coming out,
prevented my operations keeping pace with your excellency's
expectations. I, however, hope you will do me the justice to
believe, that no time was lost, which could possibly be saved,
situated as I was. It was the 3d of March, before any Black River
crafts arrived, and they were the only ones then provided. It is
true, the Indian governor promised a great many: but, when I came