I cannot but observe, what a pompous (but false) Account, the Author gives of our Loss; he roundly affirms, "_That Numbers of Drums and Colours were left behind in the Retreat_," of which there was not in Fact One; some few Firelocks belonging to the Soldiers, who fell upon the Top of the Hill, could not be brought off; and most of the Scaling Ladders, _&c._ which had been intrusted to the Care of the _American_ Soldiers, remained upon the Ground. What Use the Enemy might make of them, I cannot say; but we, who could distinctly see with the naked Eye, what passed on the Hill of St. _Lazar_, could perceive nothing of what the Author mentions. It was never before alledged, that the Guide, who return'd, complained of his not having been followed by the Troops the Way he would have led them; but it is certain, that both the Officers and the Engineer, who were in the Front, complained of their having been mislead by the Guide. Had the contrary appeared, the Offenders could scarcely have escaped Censure; for the Instant before the Troops advanced to the Attack, the General in Person gave Directions to two of the principal Officers, who were to lead on the Grenadiers, to mount the Hill upon the Right, and to push at once into the Enemy's Works. What the Author insinuates, that the Retreat was too long delayed, is without any Grounds whatsoever. The Moment it appeared there was no room to hope for Success, the Troops were directed to retire, which was done in so good Order, that the Enemy did not think it adviseable to advance one Step to give them the least Disturbance. I cannot finish my Observations upon this long Note (_g_) without remarking that what palpable Falsehoods, and gross Misrepresentations, the Author herein aggravates our Loss at St. _Lazar_; such as the generous _Spaniard_ (tho' as an Enemy authorized to do it by Custom) would be ashamed of; but in an _Englishman_ it is a Crime, for which Language has not yet found a Name, and which nothing but the highest innate Malevolence, and the strongest Inveteracy against his Majesty's Land Forces, _there employed_, could have produced.] [Footnote 29: I do not know what might be the Opinion of the Officers employed by the Admiral (_Vide_ Note (_h_) page 44) to sound: But I am well assured, that experienced Pilots, who have sounded the whole Harbour of _Carthagena_ in open Day-Light, do affirm, that large Ships can approach so near to the Walls, as easily to batter the Town; of which the _Spaniards_ seem very sensible, from their having lately erected a Battery of forty Pieces of large Cannon, which commands the Bason, where the Galleons usually lie at Anchor.