Such was the main defence arranged by Howe; with which New York stood or fell.  In the line were five 64’s, one 50, and an armed storeship.  An advanced line, of one fifty with two smaller vessels, was placed just inside the bar—­two or three miles outside the Hook—­to rake the enemy as he crossed, retiring as he approached; and four galleys, forming a second line, were also stationed for the same purpose, across the channel, abreast of the Hook.[25] The retreat of these was secure into the shoal water, where they could not be followed.  One 64 and some frigates were held as a reserve, inside the main line, to act as occasion might require.  The total available force was, six 64’s, three 50’s, and six frigates.  D’Estaing’s fleet, in detail, consisted of one 90-gun ship, one 80, six 74’s and one 50.  Great as was this discrepancy between the opponents, it was counterbalanced largely by Howe’s skilful dispositions, which his enemy could not circumvent.  If the latter once got alongside, there was little hope for the British; but it was impossible for the French to evade the primary necessity of undergoing a raking fire, without reply, from the extreme range of their enemies’ cannon up to the moment of closing.  The stake, however, was great, and the apparent odds stirred to the bottom the fighting blood of the British seamen.  The ships of war being short-handed, Howe called for volunteers from the transports.  Such numbers came forward that the agents of the vessels scarcely could keep a watch on board; and many whose names were not on the lists concealed themselves in the boats which carried their companions to the fighting ships.  The masters and mates of merchantmen in the harbour in like manner offered their services, taking their stations at the guns.  Others cruised off the coast in small boats, to warn off approaching vessels; many of which nevertheless fell into the enemy’s hands.

Meanwhile d’Estaing was in communication with Washington, one of whose aides-de-camp visited his flagship.  A number of New York pilots also were sent.  When these learned the draught of the heavier French ships, they declared that it was impossible to take them in; that there was on the bar only twenty-three feet at high water.  Had that been really the case, Howe would not have needed to make the preparations for defence that were visible to thousands of eyes on sea and on shore; but d’Estaing, though personally brave as a lion, was timid in his profession, which he had entered at the age of thirty, without serving in the lower grades.  The assurances of the pilots were accepted after an examination by a lieutenant of the flagship, who could find nothing deeper than twenty-two feet.  Fortune’s favors are thrown away, as though in mockery, on the incompetent or the irresolute.  On the 22d of July a fresh north-east wind concurred with a spring tide to give the highest possible water on the bar.[26]