Eleven thousand one hundred and fifty Marines constituted the vote
for 1747.
Notwithstanding the disasters of the last year in a projected
expedition under Duke D'Anville, against Cape Breton, still the
ministry of France persevered in their designs upon that important
possession. Another object, more extensive in its nature and
more fatal in its aim, formed also a part of their plan in the
subsequent operations of the war, which was directed against the
British dependencies upon the Coast of Coromandel.
These armaments equipped, under different destinations, set sail
from France in united force, under the fond persuasion that no
hostile interruption could stop their progress.
A happy genius appeared at this time to guide our Naval Councils.
Early intelligence was obtained of the enemy's views, and adequate
measures were soon taken to counteract them. The occasion afforded
a fresh display of the zeal and intrepidity of Vice Admiral Anson,
and Rear Admiral Warren, who with a superior force fell in with and
captured, upon the 3d day of May, five sail of the line of battle,
a large frigate, and four stout armed ships freighted on account of
the French East India Company, with troops and stores.
Above £300,000 in money, which was intended to answer the
contingencies of these expeditions, was found on board the Men of
War, which altered its course to the Bank of England, and whither
it was escorted by a party of Marines, in military procession,
amidst the acclamations of the populace.
For this achievement the Vice Admiral was created a Peer of Great
Britain, and Rear Admiral Warren was invested with the Order of
the Bath.--The whole Fleet received the cordial thanks of their
Sovereign, through its Commander, in these words, and who became
the organ of the Royal wish:
"Sir, you have done me a great service--I thank you, and desire you
to thank, in my name, _all the Officers and Private Men_, for their
bravery and conduct, with which I am well pleased."
Soon after the enemy sustained a heavy commercial loss in
forty-eight sail of homeward bound West Indiamen.
The 14th of October, in this year, memorable for our naval
successes, was another day of triumph.
Rear Admiral Hawke, whom the vigilance of our Ministry detached
early in August to intercept a numerous convoy then collecting
for the West Indies, continued upon his cruizing ground until
that morning, when their wished-for object was espied. After the
most gallant defence, six ships of the line struck their colours,
and were carried into Portsmouth. The Order of the Bath was the
well-earned laurel of this victory to the Commander, and the
legislative thanks of a grateful country were rendered to the
subordinate Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the Squadron.
While victory thus crowned the British Flag, its Commerce also
continued protected by the same guardian care. A few short months
accomplished the conquest of the flower of the French Navy, the
consequences of which were soon felt in the security of our trade
and the increase of public credit. Those of the enemy were both
fast on the decline, and a general despondency prevailed throughout
their country, from which all their boasted victories upon the
Continent could not revive the nation.
Towards the close of this year, Rear Admiral Boscawen sailed
for the East Indies with a powerful squadron, having nearly two
thousand troops on board, in order to reinforce our ships then
inferior to the enemy upon that station, and to retrieve our
affairs in that quarter of the globe. All our exertions during this
era were employed on our proper element, in which the Marines bore
a share, and they leave not to me a single detached incident for
record.
In the early part of this year, his Majesty directed that the
several Regiments of Marines which were then existing, or might
afterwards be raised, should for the future obey such orders as
they, from time to time, might receive from the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, from which period our present Constitution may,
in some degree, be dated.