So far the act, thus procured, may be attended with salutary

consequences; but, in all probability, the intention of its first movers

and patrons was not fully answered; inasmuch as no provision was

made for putting a stop to that spirit of license, drunkenness, and

debauchery, which prevails at almost every election, and has a very

pernicious effect upon the morals of the people.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

BILL FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY MANNING THE NAVY.

Among the bills that miscarried in the course of this session, some

turned on points of great consequence to the community. Lord Barrington,

Mr. Thomas Gore, and Mr. Charles Townshend, were ordered by the house

to prepare a bill for the speedy and effectual recruiting his majesty’s

land-forces and marines, which was no more than a transcript of the

temporary act passed in the preceding session under the same title; but

the majority were averse to its being continued for another year, as

it was attended with some prejudice to the liberty of the subject.

Objections of the same nature might have been as justly started against

another bill, for the more effectually manning of his majesty’s navy,

for preventing desertion, and for the relief and encouragement of seamen

belonging to ships and vessels in the service of the merchants. The

purport of this project was to establish registers or muster-rolls of

all seamen, fishermen, lightermen, and watermen; obliging ship-masters

to leave subscribed lists of their respective crews at offices

maintained for that purpose, that a certain number of them might be

chosen by lot for his majesty’s service, in any case of emergency. This

expedient, however, was rejected, as an unnecessary and ineffectual

incumbrance on commerce, which would hamper navigation, and, in a little

time, diminish the number of seamen, of consequence act diametrically

opposite to the purpose for which it was contrived.--Numberless frauds

having been committed, and incessant law-suits produced, by private and

clandestine conveyances, a motion was made, and leave given, to form a

bill for the public registering of all deeds, conveyances, wills,

and other incumbrances, that might effect any honours, manors, lands,

tenements, and hereditaments, within the kingdom of England, wherein

public registers were not already appointed by act of parliament;

but this measure, so necessary to the ascertainment and possession of

property, met with a violent opposition; and was finally dropped, as

some people imagine, through the influence of those who, perhaps, had

particular reasons for countenancing the present mysterious forms

of conveyancing. Such a bill must also have been disagreeable and

mortifying to the pride of those landholders whose estates were

incumbered, because, in consequence of such a register, every mortgage

under which they laboured would be exactly known.--The next object

to which the house converted its attention, was a bill explaining

and amending a late act for establishing a fish-market in the city of

Westminster, and preventing scandalous monopolies of a few engrossing

fishmongers, who imposed exorbitant prices on their fish, and, in this

particular branch of traffic, gave law to above six hundred thousand of

their fellow-citizens. Abundance of pains were taken to render this bill

effectual, for putting an end to such flagrant impositions. Inquiries

were made, petitions read, counsel heard, and alterations proposed; at

length the bill, having passed through the lower house, was conveyed to

the lords, among whom it was suffered to expire, on pretence that there

was not time sufficient to deliberate maturely on the subject.

HABEAS-CORPUS ACT AMENDED.

The occasion that produced the next bill which miscarried we shall

explain, as an incident equally extraordinary and interesting. By an

act passed in the preceding session, for recruiting his majesty’s

land-forces and marines, we have already observed, that the

commissioners thereby appointed were vested with a power of judging

ultimately, whether the persons brought before them were such as ought,

by the rules prescribed in the act, to be impressed into the service;

for it was expressly provided, that no person, so impressed by those

commissioners, should be taken out of his majesty’s service by any

process, other than for some criminal accusation. During the recess of

parliament, a gentleman having been impressed before the commissioners,

and confined in the Savoy, his friends made application for a

_habeas-corpus_, which produced some hesitation, and indeed

an insurmountable difficulty; for, according to the writ of

_habeas-corpus_, passed in the reign of Charles the Second, this

privilege relates only to persons committed for criminal or supposed

criminal matters, and the gentleman did not stand in that predicament.

Before the question could be determined he was discharged, in

consequence of an application to the secretary at war; but the nature of

the case plainly pointed out a defect in the act, seemingly of the most

dangerous consequence to the liberty of the subject. In order to remedy

this defect, a bill for giving a more speedy relief to the subject, upon

the writ of _habeas-corpus_, was prepared, and presented to the house

of commons, which formed itself into a committee, and made several

amendments. It imported, that the several provisions made in the

aforesaid act, passed in the reign of Charles II. for the awarding of

writs of _habeas-corpus_, in cases of commitment or detainer for any

criminal or supposed criminal matter, should, in like manner, extend

to all cases where any person, not being committed or detained for any

criminal or supposed criminal matter, should-be confined, or restrained

of his or her liberty, under any colour or pretence whatsoever; that,

upon oath made by such person so confined or arrested, or by any other

on his or her behalf, of any actual confinement or restraint, and that

such confinement or restraint, to the best of the knowledge and belief

of the person so applying, was not by virtue of any commitment

or detainer for any criminal or supposed criminal matter, an

_habeas-corpus_, directed to the person or persons so confining or

restraining the party, as aforesaid, should be awarded and granted,

in the same manner as is directed, and under the same penalties as are

provided by the said act, in the case of persons committed and detained

for any criminal or supposed criminal matter; that the person or persons

before whom the party so confined or restrained should be brought, by

virtue of any _habeas-corpus_ granted in the vacation time, under the

authority of this act, might and should, within three days after the

return made, proceed to examine into the facts contained in such return,

and into the cause of such confinement and restraint; and thereupon

either discharge, or bail, or remand the parties so brought, as the case

should require, and as to justice should appertain. The rest of the

bill related to the return of the writ in three days, and the penalties

incurred by those who should neglect or refuse to make the due return,

or to comply with any other clause of this regulation. The commons

seemed hearty in rearing up this additional buttress to the liberty

of their fellow-subjects, and passed the bill with the most laudable

alacrity; but in the house of lords such a great number of objections

were started, that it sunk at the second reading, and the judges were

ordered to prepare a bill for the same purpose, to be laid before that

house in the next session.

SCHEME IN FAVOUR OF THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.

His majesty having recommended the care of the Foundling hospital to the

house of commons, which cheerfully granted forty thousand pounds for

the support of that charity, the growing annual expense of it appeared

worthy of further consideration, and leave was granted to bring in

a bill for obliging all the parishes of England and Wales to keep

registers of all their deaths, births, and marriages, that from these a

fund might be raised towards the support of the said hospital. The bill

was accordingly prepared by a committee appointed for the purpose;

but before the house could take the report into consideration, the

parliament was prorogued.--The proprietors of the privateer called the

Antigallican, which had taken a rich French ship homeward bound from

China, and carried her into Cadiz, where the Spanish government had

wrested her by violence from the captors, and delivered her to the

French owners, now presented a petition to the house of commons,

complaining of this interposition as an act of partiality and injustice;

representing the great expense at which the privateer had been equipped,

the legality of the capture, the loss and hardships which they the

petitioners had sustained, and imploring such relief as the house should

think requisite. Though these allegations were supported by a species

of evidence that seemed strong and convincing, and it might be thought

incumbent on the parliament to vindicate the honour of the nation, when

thus insulted by a foreign power, the house, upon this occasion, treated

the petition with the most mortifying neglect, either giving little

credit to the assertions it contained, or unwilling to take any step

which might at this juncture embroil the nation with the court of Spain

on such a frivolous subject. True it is, the Spanish government alleged,

in their own justification, that the prize was taken under the guns

of Corunna, insomuch that the shot fired by the privateer entered that

place, and damaged some houses; but this allegation was never properly

sustained, and the prize was certainly condemned as legal by the court

of admiralty at Gibraltar.

PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO THE AFRICAN COMPANY.

As we have already given a detail of the trial of sir John Mordaunt, it

will be unnecessary to recapitulate any circumstances of that affair,

except such as relate to its connexion with the proceedings of

parliament. In the beginning of this session, lord Barrington, as

secretary at war, informed the house, by his majesty’s command, that

lieutenant-general sir John Mordaunt, a member of that house, was in

arrest for disobedience of his majesty’s orders, while employed on

the late expedition to the coast of France. The commons immediately

resolved, that an address should be presented to his majesty, returning

him the thanks of this house for his gracious message of that day, in

the communication he had been pleased to make of the reason for putting

lieutenant-general sir, John Mordaunt in arrest.--Among the various

objects of commerce that employed the attention of the house, one of

the most considerable was the trade to the coast of Africa, for the

protection of which an annual sum had been granted for some years, to be

expended in the maintenance and repairs of castles and factories. While

a committee was employed in perusing the accounts relating to the sum

granted in the preceding session for this purpose, a petition from the

committee of the African company, recommended in a message from his

majesty, was presented to the house, soliciting further assistance for

the ensuing year. In the meantime, a remonstrance was offered by certain

planters and merchants, interested in trading to the British sugar

colonies in America, alleging, that the price of negroes was greatly

advanced since the forts and settlements on the coast of Africa had been

under the direction of the committee of the company of merchants trading

to that coast; a circumstance that greatly distressed and alarmed the

petitioners, prevented the cultivation of the British colonies, and was

a great detriment to the trade and navigation of the kingdom; that

this misfortune, they believed, was in some measure owing to the

ruinous state and condition of the forts and settlements; that, in their

opinion, the most effectual method for maintaining the interest of

that trade on a respectable footing, next to that of an incorporated

joint-stock company, would be putting those forts and settlements under

the sole direction of the commissioners for trade and plantations; that

the preservation or ruin of the American sugar colonies went hand in

hand with that of the slave trade to Africa; that, by an act passed

in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty, for extending and

improving this trade, the British subjects were debarred from lodging

their slaves and merchandise in the forts and settlements on the coast;

they, therefore, prayed that this part of the act might be repealed;

that all commanders of British and American vessels, free merchants, and

all other his majesty’s subjects, who were settled, or might at any time

thereafter settle in Africa, should have free liberty, from sunrise to

sunset, to enter the forts and settlements, and to deposit their goods

and merchandise in the warehouses thereunto belonging; to secure their

slaves or other purchases without paying any consideration for the same;

but the slaves to be victualled at the proper cost and charge of

their respective owners. The house having taken this petition into

consideration, inquired into the proceedings of the company, and revised

the act for extending and improving the trade to Africa, resolved, that

the committee of the African company had faithfully discharged the trust

reposed in them, and granted ten thousand pounds for maintaining the

British forts and settlements in that part of the world. The enemy were

perfectly well acquainted with the weakness of the British castles on

the coast of Africa; and had they known as well how to execute with

spirit, as to plan with sagacity, the attempt which, in the course of

the preceding year, they made upon the principal British fort in Guinea,

would have succeeded, and all the other settlements would have fallen

into their hands without opposition.*

* Robert Hunter Morris represented, in a petition to the

house, that as no salt was made in the British colonies in

America, they were obliged to depend upon a precarious

supply of that commodity from foreigners; he, therefore,

offered to undertake the making of marine salt at a moderate

price in one of those colonies, at his own risk and charge,

provided he could be secured in the enjoyment of the profits

which the work might produce, for such a term of years as

might seem to the house a proper and adequate compensation

for so great an undertaking. The petition was ordered to lie

upon the table; afterwards read and referred to a committee,

which, however, made no report. A circumstance not easily

accounted for, unless we suppose the house of commons were

of opinion, that such an enterprise might contribute towards

rendering our colonies too independent of their mother-

country.--Equally unaccountable was the miscarriage of

another bill, brought in for regulating the manner of

licensing alehouses, which was read for the first time; but

when a motion was made for a second reading, the question

was put, and it passed in the negative.

SESSION CLOSED.

The longest and warmest debate which was maintained in the course of

this session, arose from a motion for leave to bring in a bill for

shortening the term and duration of future parliaments; a measure truly

patriotic, against which no substantial argument could be produced,

although the motion was rejected by the majority, on pretence, that

whilst the nation was engaged in such a dangerous and expensive war, it

would be improper to think of introducing such an alteration in the

form of government. Reasons of equal strength and solidity will never

be wanting to the patrons and ministers of corruption and venality.

The alteration proposed was nothing less than removing and annulling an

encroachment which had been made on the constitution; it might have

been effected without the least pang or convulsion, to the general

satisfaction of the nation; far from being unreasonable at this

juncture, it would have enhanced the national reputation abroad, and

rendered the war more formidable to the enemies of Great Britain, by

convincing them that it was supported by a ministry and parliament who

stood upon such good terms with the people. Indeed, a quick succession

of parliaments might have disconcerted, and perhaps expelled that

spirit of confidence and generosity which now so remarkably espoused

and gratified the sovereign’s predilection for the interest of

Hanover.--Other committees were established, to enquire into the expense

incurred by new lines and fortifications raised at Gibraltar; to examine

the original standards of weights and measures used in England; consider

the laws relating to them, and report their observations, together with

their opinion of the most effectual means for ascertaining and enforcing

uniform standards to be used for the future. The commons were perfectly

satisfied with the new works which had been raised at Gibraltar; and

with respect to the weights and measures, the committee agreed to

certain resolutions, but no further progress was made in this inquiry,

except an order for printing these resolutions, with the appendix;

however, as the boxes containing the standards were ordered to be locked

up by the clerk of the house, in all probability their intention was to

proceed on this subject in some future session. On the ninth day of June

sundry bills received the royal assent by commission, his majesty

being indisposed; and on the twentieth day of the same month, the

lords commissioners closed the session with a speech to both houses,

expressing his majesty’s deep sense of their loyalty and good affection,

demonstrated in their late proceedings, in their zeal for his honour

and real interest in all parts, in their earnestness to surmount every

difficulty, in their ardour to maintain the war with the utmost vigour;

proofs which must convince mankind that the ancient spirit of the

British nation still subsisted in its full force. They were given to

understand that the king had taken all such measures as appeared the

most conducive to the accomplishment of their public-spirited views and

wishes; that with their assistance, crowned by the blessing of God

upon the conduct and bravery of the combined army, his majesty had

been enabled, not only to deliver his dominions in Germany from the

oppressions and devastations of the French, but also to push his

advantages on this side the Rhine; that he had cemented the union

between him and his good brother the king of Prussia, by new

engagements; that the British fleets and armies were now actually

employed in such expeditions as appeared likely to annoy the enemy in

the most sensible manner, and to promote the welfare and prosperity

of these kingdoms; in particular, to preserve the British rights and

possessions in America, and to make France feel, in those parts, the

real strength and importance of Great Britain. The commons were thanked

for the ample supplies which they had so freely and unanimously given,

and assured on the part of his majesty that they should be managed with

the most frugal economy. They were desired, in consequence of the king’s

earnest recommendation, to promote harmony and good agreement amongst

his faithful subjects; to make the people acquainted with the rectitude

and purity of his intentions and measures, and to exert themselves

in maintaining the peace and good order of the country, by enforcing

obedience to the laws and Lawful authority.

VIGOROUS PREPARATIONS FOR WAR, &c.

Never, surely, had any sovereign more reason to be pleased with the

conduct of his ministers, and the spirit of his people. The whole nation

reposed the most unbounded confidence in the courage and discretion,

as well as in the integrity of the minister, who seemed eager upon

prosecuting the war with such vigour and activity as appeared almost

unexampled in the annals of Great Britain. New levies were made,

new ships put in commission, fresh expeditions undertaken, and fresh

conquests projected. Such was the credit of the administration, that

people subscribed to the government loans with surprising eagerness. An

unusual spirit of enterprise and resolution seemed to inspire all the

individuals that constituted the army and navy; and the passion for

military fame diffused itself through all ranks in the civil departments

of life, even to the very dregs of the populace; such a remarkable

change from indolence to activity, from indifference to zeal, from

timorous caution to fearless execution, was effected by the influence

and example of an intelligent and intrepid minister, who, chagrined at

the inactivity and disgraces of the preceding campaign, had on a very

solemn occasion, lately declared his belief that there was a determined

resolution, both in the naval and military commanders, against any

vigorous exertion of the national power in the service of the country.

He affirmed, that though his majesty appeared ready to embrace every

measure proposed by his ministers for the honour and interest of

his British dominions, yet scarce a man could be found with whom the

execution of any one plan in which there was the least appearance of

any danger could with confidence be trusted. He particularised the

inactivity of one general in North America, from whose abilities

and personal bravery the nation had conceived great expectations;

he complained, that this noble commander had expressed the most

contemptuous disregard for the civil power, from which he derived his

authority, by neglecting to transmit, for a considerable length of time,

any other advice of his proceedings but what appeared on a written scrap

of paper; he observed, that with a force by land and sea greater than

ever the nation had heretofore maintained, with a king and ministry

ardently desirous of redeeming her glory, succouring her allies,

and promoting her true interest, a shameful dislike to the service

everywhere prevailed, and few seemed affected with any other zeal

than that of aspiring to the highest posts, and grasping the largest

salaries. The censure levelled at the commander in America was founded

on mistake; the inactivity of that noble lord was not more disappointing

to the ministry than disagreeable to his own inclination. He used his

utmost endeavours to answer the expectation of the public, but his hands

were effectually tied by an absolute impossibility of success, and his

conduct stood justified in the eyes of his sovereign. A particular and

accurate detail of his proceedings he transmitted through a channel,

which he imagined would have directly conveyed it to the foot of the

throne; but the packet was said to have been purposely intercepted

and suppressed. Perhaps he was not altogether excusable for having

corresponded so slightly with the secretary of state; but he was said to

have gone abroad in full persuasion that the ministry would be changed,

and therefore his assiduities were principally directed to the great

personage, who, in that case, would have superintended and directed

all the operations of the army. All sorts of military preparations

in founderies, docks, arsenals, raising and exercising troops, and

victualling transports, were now carried on with such diligence and

despatch as seemed to promise an exertion that would soon obliterate

the disagreeable remembrance of past disgrace. The beginning of the year

was, however, a little clouded by a general concern for the death of

his majesty’s third daughter, the princess Caroline, a lady of the

most exemplary virtue and amiable character, who died at the age of

forty-five, sincerely regretted as a pattern of unaffected piety, and

unbounded benevolence.

The British cruisers kept the sea during all the severity of winter,

in order to protect the commerce of the kingdom, and annoy that of the

enemy. They exerted themselves with such activity, and their vigilance

was attended with such success, that a great number of prizes were

taken, and the trade of France almost totally extinguished. A very

gallant exploit was achieved by one captain Bray, commander of the

Adventure, a small armed vessel in the government’s service: falling in

with the Machault, a large privateer of Dunkirk, near Dungenness, he

ran her aboard, fastened her boltsprit to his capstan, and, after a

warm engagement, compelled her commander to submit. A French frigate

of thirty-six guns was taken by captain Parker, in a new fire-ship of

inferior force. Divers privateers of the enemy were sunk, burned, or

taken, and a great number of merchant ships fell into the hands of the

English. Nor was the success of the British ships of war confined to

the English channel. At this period the board of admiralty received

information from admiral Coats, in Jamaica, of an action which happened

off the island of Hispaniola, in the month of October of the preceding

year, between three English ships of war and a French squadron. Captain

Forrest, an officer of distinguished merit in the service, had, in the

ship Augusta, sailed from Port Eoyal in Jamaica, accompanied by the

Dreadnought and Edinburgh, under the command of the captains Suckling

and Langdon. He was ordered to cruise off Cape François, and this

service he literally performed in the face of the French squadron under

Kersin, lately arrived at that place from the coast of Africa. This

commander, piqued at seeing himself thus insulted by an inferior

armament, resolved to come forth and give them battle; and that he

might either take them, or at least drive them out of the seas, so as to

afford a free passage to a great number of merchant ships then lying at

the Cape, bound for Europe, he took every precaution which he thought

necessary to ensure success. He reinforced his squadron with some store

ships, mounted with guns, and armed for the occasion, and supplied

the deficiency in his complements, by taking on board seamen from

the merchant ships, and soldiers from the garrison. Thus prepared, he

weighed anchor, and stood out to sea, having under his command four

large ships of the line, and three stout frigates. They were no sooner

perceived advancing, than captain Forrest held a short council with his

two captains. “Gentlemen,” said he, “you know your own strength, and

see that of the enemy; shall we give them battle?” They replying in the

affirmative, he added, “Then fight them we will: there is no time to be

lost; return to your ships, and get them ready for engaging.” After this

laconic consultation among these three gallant officers, they bore down

upon the French squadron without further hesitation, and between three

and four in tire afternoon the action began with great impetuosity.

The enemy exerted themselves with uncommon spirit, conscious that their

honour was peculiarly at stake, and that they fought in sight, as it

were, of their own coast, which was lined with people, expecting to see

them return in triumph. But, notwithstanding all their endeavours, their

commodore, after having sustained a severe engagement, that lasted two

hours and a half, found his ship in such a shattered condition, that he

made signal for one of his frigates to come and tow him out of the line.

His example was followed by the rest of his squadron, which, by this

assistance, with the favour of the land breeze and the approach of

night, made shift to accomplish their escape from the three British

ships, which were too much disabled in their masts and rigging to

prosecute their victory. One of the French squadron was rendered

altogether unserviceable for action. Their loss in men amounted to three

hundred killed, and as many wounded; whereas that of the English did not

much exceed one-third of this number. Nevertheless, they were so much

damaged, that, being unable to keep the sea, they returned to Jamaica,

and the French commodore seized the opportunity of sailing with a

great convoy for Europe. The courage of captain Forrest was not more

conspicuous in this engagement with the French squadron near Cape

Francois, than his conduct and sagacity in a subsequent adventure near

Port-au-Prince, a French harbour, situated at the bottom of a bay on the

western part of Hispaniola, behind the small island of Gonave. After M.

de Kersin had taken his departure from Cape François for Europe, admiral

Coats, beating up to windward from Port-Royal in Jamaica with three

ships of the line, received intelligence that there was a French fleet

at Port-au-Prince, ready to sail on their return to Europe. Captain

Forrest then presented the admiral with a plan for an attack on this

place, and urged it earnestly. This, however, was declined, and captain

Forrest directed to cruise off the island Gonave for two days only,

the admiral enjoining him to return at the expiration of the time, and

rejoin the squadron at Cape Nicholas. Accordingly captain Forrest,

in the Augusta, proceeded up the bay, between the island Gonave

and Hispaniola, with a view to execute a plan which he had himself

projected. Next day, in the afternoon, though he perceived two sloops,

he forbore chasing, that he might not risk a discovery; for the

same purpose he hoisted Dutch colours, and disguised his ship with

tarpaulins. At five in the afternoon he discovered seven sail of ships

steering to the westward, and hauled from them to avoid suspicion; but

at the approach of night gave chase with all the sail he could carry.

About ten he perceived two sail, one of which fired a gun, and the other

made the best of her way for Leoganne, another harbour in the bay. At

this period captain Forrest reckoned eight sail to leeward, near another

port called Petit Goave. Coming up with the ship which had fired the

gun, she submitted without opposition, after he had hailed and told her

captain what he was, produced two of his largest cannon, and threatened

to sink her if she should give the least alarm. He forthwith shifted the

prisoners from this prize, and placed on board of her five-and-thirty of

his own crew, with orders to stand for Petit Goave, and intercept any

of the fleet that might attempt to reach that harbour. Then he made sail

after the rest, and in the dawn of the morning, finding himself in the

middle of their fleet, he began to fire at them all in their turns, as

he could bring his guns to bear. They returned the fire for sometime;

at length the Marguerite, the Solide, and the Theodore struck their

colours. These being secured, were afterwards used in taking the

Maurice, Le Grand, and La Flore; the Brilliant also submitted, and the

Mars made sail, in hopes of escaping, but the Augusta coming up with her

about noon, she likewise fell into the hands of the victor. Thus, by

a well-conducted stratagem, a whole fleet of nine sail were taken by a

single ship, in the neighbourhood of four or five harbours, in any

one of which they would have found immediate shelter and security.

The prizes, which happened to be richly laden, were safely conveyed

to Jamaica, and there sold at public auction, for the benefit of the

captors, who may safely challenge history to produce such another

instance of success.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

THE FRENCH EVACUATE EMBDEN.

The ministry having determined to make vigorous efforts against the

enemy in North America, admiral Boscawen was vested with the command of

the fleet destined for that service, and sailed from St. Helen’s on the

nineteenth day of February, when the Invincible, of seventy-four guns,

one of the best ships that constituted his squadron, ran aground, and

perished; but her men, stores, and artillery were saved. In the course

of the succeeding month, sir Edward Hawke steered into the bay of Biscay

with another squadron, in order to intercept any supplies from France

designed for Cape Breton or Canada; and about the same time the town

of Embden, belonging to his Prussian majesty, which had fallen into the

hands of the enemy, was suddenly retrieved by the conduct of commodore

Holmes, stationed on that coast, who sent up two of his small ships to

anchor in the river between Knok and the city. The garrison, amounting

to three thousand seven hundred men, finding themselves thus cut off

from all communication with the country below, abandoned the place with

great precipitation, and some of their baggage being sent off by water,

was taken by the boats which the commodore armed for that purpose. It

was in the same month that the admiralty received advice of another

advantage by sea, which had been gained by admiral Osborne, while he

cruised between Cape de Gatt and Carthagena, on the coast of Spain.

On the twenty-eighth day of March he fell in with a French squadron,

commanded by the marquis du Quesne, consisting of four ships, namely,

the Foudroyant, of eighty guns, the Orphée, of sixty-four, the

Oriflamme, of fifty, and the Pléiade frigate, of twenty-four, in their

passage from Toulon to reinforce M. de la Clue, who had for some time

been blocked up by admiral Osborne in the harbour of Carthagena. The

enemy no sooner perceived the English squadron than they dispersed, and

steered different courses: then Mr. Osborne detached divers ships in

pursuit of each, while he himself, with the body of his fleet, stood off

for the bay of Carthagena, to watch the motions of the French squadron

which lay there at anchor. About seven in the evening, the Orphée,

having on board five hundred men, struck to captain Storr, in the

Revenge, who lost the calf of one leg in the engagement, during which

he was sustained by the ships Berwick and Preston. The Monmouth, of

sixty-four guns, commanded by captain Gardener, engaged the Foudroyant,

one of the largest ships in the French navy, mounted with fourscore

cannon, and containing eight hundred men, under the direction of the

marquis du Quesne. The action was maintained with great fury on both

sides, and the gallant captain Gardener lost his life; nevertheless,

the fight was continued with unabating vigour by his lieutenant,

Mr. Carkett, and the Foudroyant disabled in such a manner, that her

commander struck, as soon as the other English ships, the Swiftsure and

the Hampton-court, appeared. This mortifying step, however, he did not

take until he saw his ship lie like a wreck upon the water, and the

decks covered with carnage. The Oriflamme was driven on shore under the

castle of Aiglos, by the ships Montague and Monarque, commanded by the

captains Rowley and Montague, who could not complete their destruction

without violating the neutrality of Spain. As for the Pléiade frigate,

she made her escape by being a prime sailer. This was a severe stroke

upon the enemy, who not only lost two of her capital ships, but saw them

added to the navy of Great Britain; and the disaster was followed close

by another, which they could not help feeling with equal sensibility of

mortification and chagrin. In the beginning of April, sir Edward Hawke,

steering with his squadron into Basque-road, on the coast of Poictou,

discovered, off the isle of Aix, a French fleet at anchor, consisting of

five ships of the line, with six frigates, and forty transports, having

on board three thousand troops, and a large quantity of stores and

provisions intended as a supply for their settlements in North America.

They no sooner saw the English Admiral advancing, than they began to

slip their cables, and fly in the utmost confusion. Some of them escaped

by sea, but a great number ran into shoal water, where they could not

be pursued; and next morning they appeared aground, lying on their

broadsides. Sir Edward Hawke, who had rode all night at anchor abreast

of the isle of Aix, furnished the ships Intrepid and Medway with trusty

pilots, and sent them farther in when the flood began to make, with

orders to sound ahead, that he might know whether there was any

possibility of attacking the enemy; but the want of a sufficient depth

of water rendered the scheme impracticable. In the meantime, the

French threw overboard their cannon, stores, and ballast; and boats and

launches from Rochefort were employed in carrying out warps, to drag

their ships through the soft mud, as soon as they should be water-borne

by the flowing tide. By these means their large ships of war, and many

of their transports, escaped into the river Charente; but their loading

was lost, and the end of their equipment totally defeated. Another

convoy of merchant ships under the protection of three frigates, sir

Edward Hawke, a few days before, had chased into the harbour of Saint

Martin’s, in the isle of Rhé, where they still remained, waiting an

opportunity for hazarding a second departure. A third, consisting of

twelve sail, bound from Bourdeaux to Quebec, under convoy of a frigate

and armed vessel, was encountered at sea by one British ship of the line

and two fire-ships, which took the frigate and armed vessel, and two

of the convoy afterwards met with the same fate; but this advantage was

overbalanced by the loss of captain James Hume, commander of the Pluto

fire-ship, a brave accomplished officer, who, in an unequal combat with

the enemy, refused to quit the deck even when he was disabled, and fell

gloriously, covered with wounds, exhorting the people, with his latest

breath, to continue the engagement while the ship could swim, and acquit

themselves with honour in the service of their country.

ADMIRAL BRODERICK’S SHIP BURNT.

On the twenty-ninth day of May, the Raisonable, a French ship of the

line, mounted with sixty-four cannon, having on board six hundred and

thirty men, commanded by the prince de Mombazon, chevalier de Rohan,

was, in her passage from Port l’Orient to Brest, attacked by captain

Dennis, in the Dorsetshire, of seventy guns, and taken after an

obstinate engagement, in which one hundred and sixty men of the prince’s

complement were killed or wounded, and he sustained great damage in his

hull, sails, and rigging. These successes were, moreover, chequered by

the tidings of a lamentable disaster that befel the ship Prince George,

of eighty guns, commanded by rear-admiral Broderick, in his passage to

the Mediterranean. On the thirteenth day of April, between one and two

in the afternoon, a dreadful fire broke out in the fore part of the

ship, and raged with such fury, that notwithstanding all the efforts of

the officers and men for several hours, the flames increased, and the

ship being consumed to the water’s edge, the remnant sunk about six

o’clock in the evening. The horror and consternation of such a scene are

not easily described. When all endeavours proved fruitless, and no

hope of preserving the ship remained, the barge was hoisted out for

the preservation of the admiral, who entered it accordingly; but all

distinction of persons being now abolished, the seamen rushed into it in

such crowds, that in a few moments it overset. The admiral, foreseeing

that this would be the case, stripped off his clothes, and committing

himself to the mercy of the waves, was saved by the boat of a merchant

ship, after he had sustained himself in the sea a full hour by swimming.

Captain Payton, who was the second in command, remained upon the

quarter-deck as long as it was possible to keep that station, and then

descending by the stern ladder, had the good fortune to be taken into a

boat belonging to the Aklerney sloop. The hull of the ship, masts, and

rigging, were now in a blaze, bursting tremendously in several parts

through horrid clouds of smoke; nothing was heard but the crackling of

the flames, mingled with the dismal cries of terror and distraction;

nothing was seen but acts of frenzy and desperation. The miserable

wretches, affrighted at the horrors of such a conflagration, sought a

fate less dreadful by plunging into the sea, and about three hundred men

were preserved by the boats belonging to some ships that accompanied the

admiral in his voyage, but five hundred perished in the ocean.

DESCENT AT CANCALLE BAY.

The king of Great Britain being determined to renew his attempt upon the

coast of France, ordered a very formidable armament to be equipped

for that purpose. Two powerful squadrons by sea were destined for the

service of this expedition: the first, consisting of eleven great ships,

was commanded by lord Anson and sir Edward Hawke; the other, composed of

four ships of the line, seven frigates, six sloops, two fire-ships, two

bombs, ten cutters, twenty tenders, ten store-ships, and one hundred

transports, was put under the direction of commodore Howe, who had

signalized himself by his gallantry and conduct in the course of the

last fruitless expedition. The plan of a descent upon France having

been adopted by the ministry, a body of troops, consisting of sixteen

regiments, nine troops of light horse, and six thousand marines, was

assembled for the execution of this design, and embarked under the

command of the duke of Marlborough; a nobleman, who though he did not

inherit all the military genius of his grandfather, yet far excelled him

in the amiable and social qualities of the heart: he was brave beyond

all question, generous to profusion, and good-natured to excess. On

this occasion he was assisted by the councils of lord George Sackville,

second in command, son to the duke of Dorset; an officer of experience

and reputation, who had, in the civil departments of government,

exhibited proofs of extraordinary genius and uncommon application. The

troops, having been encamped for some time upon the Isle of Wight, were

embarked in the latter end of May, and the two fleets sailed in the

beginning of June for the coast of Bretagne, leaving the people of

England flushed with the gayest hopes of victory and conquest. The two

fleets parted at sea: lord Anson, with his squadron, proceeded to the

bay of Biscay, in order to watch the motions of the enemy’s ships, and

harass their navigation; while commodore Howe, with the land-forces,

steered directly towards St. Maloes, a strong place of considerable

commerce, situated on the coast of Bretagne, against which the purposed

invasion seemed to be chiefly intended. The town, however, was found too

well fortified, both by art and nature, to admit of an attempt by sea

with any prospect of success; and, therefore, it was resolved to make

a descent in the neighbourhood. After the fleet had been, by contrary

winds, detained several days in sight of the French coast, it arrived

in the bay of Cancalle, about two leagues to the eastward of St.

Maloes; and Mr. Howe having silenced a small battery which the enemy

had occasionally raised upon the beach, the troops were landed without

further opposition on the sixth day of June. The duke of Marlborough

immediately began his march towards St. Servan, with a view to destroy

such shipping and magazines as might be in any accessible parts of the

river; and this scheme was executed with success. A great quantity of

naval stores, two ships of war, several privateers, and about fourscore

vessels of different sorts, were set on fire and reduced to ashes,

almost under the cannon of the place, which, however, they could not

pretend to besiege in form. His grace having received repeated advices

that the enemy were busily employed in assembling forces to march

against him, returned to Cancalle, where Mr. Howe had made such

a masterly disposition of the boats and transports, that the

re-embarkation of the troops was performed with surprising ease and

expedition. The forces, while they remained on shore were restrained

from all outrage by the most severe discipline; and the French houses,

which their inhabitants had abandoned, were left untouched. Immediately

after their landing, the duke of Marlborough, as commander-in-chief,

published and distributed a manifesto, addressed to the people of

Bretagne, giving them to understand, that his descent upon the coast was

not effected with a design to make war on the inhabitants of the open

country, except such as should be found in arms, or otherwise opposing

the operations of his Britannic majesty; that all who were willing

to continue in peaceable possession of their effects, might remain

unmolested in their respective dwellings, and follow their usual

occupations; that, besides the customs and taxes they used to pay

to their own king, nothing should be required of them but what was

absolutely necessary for the subsistence of the army; and that, for all

provisions brought in, they should be paid in ready money. He concluded

this notice with declaring, that if, notwithstanding these assurances

of protection, they should carry off their effects and provisions, and

abandon the places of their habitation, he would treat them as enemies,

and destroy their houses with fire and sword. To the magistracy of St.

Maloes he likewise sent a letter, importing, that as all the inhabitants

of the towns and villages between Dinant, Rennes, and Doll, now in

his possession, had deserted their habitations, probably to avoid the

payment of the usual contributions; and he being informed that the

magistrates had compelled the people of the country to retire into

the town of St. Maloes; he now gave them notice, that if they did not

immediately send them back to their houses, and come themselves to his

head-quarters, to settle the contributions, he should think himself

obliged to proceed to military execution. These threats, however, were

not put in force, although the magistrates of St. Maloes did not think

proper to comply with his injunction. But it was found altogether

impossible to prevent irregularities among troops that were naturally

licentious. Some houses were pillaged, and not without acts of

barbarity; but the offenders were brought to immediate justice; and it

must be owned, as an incontestable proof of the general’s humanity, that

in destroying the magazines of the enemy at St. Servan, which may be

termed the suburbs of St. Maloes, he ordered one small-store house to

be spared, because it could not be set on fire without endangering the

whole district. The British forces being re-embarked, including about

five hundred light-horse, which had been disciplined and carried over

with a view to scour the country, the fleet was detained by contrary

winds in the bay of Cancalle for several days, during which a design

seems to have been formed for attacking Granville, which had been

reconnoitred by some of the engineers; but, in consequence of their

report, the scheme was laid aside, and the fleet stood out to sea, where

it was exposed to some rough weather. In a few days, the wind blowing in

a northern direction, they steered again towards the French coast, and

ran in with the land near Havre-de-Grace, where the flat-bottomed boats,

provided for landing, were hoisted out, and a second disembarkation

expected. But the wind blowing violently towards the evening, the boats

were re-shipped, and the fleet obliged to quit the land in order to

avoid the dangers of a lee-shore. Next day, the weather being more

moderate, they returned to the same station, and orders were given to

prepare for a descent; but the duke of Marlborough having taken a view

of the coast in an open cutter, accompanied by commodore Howe, thought

proper to waive the attempt. Their next step was to bear away before the

wind for Cherbourg, in the neighbourhood of which place the fleet

came to anchor. Here some of the transports received the fire of six

different batteries; and a considerable body of troops appeared in arms

to dispute the landing; nevertheless, the general resolved that the

forts Querqueville, l’Hommet, and Gallet, should be attacked in the

night by the first regiment of guards. The soldiers were actually

distributed in the flat-bottomed boats, and every preparation made for

this enterprise, when the wind began to blow with such violence, that

the troops could not be landed without the most imminent danger and

difficulty, nor properly sustained in case of a repulse, even if the

disembarkation could have been effected. This attempt, therefore, was

laid aside, but at the same time a resolution taken to stand in

towards the shore with the whole fleet, to cover a general landing.

A disposition was made accordingly; but the storm increasing, the

transports ran foul of each other, and the ships were exposed to all

the perils of a lee-shore, for the gale blew directly upon the coast;

besides, the provisions began to fail, and the hay for the horses was

almost consumed. These concurring reasons induced the commanders to

postpone the disembarkation to a more favourable opportunity. The fleet

stood out to sea, and the tempest abating, they steered for the Isle of

Wight, and next day anchored at St. Helen’s. Such was the issue of an

enterprise achieved with considerable success, if we consider the damage

done to the enemy’s shipping, and the other objects which the minister

had in view; namely, to secure the navigation of the channel, and make

a diversion in favour of the German allies, by alarming the French king,

and obliging him to employ a great number of troops to defend his

coast from insult and invasion; but whether such a mighty armament was

necessary for the accomplishment of these petty aims, and whether the

same armament might not have been employed in executing schemes of

infinitely greater advantage to the nation, we shall leave to the

judicious reader’s own reflection.

EXPEDITION AGAINST CHERBOURG.

The designs upon the coast of France, though interrupted by tempestuous

weather, were not as yet laid aside for the whole season; but, in the

meantime, the troops were disembarked on the Isle of Wight; and one

brigade marched to the northward, to join a body of troops, with which

the government resolved to augment the army of the allies in Germany,

commanded by prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. The duke of Marlborough and

lord George Sackville being appointed to conduct this British corps

upon the continent, the command of the marine expeditions devolved to

lieutenant-general Bligh, an old experienced officer, who had served

with reputation; and his royal highness prince Edward, afterwards

created duke of York, entered as a volunteer with commodore Howe, in

order to learn the rudiments of the sea-service. The remainder of

the troops being re-embarked, and everything prepared for the second

expedition, the fleet sailed from St. Helen’s on the first of August;

and after a tedious passage, from calms and contrary winds, anchored

on the seventh in the bay of Cherbourg. By this time the enemy

had intrenched themselves within a line, extending from the fort

Ecoeurdeville, which stands about two miles to the westward of

Cherbourg, along the coast for the space of four miles, fortified with

several batteries at proper distances. Behind this retrenchment a body

of horse and infantry appeared in red and blue uniforms; but as they

did not advance to the open beach, the less risk was run in landing the

British forces. At first a bomb-ketch had been sent to anchor near the

town, and throw some shells into the place, as a feint to amuse the

enemy, and deceive them with regard to the place of disembarkation,

while the general had determined to land about a league to the

westward of Querqueville, the most western fort in the bay. The other

bomb-ketches, being posted along shore, did considerable execution upon

the intrench-ments, not only by throwing shells in the usual way, but

also by using ball-mortars, filled with great quantities of balls, which

may be thrown to a great distance, and, by scattering as they fly, do

abundance of mischief. While the ketches fired without ceasing, the

grenadiers and guards were rowed regularly ashore in the flat-bottomed

boats, and, landing without opposition, instantly formed on a small open

portion of the beach, with a natural breast-work in their front, having

on the other side a hollow way, and a village rising beyond it with a

sudden ascent; on the left, the ground was intersected by hedges, and

covered with orchards, and from this quarter the enemy advanced in

order. The British troops immediately quitted the breast-work, in order

to meet them half way, and a straggling fire began; but the French

edging to the left, took possession of the hill, from whence they

piqueered with the advanced posts of the English. In the meantime, the

rest of the infantry were disembarked, and the enemy at night retired.

As the light troops were not yet landed, general Bligh encamped that

night at the village of Erville, on a piece of ground that did not

extend above four hundred paces; so that the tents were pitched in a

crowded and irregular manner. Next morning, the general having received

intelligence that no parties of the enemy were seen moving on the hill,

or in the plain, and that fort Querqueville was entirely abandoned,

made a disposition for marching in two columns to Cherbourg. An advanced

party took immediate possession of Querqueville; and the lines and

batteries along the shore were now deserted by the enemy. The British

forces marching behind St. Aulne, Ecoeurdeville, Hommet, and La Galet,

found the town of Cherbourg likewise abandoned, and the gates being

open, entered it without opposition. The citizens, encouraged by a

manifesto containing a promise of protection, which had been published

and distributed in order to quiet their apprehensions, received their

new guests with a good grace, overwhelming them with civilities, for

which they met with a very ungrateful return; for as the bulk of the

army was not regularly encamped and superintended, the soldiers were at

liberty to indulge themselves in riot and licentiousness. All night long

they ravaged the adjacent country without restraint; and as no guards

had been regularly placed in the streets and avenues of Cherbourg, to

prevent disorders, the town itself was not exempted from pillage and

brutality. These outrages, however, were no sooner known, than the

general took immediate steps for putting a stop to them for the present,

and preventing all irregularities for the future. Next morning, the

place being reconnoitred, he determined to destroy, without delay, all

the forts and the basin; and the execution of this design was left to

the engineers, assisted by the officers of the fleet and artillery.

Great sums of money had been expended upon the harbour and basin of

Cherbourg, which at one time was considered by the French court as an

object of great importance, from its situation respecting the river

Seine, as well as the opposite coast of England; but as the works

were left unfinished, in all appearance the plan had grown into

disreputation. The enemy had raised several unconnected batteries along

the bay; but the town itself was quite open and defenceless While

the engineers were employed in demolishing the works, the light horse

scoured the country, and detachments were every day sent out towards

Walloign, at the distance of four leagues from Cherbourg, where the

enemy were encamped, and every hour received reinforcements. Several

skirmishes were fought by the out-parties of each army, in one of

which captain Lindsay, a gallant young officer, who had been very

instrumental in training the light horse, was mortally wounded. The

harbour and basin of Cherbourg being destroyed, together with all the

forts in the neighbourhood, and about twenty pieces of brass cannon

secured on board the English ships, a contribution, amounting to about

three thousand pounds sterling, was exacted upon the town, and a plan

of re-embarkation concerted; as it appeared from the reports of peasants

and deserters, that the enemy were already increased to a formidable

number. A slight intrench-ment being raised, sufficient to defend the

last division that should be re-embarked, the stores and artillery

were shipped, and the light horses conveyed on board their respective

transports, by means of platforms laid in the flat-bottomed vessels. On

the sixteenth day of August, at three o’clock in the morning, the forces

marched from Cherbourg down to the beach, and re-embarked at fort Galet,

without the least disturbance from the enemy.

DESCENT AT ST. MALOES.

This service being happily performed, the fleet set sail for the coast

of England, and anchored in the road of Weymouth, under the high land of

Portland. In two days it weighed and stood again to the southward; but

was obliged by contrary winds to return to the same riding. The second

effort, however, was more effectual. The fleet with some difficulty kept

the sea, and steering to the French coast, came to anchor in the bay of

St. Lunaire, two leagues to the westward of St. Maloes, against which

it was determined to make another attempt. The sloops and ketches being

ranged along shore to cover the disembarkation, the troops landed on a

fair open beach, and a detachment of grenadiers was sent to the harbour

of St. Briac, above the town of St. Maloes, where they destroyed about

fifteen small vessels; but St. Maloes itself being properly surveyed,

appeared to be above insult, either from the land-forces or the

shipping. The mouth of the river that forms its basin extends above two

miles in breadth at its narrowest part, so as to be out of the reach of

land batteries, and the entrance is defended by such forts and batteries

as the ships of war could not pretend to silence, considering the

difficult navigation of the channels; besides fifty pieces of large

cannon planted on these forts and batteries, the enemy had mounted forty

on the west side of the town; and the basin was, moreover, strengthened

by seven frigates or armed vessels, whose guns might have been brought

to bear upon any batteries that could be raised on shore, as well as

upon ships entering by the usual channel. For these substantial reasons

the design against St. Maloes was dropped; but the general being

unwilling to re-embark, without having taken some step for the further

annoyance of the enemy, resolved to penetrate into the country;

conducting his motions, however, so as to be near the fleet, which had

by this time quitted the bay of St. Lunaire, where it could not ride

with any safety, and anchored in the bay of St. Cas, about three leagues

to the westward.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

ENGLISH DEFEATED AT ST. CAS.

On Friday the eighth of September, general Bligh, with his little army,

began his march for Guildo, at the distance of nine miles, which he

reached in the evening; next day he crossed a little gut or inlet of the

sea, at low water, and his troops being incommoded by the peasants, who

fired at them from hedges and houses, he sent a priest with a message,

intimating, that if they would not desist, he would reduce their houses

to ashes. No regard being paid to this intimation, the houses were

actually set on fire as soon as the troops had formed their camp about

two miles on the other side of the inlet. Next morning he proceeded to

the village of Matignon, where, after some smart skirmishing, the French

piquets appeared, drawn up in order, to the number of two battalions;

but having sustained a few shots from the English field-pieces, and

seeing the grenadiers advance, they suddenly dispersed. General Bligh

continuing his route through the village, encamped in the open

ground, about three miles from the bay of St. Cas, which was this

day reconnoitred for re-embarkation; for he now received undoubted

intelligence, that the duke d’Aiguillon had advanced from Brest to

Lambale, within six miles of the English camp, at the head of twelve

regular battalions, six squadrons, two regiments of militia, eight

mortars, and ten pieces of cannon. The bay of St. Cas was covered by

an intrenchment which the enemy had thrown up, to prevent or oppose any

disembarkation; and on the outside of this work there was a range of

sand hills extending along shore, which could have served as a cover

to the enemy, from whence they might have annoyed the troops in

re-embarking; for this reason a proposal was made to the general, that

the forces should be re-embarked from a fair open beach on the left,

between St. Cas and Guildo; but this advice was rejected, and, indeed,

the subsequent operations of the army savoured strongly of blind

security and rash presumption. Had the troops decamped in the night

without noise, in all probability they would have arrived at the beach

before the French had received the least intelligence of their motion;

and in that case, the whole army, consisting of about six thousand men,

might have been re-embarked without the least interruption; but instead

of this cautious manner of proceeding, the drums were beaten at two

o’clock in the morning, as if with intention to give notice to the

enemy, who forthwith repeated the same signal. The troops were in motion

before three, and though the length of the march did not exceed three

miles, the halts and interruptions were so numerous and frequent,

that they did not arrive on the beach of St. Cas till nine. Then the

embarkation was begun, and might have been happily finished, had the

transports lain near the shore and received the men as fast as the boats

could have conveyed them on board, without distinction; but many ships

rode at a considerable distance, and every boat carried the men on

board the respective transports to which they belonged; a punctilio of

disposition by which a great deal of time was unnecessarily consumed.

The small ships and bomb-ketches were brought near the shore, to

cover the embarkation; and a considerable number of sea-officers were

stationed on the beach, to superintend the boats’ crews, and regulate

the service; but notwithstanding all their attention and authority,

some of the boats were otherwise employed than in conveying the unhappy

soldiers. Had all the cutters and small craft belonging to the fleet

been properly occupied in this service, the disgrace and disaster of

the day would scarce have happened. The British forces had skirmished

a little on the march, but no considerable body of the enemy appeared

until the embarkation was begun; then they took possession of an

eminence by a windmill, and forthwith opened a battery of ten cannon and

eight mortars, from whence they fired with considerable effect upon

the soldiers on the beach, and on the boats in their passage. They

afterwards began to march down the hill, partly covered by a hollow way

on their left, with a design to gain a wood, where they might form and

extend themselves along the front of the English, and advance against

them under shelter of the sand-hills: but in their descent they suffered

extremely from the cannon and mortars of the shipping, which made great

havock and threw them into confusion. Their line of march down the hill

was staggered, and for some time continued in suspense; then they turned

off to one side, extended themselves along a hill to their left, and

advanced in a hollow way, from whence they suddenly rushed out to the

attack. Though the greater part of the British troops were already

embarked, the rear-guard, consisting of all the grenadiers and half of

the first regiment of guards, remained on the shore, to the number of

fifteen hundred, under the command of major-general Dury. This

officer, seeing the French advance, ordered his troops to form in grand

divisions, and march from behind the bank that covered them, in order to

charge the enemy before they could be formed on the plain. Had this step

been taken when it was first suggested to Mr. Dury, before the French

were disengaged from the hollow way, perhaps it might have so far

succeeded as to disconcert and throw them into confusion; but by this

time they had extended themselves into a very formidable front, and no

hope remained of being able to withstand such a superior number. Instead

of attempting to fight against such odds in an open field of battle,

they might have retreated along the beach to a rock on the left,

in which progress their right flank would have been secured by the

in-trenchment; and the enemy could not have pursued them along the

shore, without being exposed to such a fire from the shipping, as in

all probability they could not have sustained. This scheme was likewise

proposed to Mr. Dury; but he seemed to be actuated by a spirit of

infatuation. The English line being drawn up in uneven ground, began

the action with an irregular fire from right to left, which the enemy

returned; but their usual fortitude and resolution seemed to forsake

them on this occasion. They saw themselves in danger of being surrounded

and cut in pieces; their officers dropped on every side; and all hope

of retreat was now intercepted. In this cruel dilemma, their spirits

failed; they were seized with a panic; they faultered, they broke; and

in less than five minutes after the engagement began, they fled in the

utmost confusion, pursued by the enemy, who no sooner saw them give way

than they fell in among them with their bayonets fixed, and made a great

carnage. General Dury being dangerously wounded, ran into the sea, where

he perished; and this was the fate of a great number, officers as well

as soldiers. Many swam towards the boats and vessels, which were ordered

to give them all manner of assistance; but by far the greater number

were either butchered on the beach, or drowned in the water: a small

body, however, instead of throwing themselves into the sea, retired to

the rock on the left, where they made a stand, until they had exhausted

their ammunition, and then surrendered at discretion The havock was

moreover increased by the shot and shells discharged from the battery

which the enemy had raised on the hill. The slaughter would not have

been so great, had not the French soldiers been exasperated by the fire

from the frigates, which was still maintained even after the English

troops were routed; but this was no sooner silenced by a signal from the

commodore, than the enemy exhibited a noble example of moderation

and humanity, in granting immediate quarter and protection to the

vanquished. About one thousand chosen men of the English army were

killed and taken prisoners on this occasion: nor was the advantage

cheaply purchased by the French troops, among whom the shot and shells

from the frigates and ketches had done great execution. The clemency

of the victors was the more remarkable, as the British troops in this

expedition had been shamefully guilty of marauding, pillaging, burning,

and other excesses. War is so dreadful in itself, and so severe in its

consequences, that the exercise of generosity and compassion, by which

its horrors are mitigated, ought ever to be applauded, encouraged,

and imitated. We ought also to use our best endeavours to deserve this

treatment at the hands of a civilised enemy. Let us be humane in our

turn to those whom the fate of war has subjected to our power: let

us, in prosecuting our military operations, maintain the most rigid

discipline among the troops, and religiously abstain from all acts of

violence and oppression. Thus a laudable emulation will undoubtedly

ensue, and the powers at war vie with each other in humanity and

politeness. In other respects the commander of an invading armament

will always find his account in being well with the common people of the

country in which the descent is made. By civil treatment and seasonable

gratifications, they will be encouraged to bring into the camp regular

supplies of provision and refreshment; they will mingle with the

soldiers, and even form friendships among them; serve as guides,

messengers, and interpreters; let out their cattle for hire as

draft-horses; work with their own persons as day-labourers; discover

proper fords, bridges, roads, passes, and defiles; and, if artfully

managed, communicate many useful hints of intelligence. If great

care and circumspection be not exerted in maintaining discipline, and

bridling the licentious dispositions of the soldiers, such invasions

will be productive of nothing but miscarriage and disgrace: for this at

best is but a piratical way of carrying on war; and the troops engaged

in it are, in some measure, debauched by the nature of the service.

They are crowded together in transports, where the minute particulars of

military order cannot be observed, even though the good of the service

greatly depends upon a due observance of these forms. The soldiers grow

negligent, and inattentive to cleanness and the exterior ornaments of

dress: they become slovenly, slothful, and altogether unfit for a return

of duty: they are tumbled about occasionally in ships and boats, landed

and re-embarked in a tumultuous manner, under a divided and disorderly

command: they are accustomed to retire at the first report of an

approaching enemy, and to take shelter on another element; nay,

their small pillaging parties are often obliged to fly before unarmed

peasants. Their duty on such occasions is the most unmanly part of a

soldier’s office; namely, to ruin, ravage, and destroy. They soon yield

to the temptation of pillage, and are habituated to rapine: they

give loose to intemperance, riot, and intoxication; commit a thousand

excesses; and, when the enemy appears, run on board the ships with their

booty. Thus the dignity of the service is debased; they lose all sense

of honour and of shame; they are no longer restricted by military laws,

nor overawed by the authority of officers; in a word, they degenerate

into a species of lawless buccaneers. From such a total relaxation of

morals and discipline, what can ensue but riot, confusion, dishonour,

and defeat? All the advantage that can be expected from these sudden

starts of invasion, will scarce overbalance the evils we have mentioned,

together with the extraordinary expense of equipping armaments of this

nature. True it is, these descents oblige the French king to employ

a considerable number of his troops for the defence of his maritime

places: they serve to ruin the trade of his subjects, protect the

navigation of Great Britain, and secure its coast from invasion; but

these purposes might be as effectually answered, at a much smaller

expense, by the shipping alone. Should it be judged expedient, however,

to prosecute this desultory kind of war, the commanders employed in it

will do well to consider, that a descent ought never to be hazarded in

an enemy’s country, without having taken proper precautions to secure a

retreat; that the severest discipline ought to be preserved during all

the operations of the campaign; that a general ought never to disembark

but upon a well-concerted plan, nor commence his military transactions

without some immediate point or object in view; that a re-embarkation

ought never to be attempted, except from a clear open beach, where the

approaches of an enemy may be seen, and the troops covered by the fire

of their shipping. Those who presume to reflect upon the particulars

of this last expedition, owned themselves at a loss to account for the

conduct of the general, in remaining on shore after the design upon St.

Maloes was laid aside; in penetrating so far into the country without

any visible object; neglecting the repeated intelligence which he

received; communicating, by beat of drum, his midnight motions to an

enemy of double his force; loitering near seven hours in a march of

three miles; and, lastly, attempting the re-embarkation of the troops

at a place where no proper measures had been taken for their cover

and defence. After the action of St. Cas, some civilities, by message,

passed between the duke d’Aiguillon and the English commanders, who were

favoured with a list of the prisoners, including four sea captains;

and assured that the wounded should receive all possible comfort and

assistance. These matters being adjusted, commodore Howe returned with

the fleet to Spithead, and the soldiers were disembarked.

The success of the attempt upon Cherbourg had elevated the people to a

degree of childish triumph; and the government thought proper to indulge

this petulant spirit of exultation, by exposing twenty-one pieces of

French cannon in Hyde-park, from whence they were drawn in procession to

the Tower, amidst the acclamations of the populace. From this pinnacle

of elation and pride they were precipitated to the abyss of despondence

or dejection, by the account of the miscarriage at St. Cas, which buoyed

up the spirits of the French in the same proportion. The people of that

nation began to stand in need of some such cordial after the losses they

had sustained, and the ministry of Versailles did not fail to make the

most of this advantage: they published a pompous narrative of the battle

of St. Cas, and magnified into a mighty victory the puny check which

they had given to the rear-guard of an inconsiderable detachment. The

people received it with implicit belief, because it was agreeable to

their passions, and congratulated themselves upon their success in

hyperboles, dictated by that vivacity so peculiar to the French nation.

Indeed, these are artifices which the ministers of every nation find it

necessary to use at certain conjunctures, in governing the turbulent and

capricious multitude. After the misfortune at St. Cas, nothing further

was attempted by that armament; nor was any enterprise of importance

achieved by the British ships in Europe during the course of this

summer. The cruisers, however, still continued active and alert. Captain

Hervey, in the ship Monmouth, destroyed a French ship of forty guns in

the island of Malta; an exploit of which the Maltese loudly complained,

as a violation of their neutrality. About twenty sail of small French

vessels were driven ashore on the rocks of Bretagne, by some cruisers

belonging to the fleet commanded by lord Anson, after a smart engagement

with two frigates, under whose convoy they sailed. In the month of

November, the Belliqueux, a French ship of war mounted with sixty-four

guns, having by mistake run up St. George’s channel, and anchored in

Lundy-road, captain Saumarez of the Antelope, then lying in King-road,

immediately weighed and went in quest of her, according to the advice he

had received. When he appeared, the French captain heaved up his anchor,

and made a show of preparing for an engagement; but soon hauled down his

colours, and, without firing a shot, surrendered, with a complement

of four hundred and seventeen men, to a ship of inferior force both in

number of hands and weight of metal. By this time the English privateers

swarmed to such a degree in the channel, that scarce a French vessel

durst quit the harbour, and consequently there was little or no booty

to be obtained. In this dearth of legal prizes, some of the adventurers

were tempted to commit acts of piracy, and actually rifled the ships

of neutral nations. A Dutch vessel, having on board the baggage and

domestics belonging to the marquis de Pignatelli, ambassador from

the court of Spain to the king of Denmark, was boarded three times

successively by the crews of three different privateers, who forced the

hatches, rummaged the hold, broke open and rifled the trunks and boxes

of the ambassador, insulted and even cruelly bruised his officers,

stripped his domestics, and carried off his effects, together with

letters of credit, and a bill of exchange. Complaints of these outrages

being made to the court of London, the lords of the admiralty promised,

in the gazette, a reward of five hundred pounds, without deduction, to

any person who should discover the offenders concerned in these acts of

piracy. Some of them were detected accordingly, and brought to condign

punishment.

CLAMOURS OF THE DUTCH MERCHANTS, &c.

The Dutch had for some time carried on a very considerable traffic,

not only in taking the fair advantages of their neutrality, but also in

supplying the French with naval stores, and transporting the produce

of the French sugar-colonies to Europe, as carriers hired by the

proprietors. The English government, incensed at this unfair commerce,

prosecuted with such flagrant partiality for their enemies, issued

orders for the cruisers to arrest all ships of neutral powers that

should have French property on board; and these orders were executed

with rigour and severity. A great number of Dutch ships were taken and

condemned as legal prizes, both in England and Jamaica: sometimes

the owners met with hard measures, and some crews were treated with

insolence and barbarity. The subjects of the United Provinces raised

a loud clamour against the English, for having, by these captures,

violated the law of nations and the particular treaty of commerce

subsisting between Great Britain and the republic. Remonstrances were

made to the English ministry, who expostulated, in their turn, with

the deputies of the states-general; and the two nations were inflamed

against each other with the most bitter animosity. The British resident

at the Hague, in a conference with the states, represented that the king

his master could not hope to see peace speedily re-established, if the

neutral princes should assume a right of carrying on the trade of his

enemies; that he expected, from their known justice, and the alliance

by which they were so nearly connected with his subjects, they would

honestly abandon this fraudulent commerce, and agree that naval stores

should be comprehended in the class of contraband commodities.

He answered some articles of the complaints they had made with an

appearance of candour and moderation; declared his majesty’s abhorrence

of the violences which had been committed upon the subjects of the

United Provinces; explained the steps which had been taken by the

English government to bring the offenders to justice, as well as

to prevent such outrages for the future; and assured them that his

Britannic majesty had nothing more at heart, than to renew and maintain,

in full force, the mutual confidence and friendship by which the

maritime powers of England and Holland had been so long united.

These professions of esteem and affection were not sufficient to quiet

the minds and appease the resentment of the Dutch merchants; and the

French party, which was both numerous and powerful, employed all their

art and influence to exasperate their passions, and widen the breach

between the two nations. The court of Versailles did not fail to seize

this opportunity of insinuation: while, on one hand, their ministers and

emissaries in Holland exaggerated the indignities and injuries which

the states had sustained from the insolence and rapacity of the

English; they, on the other hand, flattered and cajoled them with little

advantages in trade, and formal professions of respect.--Such was

the memorial delivered by the count d’Affry, intimating that the

empress-queen being under an absolute necessity of employing all her

forces to defend her hereditary dominions in Germany, she had been

obliged to withdraw her troops from Ostend and Nieuport, and applied

to the French king, as her ally nearest at hand, to garrison these two

places; which, however, should be restored at the peace, or sooner,

should her imperial majesty think proper. The spirit of the Dutch

merchants, at this juncture, and their sentiments with respect to

England, appeared with very high colouring in a memorial to the

states-general, subscribed by two hundred and sixty-nine traders,

composed and presented with equal secrecy and circumspection. In this

famous remonstrance they complained, that the violences and unjust

depredations committed by the English ships of war and privateers, on

the vessels and effects of them and their fellow-subjects, were not only

continued, but daily multiplied; and cruelty and excess carried to such

a pitch of wanton barbarity, that the petitioners were forced to implore

the assistance of their high mightinesses to protect, in the most

efficacious manner, the commerce and navigation, which were the two

sinews of the republic. For this necessary purpose they offered to

contribute each his contingent, and to arm at their own charge; and

other propositions were made for an immediate augmentation of the

marine. While this party industriously exerted all their power and

credit to effect a rupture with England, the princess-gouvernante

employed all her interest and address to divert them from this object,

and alarm them with respect to the power and designs of France; against

which she earnestly exhorted them to augment their military forces

by land, that they might be prepared to defend themselves against all

invasion. At the same time she spared no pains to adjust the differences

between her husband’s country and her father’s kingdom; and without

doubt, her healing councils were of great efficacy in preventing matters

from coming to a very dangerous extremity.