covered way of the city of Tournay.' The enemy that day, about 4 in the morning, made a sortie on the right and left of our parallel, but the 'louables cantons' who made this attempt, did nothing of importance. Adieu, dear Sir.-Your humble and very obedient servant, [The dates given in this Journal are all 'New Style' or by the Gregorian Calendar, which In the name of God and of the very holy Trinity. The present journal is to be commenced to be of use to me, Darbé, commanding the frigate Dutillet of Nantes, equipped for war with 18 guns, 24 'pierriers,'' and a crew of 67 men, for a voyage to Scotland. [See Translator's Appendix A., page 109.] 4 6 5 Friday, 2nd July 1745, at 5 in the morning, I raised the anchor from the roads of Mindin in company with the Dryade, the the Fauvelle, the King's Frigate, six lighters of the King and 84 boats, convoyed by the three frigates above, for the coast of Brittany, wind east. I lay to at Bonne Anse to wait for the passengers, who arrived one after the other in large boats,' so that at 7 in the evening I sent to land a little boat to embark three who had remained behind, who were H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Chevalier Scheriden [Sheridan], and Monsieur Walsh. There also arrived by the barques Mr. O'Kelly, Chamberlain; Mr. MacDonald; Colonel M; Colonel M——, Captain of the Guards; M. Touliann, Captain; Mr. MacDanald (Macdonald), banker at Paris. [For complete list see Translator's Appendix B., page 113.] 8 Saturday, 3rd July.-Raised anchor from Bonne Anse and sailed outwards; at 6 o'clock was opposite the Chapelle Sainte Marie." 1 [In Belgium-Marshal Saxe with the French army besieged the city early in 1745, and an army of English, Dutch, and Austrians marched against him just before the battle of Fontenoy, which took place 11th May 1745 (New Style).-TR.] 2 The Doutelle in the English accounts; it was, in fact, a sloop equipped for war. At 10 o'clock in the morning saw a fleet of nearly 140 sail, convoyed by three King's Frigates, and going from Nantes to the coast of Brittany. 'Le Pilier' lay S.S.E. of the compass to me, distant 4 'lieues' [12 miles]; at midday wind from the W. I was obliged to tack till Sunday (4th July), 5 in the morning, when I anchored in the roads of Belisle." The Fort of Belisle to the W. The Point Point of Locmaria S.E.; La Teignouse N.E. Thursday, 8th July.-Passed two Dutch ships going to Nantes. At midday in the 'Teignouse' three frigates passed convoying about 100 barques for the coast of Brittany. of Taillefer to the N.W. 3 Sunday, 11th July.-There appeared two ships, coming by the 'Pointe des Poulains' to look for the corals of Belle Isle. I prepared myself for combat when these two vessels were within one range and a half of my cannon. I hoisted my flag and confirmed it by firing a gun, the two ships hoisted a white flag, but without confirming it. Not wishing to trust the said ships too far, I fired a cannon ball to make them lay to, and send me their boat to know who they were; but the said ships doing nothing, I fired again, and the ball passed between the masts of Captain MacCarthy, who lay to and came on board to make himself known. Vessels of the enemy are every day under Belle Isle, under French flags, so that one must distrust every vessel that comes there. Tuesday, 13th (July).—The Elisabeth,5 King's vessel, cast anchor in the roads of Belle Isle at 11 o'clock in the morning. 6 Thursday, 15th (July).—Raised anchor from the roads of Belle Isle in company with the Elisabeth, Captain Deau, about 5 in the morning. At 8 in the evening 'Groix" was N.E., Les Glenans' N. From Saturday (17th July) at noon to Sunday, 18th, at noon.-In the N.W. 7 ships going south. We took them for ships from Brest. 1 The island of Pilier, off Noirmoutier. 2 Roads of the Palace in Belisle. 3 [It was the custom to 'certify' a ship's nationality by hoisting the flag, and 'assurer le pavillon' by firing off a gun when the flag was hoisted.-TR.] 4 [See p. 15.-TR.] 5 War frigate of 60 guns, placed at the disposal of Charles Edward by the intermediation of Cardinal de Tencin; she brought to the Prince arms, money, and furnishings. It appears from other statements that the Elisabeth had been captured by Mr. Walsh and adjudged to him as a prize. Possibly the French government may have bought it from him. 6 Or rather d'O, whose ancestor fought at Velez Malaga with the Comte de Toulouse (in 1704). 7 The island of Groix (Morbihan). 8 Isles of the parish of Fouesnant (Finistère). From Sunday (18th July) at noon to Monday, 19th. We still saw the 7 ships of yesterday to the S. From Monday (19th July) at noon to Tuesday, 20th current.—We heard several shots fired coming from the N.E. We perceived that they were pursuing us, and coming obliquely upon us. Seeing the said ships nearing us we spoke M. Dau (d'O), commander of the Elisabeth, and prepared for battle at noon. The said vessel was to the E. at a distance of a league and a half [4 miles] with all sails set to overtake us. We recognised it as a ship with two and a half batteries,' suspected to be English. 2 From Tuesday, 20th (July), at noon, to Wednesday, 21st.-Being prepared for battle, and the Chaplain having given absolution, Monsieur d'O and I approached to speak to each other. M. d'O told me he was going to furl his lower sails. Monsieur Walsh, in agreement with the Prince (Charles Edward), told me to wait an hour and continue our route. In which M. d'O acquiesced, and we agreed with the said d'O that if he were obliged to fight, as soon as he had fired his first round, we should board [the Elisabeth], and as soon as he was in grips with the English ship, to board it also and put fifty men on board. This is what we agreed upon at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Seeing that the English ship was always drawing nearer, M. d'O furled his lower sails, put his long boat to sea and lay to. We saw that this ship [the enemy] only wanted to make us lose way, to give time for the ships we had seen in the morning to come up. We agreed to hoist sail and to continue our route, which we did. The English ship seeing this, and sailing always better than we, hoisted sail also, and sent his long boat out to gain greater advantage over us, and have more room on deck. At half-past 5 in the evening the English ship was on the beam of the Elisabeth. We all furled our lower sails. The English commander fired from his port guns, M. d'O answered with all his starboard guns. The Englishman being to windward of the Elisabeth hauled down his mizzen (sail) and hoisted his jib." The Elisabeth having delayed a little in executing the same manœuvre, the Englishman had time 1 Ship with two decks, with batteries in 3 [‘Faire servir.'—TR.] 4 En bau.'-TR.] the fore and aft galleries. 2 ['Chaloupe.-TR.] 3 2 At the bowsprit mast, to pass forward, and contrived so well that he fired all his port volley, which raked the Elisabeth fore and aft and must have killed many and done her great damage, so well also that the Englishman got between our two ships, and so well that he fired from his starboard guns three shots, which passed between my masts; my sails were riddled with his small shot1 so much so that we did not fire, being out of range to reach him with our small guns; the two ships changed places and steered S.E., crossing each other, so that the Englishman fired his starboard volley and the Elisabeth her port volley. We waited to board the Elisabeth as had been agreed. We followed her close to be able to put some men on board in case of her being boarded, not being able to give her any other help, because the English guns, which were 33 pounders, did not permit us to approach her. We were much afraid that in making the course S.E. we might meet the vessels seen in the morning. We still followed the Elisabeth closely to be able to help her in case of her being boarded. At 10 in the evening, the firing ceased on both sides, and we went to speak the Elisabeth. M. Bar, flag captain of the said ship, told us that M. d'O was dangerously wounded and that his ship was more damaged than he could say, and begged me to let down a small boat and send him some men to fit up again. I said I would do this, and to keep my boat outside, I told him to lie to, that I might be able to send it; he said he could not do it, and that I must follow him. As we feared to fall in with the vessels we had seen in the morning, we held council till it was resolved to find out if the Elisabeth was in a condition to put to sea, in which case we would have followed her. I inquired as to this from M. Bar, who told me it was not [fit] and that he must absolutely put into Brest. Seeing this, as we did not want to put into port, we decided by the Prince's order to continue our course to Scotland, which we did after wishing good voyage to M. Bar. We bore to the S. W. Latitude observed 47°5; longitude arrived at 5°3. Friday, 23rd (July), to Saturday, 24th.—An hour after midday the watch called out 'Ship ahead.' She was just in front of us, a moment after we saw ten others N.N.E. of us. We thought these 1 1 ['Mitraille.'—TR.] 2 Descendant of Jean Bart, ships were bound N.N.W. We changed course to avoid them, heading to the E. At 5 afternoon, seeing that these ships remained in the same wind, I went aloft, and distinguished that these ships were going east. I steered N.W. to give a false route, for fear they should chase us. Saturday, 24th (July) to Sunday, 25th.—At 6 in the morning saw a ship straight before us, going east. I intended to bear down upon her to stop her course, but received orders to avoid her, which I did. At 10 o'clock we saw another ship, north of the one we had seen, with sails brailed. At noon the ships spoke each other, I think they are in company. Sunday, 25th (July), at noon, to Monday 26th.—At 4 in the afternoon I saw the ships of the morning steering for us; took them for corsairs. We made all sail. Heavy wind and rain which lasted till 1 in the morning, when it calmed down. The wind came by a 'cottée' to the north. Tightened royals and scudding sails1 and put the 'amure'2 to starboard. At noon saw two ships to windward bearing east. Monday, 26th (July), at 4 in the evening.-Found myself over a kind of high ridge, which seemed clear, but full of sea-weed. From Tuesday, 27th July, noon, to Wednesday, 28th.-Saw many birds such as gulls and coots, and feathers on the water. 3 From Friday, 30th July, at noon, to Saturday, 31st.—At 4 in the morning I saw land. It appeared to be a round hill,* flat at top, very high, like a platform, to the South. Other pointed hills, about 5 or 6, S.S.W., and others joined together, forming also round hills, to the S.E. I tacked, the winds being variable, the big flat-topped hill remained in the same quarter, proving that the currents carry terribly to the East at the northern opening of the Irish Channel, causing me to find myself 26 'lieues' [78 miles] farther east than my ship, and the 'Neptune françois' is farther S.S. E. than the Dutch maps [or charts] by 30 minutes. That gave us an error of latitude; expecting to see to southward the Isles of Wice'; not at all: we 1 5 ['Bonnettes and perroquets.'-TR.] 2 [A certain rope or sheet attached to a sail.-TR.] 4 3 [Foulques.'-TR.] Morne.'-TR.] 5 [Meaning apparently further east than he made out the ship to be by calculation or reckoning.-TR.] [Atlas or Nautical Charts by Mannevillette, first published in 1745.-TR.] 7 North and South Uist in the Hebrides, |