transports should move round to the bay of St. Cas, where there was good shelter and a sandy beach.

The intended attack on St. Maloes was therefore given up, and the troops began their march across the country to St. Cas. In this march they were harassed by parties of men concealed in the woods and villages. At Martignan the General received information from some deserters, that the French were in great force between that place and St. Cas. It afterwards appeared that an army of 10,000 men had been collected, under the command of the Duc d'Aiguillon. In the mean time Commodore Howe anchored his squadron and transports in the bay of St. Cas. The troops made their appearance, and immediately afterwards the French were seen on the heights, but refrained from molesting the embarkation, until the rear-guard only were left on the beach. They then brought their field-pieces to bear, and a dreadful slaughter ensued, both on the beach and in the boats, though they were covered by an incessant fire from the frigates, sloops, and bombs. About 700 men were missing, of whom near 500 were prisoners, and the rest killed. Among the latter were General Drury and several other officers, and of the former Lord Frederick Cavendish of the Guards, and Captains Rowley, Mapleden, Paston, Elphinstone, and Duff, of the navy.

Such was the unfortunate termination of these shore expeditions, but which, however, had the effect

that Mr. Pitt expected. Lord Anson, with the squadron under his command, had continued to block up the harbour of Brest, during the first land expedition. Soon after his arrival on his station, Sir Edward Hawke was seized with a fever and obliged to return to England. to England. The Admiral therefore formed his fleet into three divisions, and appointed Captains Cornish and Geary commodores. These and his smaller cruisers cleared the sea of the enemy's trading vessels, which amounted to few, but mostly coasters. The Admiral returned to Plymouth Sound on the 19th July, where the third littoral expedition was fitting out; and, having taken in water and provisions, he sailed again on the 22nd, having been joined by Rear-Admiral Holmes, who hoisted his flag in the Ramillies, and, about the end of August, by Rear-Admiral Saunders with his flag in the Neptune. The three Admirals continued cruising till the middle of September, when Commodore Howe had finished his campaigns on the coast of France. Lord Anson and Rear-Admiral Holmes, with the greater part of the squadron, then returned to England, leaving the rest, under Admiral Saunders, to block

up Brest, and to endeavour to fall in with and intercept the French squadron expected to be on its return from Quebec. Having continued on this service till the middle of December, he returned with his squadron to Portsmouth.

The cruising ships in the Channel and to the west

ward made great havoc among the privateers of the enemy, two or three of which were such fine and powerful ships, that they were purchased into the navy; several large and valuable merchantmen from the West Indies and America also fell into the hands of our cruisers. Captain Denis of the Dorsetshire, one of Anson's former lieutenants, had the good fortune, after a close engagement of nearly two hours, to capture the Raisonable, a French ship-of-war of 64 guns and 630 men, commanded by the Prince de Mombazon, Chevalier de Rohan, who had 61 men killed and 100 wounded in the action; the Dorsetshire 15 killed and 20 wounded. She was a fine new ship, was purchased by the government, and added to the list of the navy under her own name. She struck to the Achilles, Captain Barrington, on his coming up and firing a few shot.

A brilliant action was fought in the Mediterranean between the Monmouth of 64 guns, Captain Arthur Gardiner, and the Foudroyant of 84 guns and 800 men, commanded by M. du Quesne, chef d'escadre. Captain Gardiner was wounded in the arm by the first broadside, and soon after, when encouraging his men to exert themselves in the unequal contest, was shot dead by a ball striking his forehead. Lieutenant Casket maintained the contest most gallantly, when, at the end of about four hours, the enemy being a complete wreck, her decks a scene of dreadful carnage, and her fire nearly silenced, on the Swiftsure

and Hampton Court coming up, she struck her colours, having 100 men killed and 90 wounded. The Monmouth had 28 killed and 79 wounded. The Foudroyant was the favourite ship so long commanded by Sir John Jervis, and in which he captured Le Pégase.

CHAPTER VIII.

SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759.

Preparations for the campaign of 1759-Threats of the invasion of England, Scotland, and Ireland-Measures taken to meet itThurot escapes from Dunkirk-takes Carrickfergus-is met by Elliot, who captures his three frigates-Thurot killed in the action-Rodney attacks Havre-Anecdote of Rodney-Boscawen's action with the fleet under M. de la Clue-defeats it-De la Clue wounded, and dies-The glorious defeat of Conflans' fleet by the gallant Sir Edward Hawke-Extract of his letter to the Duc d'Aiguillon-Joy of the nation-Hawke receives the thanks of the King, and a pension of 2000l. a-year on the Irish Establishment-Receives also the thanks of Parliament-Hawke no friend to the lineof-battle-Expedition against Quebec-Sir Charles Saunders appointed to command the fleet, and General Wolfe the armyJealousy of the army on the appointment of the latter-Operations on the St. Lawrence-Quebec taken-Wolfe killed-Noble conduct of Saunders on reaching England-Praise of Wolfe by Pitt in proposing a public monument-also of Saunders by Pitt and Walpole-Rewards to officers, by appointing generals and colonels of marines-Capture of Martinique-Gallant conduct of Admiral Pocock in the East Indies.

DURING the whole of this year, the war against France was prosecuted with the greatest vigour by the navy both at home and abroad; Parliament having voted for the sea-service 60,000 men, including 14,845 marines. Anson was indefatigable in getting the fleet and squadrons well equipped, officered, and manned, and he selected the choicest flag-officers to command them-Sir Edward Hawke,