Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

gloriously upheld the honor of the British flag on the 1779. 27th and 28th of July." The thanks of the lords in nearly the fame terms, were agreed to, four days after. Public and unufual rejoicings, in various and remote parts of the kingdom, fucceeded the fentence. The illuminations in London and Weftminster, were fuch as have fcarcely been exceeded upon any occafion. Sir Hugh Pallifer having become the object of general odium, refigned his feat at the admiralty board, his lieutenant generalship of the marines, and his government of Scarborough caftle: he alfo vacated his feat in parliament, and only retained his vice-admiralship, as a qualification for his trial by a court martial, which was ordered to be held upon him. The fame began on the 12th of April, and clofed the 5th of May, the court having, after two days deliberation, agreed upon their fentence. They gave it as their opinion, that his conduct and behaviour on the 27th and 28th of July, were, in many respects, highly exemplary and meritorious: at the fame time they could not help thinking it was incumbent upon him to have made known to his commander in chief the difabled ftate of his fhip the Formidable. Notwithstanding his omiffion in that particular, the court were of opinion, that he was not, in any other refpect, chargeable with misconduct or misbehaviour on those days, and therefore acquitted him.

Lord Shuldham and commodore Rowley failed from Spithead, laft December the 25th, with their respective fquadrons, and a convoy of near 300 fail. His lordship returned after feeing the West India and New York fleets fafe to the distance of 226 leagues from the Lizard; and the comrnodore proceeded on his voyage to rein

1779. force admiral Byron. On the 8th of March, admiral Hughes, with fix fhips of the line under his command, having the East and Weft India fleets under convoy, failed from St. Helens for the Eaft Indies, accompanied by feveral other men of war, fome in different services, and others to return after attending the merchantmen to a certain latitude.

1778.

The following accounts have been received from the West Indies.

While the marquis de Bouille was engaged in reducing Dominica, admiral Barrington, with two fhips of the line and fome frigates, lay at Barbadoes, waiting merely for inftructions which he had been ordered to expect at that place, and which were not yet arrived. It was the French declaration of war, published at Martinico, that first informed him of hoftilities. The lofs of two of Sir Peter Parker's frigates, taken by the French on the coaft of Hifpaniola, proved alfo the earliest mean of conveying intelligence to that admiral, as well as to the government of Jamaica, where he was ftationed, that a war had actually commenced.

No fooner did adm. Barrington receive information of the invafion of Dominica, than he difpenfed with the violation of his orders, and proceeded to its intended relief. He was too late, as the conquest was but the work of a day his fmall fquadron however, removed the panic which had fpread through the neighbouring inlands, and effectually curbed the further enterprises of the enemy.

Count d'Estaing failed from Boston, and commodore Hotham with the troops under gen. Grant from Sandy Hook, each on the fame day for the Weft Indies.

Both fleets were equally involved in a gale of wind while 177% on their paffage. The French were greatly dispersed, which probably faved the British convoy from the danger of encountering an unequal force, steering unknown to the commodore the like courfe with himself. The relative fituation of the fleets was a fecret to both commanders: but they were fo near on the 28th of November, that a British brigantine with four horfes, fell into the hands of d'Eftaing. The commodore's fleet was the most numerous; but he had the skill and happiness of keeping them together during the gale, and of getting the start of the count, fo as to arrive without any other lofs than of the brig at Barbadoes, where he joined adm. Barrington on the 10th of December.

Dec.

10.

An expedition for the reduction of St. Lucie, was immediately undertaken without fuffering the troops to land. Within two days they failed for the island; and the reserve of the army, confifting of the 5th regiment, with the grenadiers and light infantry of the whole, under general Meadows, landed at the grand Cul de Sac on the 13th in the evening. That officer immediately 13. pushed forward with his detachment, to the heights on the north fide of the bay, which were occupied by the French commandant with the regular forces and militia. These posts he foon forced. While this was doing, gen. Prefcot landed with five regiments, with which he guarded the environs of the bay, and pushed on advanced posts, so as to preferve a communication during the night with the referve. When morning appeared, the reserve, fupported by Prefcot, advanced and took poffeffion of the fmall capital of Morne Fortune. The chevalier de Micoud made what defence he was able,

[ocr errors]

1778. but was compelled, by the fuperiority of force, to retire from one post to another, as the British preffed forward. Prefcot took poffeffion of the batteries and pofts in the rear of the reserve as they advanced. Meadows pushed forward under the heat of a burning fun, and poffeffed himself of the Viergie, which commanded the north fide of the Careenage harbour; and Sir Henry Calder, with the four remaining battalions, guarded the landingplace, kept up the communication with the fleet, and fent detachments to occupy feveral posts on the mountains, which looked down upon and commanded the fouth fide of the grand Cul de Sac.

The laft French flag on thofe pofts, which were in fight among the neighbouring hills, was scarcely ftruck, when count d'Eftaing appeared in view of the fleet and army with a prodigious force. Befide his original fquadron of twelve ships of the line, he was accompanied by a numerous fleet of frigates, privateers, and tranfports, with a land force estimated at 9000 men. The count intended the reduction of Barbadoes, the Grenades, and St. Vincents. In his way to the firft, where he expected to have found Barrington with only two line of battle fhips and a few frigates, he received intelligence of the attack on St. Lucie, which he might confider as a circumstance that seemed to throw the whole British force by fea and land, an eafy prey into his hands. In all human probability, this must have been the inevitable event, had he arrived twenty-four hours fooner: but the day being far advanced, he deferred his operations till the enfuing morning. During the night, adm. Barrington exerted all his powers in getting the tranfports warped into the bottom of the bay, to be as re

mote from danger as poffible, and the fhips of war 1778. brought into their respective stations, fo as to form a line effectually to cover its entrance; which was still further fecured by a battery on the fouthern, and another on the northern oppofite points of land. His force confifted of a 74, a 70, two 64, and two 50 gun fhips, Dec. befide three frigates. In the morning, the count ftood 15. in with his whole fleet for the Careenage, apprehending that the British had not poffeffion of that part of the ifland. A well directed fire, which his own fhip received from one of those batteries that had fo lately changed masters, convinced him of his mistake, and made him bear away with his fleet and transports. He was apparently difconcerted and at a lofs how to act; but after much hefitation, bore down with ten fail of the line upon the British fquadron, juft before noon. He met with fo warm a reception from the fhips and batteries, that after a while he drew off. About four o'clock, he made a fresh attack with twelve fhips of the line; which was better fupported and longer continued than the first. The French cannonade was concentrated within a narrower direction, and was heavier than before; but this effort was not more effectual than the former, The count's fleet fell into evident confusion, and retired from action with great lofs. On the following day he plied to the windward, and anchored in the evening off Grofs Iflet, about two leagues to the northward. The night and the next morning he spent in landing his troops in Choc bay, between Grofs Iflet and the Careenage. The fame time was employed by the British admiral in preparing for every poffible future event.

« ForrigeFortsett »