BOOK expence and labor, they were arrived at the highest XXI. 'state of perfection. In less than half an hour, 1782. Minorca conquered five batteries, with all the lines of approach, communication, and traverse, were in flames-the magazines blowing up one after another, as the conflagration successively reached them-the astonished Spaniards offering no other resistance, than a distant and ill-directed fire from the forts of St. Philip and St. Barbara. To balance this success, intelligence arrived early by the Spa-in the spring of the new year, that general Mur niards. Island of St. by the French. ray, governor of Minorca, had been compelled, after a long and vigorous resistance, to surrender that island to the arms of his Catholic majesty. Formerly the loss of Minorca had occasioned the downfall of an administration; but such were the infinitely greater misfortunes and disasters of the present war, that this event made little impression upon the public, and it was scarcely remarked, that no attempt whatever had been made for its relief during a siege of one hundred and seventy-one days. The island of Nevis, in the West Indies, also &c.capturedabout the same time surrendered to the marquis de Bouillé and the count de Grasse; by whom the most liberal terms were granted to the inhabitants. Eight thousand troops, with a formidable train of artillery, were then landed on the important island XXI. 1782. of St. Christopher. Sir Samuel Hood, who now BOOK commanded the British fleet in the West Indies, made strenuous efforts for its relief: and, notwithstanding his disparity of force, in three successive encounters with the count de Grasse he obtained each time the advantage, and at length, by a dexterous manoeuvre, gained possession of the enemy's anchorage at Basseterre Road. Admiral Hood then landed a considerable detachment of troops from Antigua under general Prescot; but general Frazer, the commanding officer on the island, who was strongly posted on an intrenched eminence, sent him word, " that as he had taken the trouble to come with troops to his assistance, he should doubtless be glad of the honor of seeing him, but he was in no want of, him or his troops.' Notwithstanding this idle vaunt, he was obliged to surrender the island on capitulation, after a siege of five weeks, on the 12th of February 1782. In the same month Demerary and Isequibo were captured by the French: also the island of Montserrat. The loss of the Bahamas quickly followed, The Eahabeing reduced by a considerable force under don by the SpaManuel de Cigagal, governor of the Havannah, to' the obedience of the crown of Spain. On the 19th of February sir George Rodney arrived in the West Indies with a strong reinforcement of ships from England, and resumed the command of the fleet. Mighty preparations were now mas taken niards. 1782. BOOK making, both by the French and Spaniards, for the XXI. invasion of Jamaica; and, as the combined force of these powerful nations amounted to above sixty sail of the line, had a junction been effected, the island was irrecoverably lost. The first object of the British admiral was to intercept a great convoy of troops, provisions, and stores, expected from Europe but in this he was disappointed; the enemy found means to escape his vigilance, by making the island of Deseada, to the northward, and keeping close in shore under the high land of Guadaloupe and Dominique, and arrived safe at Fort Royal on the 21st of March. It was the design of count de Grasse to proceed to Hispaniola, and join the Spanish admiral, don Solano, who was waiting his arrival, in order to make, in conjunction, the pre-concerted attack on Jamaica. Decisive On the 8th of April, at day-break, the French victory of fleet left the harbour of Fort Royal; and admiral sir George Rodney French fleet nique. over the Rodney, who had the earliest intelligence of their off Domi- movements, instantly made the signal for a general chace. Early the next morning he came up with the enemy under Dominique, where the van of the English engaged the rear of the French, but the continued calms prevented a general or close action. In the morning of the 11th a fresh gale sprung up, and the chace was renewed: and towards evening the headmost ships of the van gained so much on one or two of the enemy's ships, XXI. 1782 damaged in the late action, that the count de Grasse BOOK thought it necessary to bear down for the purpose of protecting them. Sir George Rodney, who had eagerly watched and waited for this opportunity, now manoeuvred the fleet with such skill, as to gain the windward of the enemy during the night, and entirely to preclude their retreat. At seven in the morning of the 12th, the two fleets, being ranged in lines directly opposite, engaged with the greatest fury. The French ships being crowded with men, the carnage was prodigious; but no visible impression was made, or material advantage gained, till about noon, when sir George Rodney in the Formidable, followed by his seconds the Namur and the Duke, perceiving an accidental interval which invited the attempt, bore directly with full sail athwart the enemy's line, and successfully broke through, about three ships short of the centre, where the count de Grasse commanded in the Ville de Paris. Being quickly supported by the remainder of his division, the English commander wore round close upon the enemy, and actually separated their line, placing the central ships of the French between two fires. This bold and masterly manœuvre proved decisive. The French, however, continued to fight with the utmost bravery, and the battle lasted till sun-set. The Cæsar was the first ship which struck her colors, having lost her BOOK captain, and being almost torn to pieces by her XXI. enemy's fire. Soon afterwards, by some unfortu 1782. At nate accident, she blew up, and every soul on board perished. The Glorieux, the Hector, the Ardent, now followed the example of the Cæsar, and the Diadem went down by a single broadside. The count de Grasse in the Ville de Paris, beset on all sides, still held out with heroic bravery, and, though reduced to a wreck, seemed to prefer sinking rather than strike to any thing under a flag. length admiral Hood, in the Barfleur, approached him just at sun-set, and poured in a most destructive fire, which the count yet sustained for some time, till having three men only left alive and unhurt on the upper deck, he at length struck to his gallant antagonist. Night only closed the action: the shattered remains of the French fleet crowded all the sail they could make for Cape François, and in the morning they were out of sight. Sir Samuel Hood being detached to pursue the flying enemy, came up with five sail off Porto Rico, and captured the Jason and Caton ships of the line, and two frigates, the third with difficulty clearing the Mona passage. Unfortunately the fleet was becalmed for three days after the action, and sir George Rodney did not escape censure for the previous dilatoriness of his pursuit. Whether more might have been done, |