'TO LADY RODNEY.

Barbadoes, May 27th, 1780.

This is the first opportunity that has offered 'since I wrote by the Pegasus, Captain 'Bazeley, who has, I hope, by this time

been with you, and delivered my letter, ' and acquainted you with the whole trans'action of my battle with the French, and the gallant behaviour of my captains, who, ' when victory, the most glorious victory ever obtained by a British fleet over the French, 'was in their power, chose to decline accepting it, and to be passive lookers-on. My

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public letter will do them ample justice; and I hope the nation will make them an example to posterity of what those persons 'deserve who dare to betray their country *.

* The adverse fleet were, it may be presumed, not insensible spectators of the base and infatuated conduct of the captains of the British ships. It is not unlikely, indeed, that some mention of the circumstance might be found in their political journals of that day, and that ample justice was afforded to the brave and almost desperate resolution of the commander of the Sandwich, and the few other ships that did their duty properly.

The Marquis de Bouillé, the French governor of Martinique, afterwards paid a visit to England, and became exceedingly in

'As you must be anxious to hear of our further operations, and what has happened 'since my last, when Captain Bazeley left me

in pursuit of the enemy's fleet, I have the 'pleasure to tell you, that the French fleet, 'which had taken a large circuit, in the hopes of avoiding us, by the good look-out ' of my frigates, were discovered to windward

of Martinique, endeavouring to steal into that island. I immediately put to sea, and 'got sight of them, but no inducement whatever would tempt them to risk another battle; and for fourteen days and nights the fleets were so near each other, that neither

officers nor men could be said to have had

sleep. Nothing but the goodness of the 'weather and climate could have enabled us

timate with Lord Rodney. This engagement having on one occasion become the topic of conversation, the Marquis said, that one of his officers was on board Count de Guichen's ship, and that the French admiral, appreciating the masterly manœuvre by which his opponent had contrived to force him into action, as well as the noble example he set in his own ship, betrayed, by his countenance and certain expressions, the anxiety he felt for the result of the conflict. This anxiety was in some manner shared by his military friend, who, however, upon observing that few of the British fleet were disposed to partake of the glory and danger of the attack, relieved the spirits of De Guichen, by exclaiming, 'Courage, General! the English desert their commander.'

'to endure so continual a fatigue.

Had it

'been in Europe, half the people must have 'sunk under it. For my part, it did me good; and as I had given public notice to all my

'captains, &c. &c. &c., that I should hoist 'my flag on board one of my frigates, and 'that I expected implicit obedience to every

signal made, under the certain penalty of being instantly superseded, it had an ad'mirable effect, as they were all convinced, 'after their late gross behaviour, that they 'had nothing to expect at my hands but 'instant punishment to those who neglected 'their duty. My eye on them had more 'dread than the enemy's fire, and they 'knew it would be fatal. No regard was paid to rank-admirals as well as captains, if out of their station, were instantly repri'manded by signals, or messages sent by 'frigates: and, in spite of themselves, I taught them to be, what they never had been before-officers; and showed them that an 'inferior fleet, properly conducted, was more 'than a match for one far superior; and that 'France, with all her boasting, must give up 'the sovereignty of the sea to Great Britain,

'when, with twenty-three sail of the line

opposed only to nineteen, she did not dare ' either to attack or stand a battle, but basely 'fled before them, and avoided by all possible 'means any rencounter; but notwithstanding ' all their endeavours to the contrary, my van 'twice had an opportunity of attacking their rear, as they passed upon different tacks. 'The treatment they met with made them

so shy, that we never could get near them ' again; and their ships being all clean, and 'mine so very foul, it was impossible to follow them with the least probability of overtaking 'them and they having sailed out of sight, ' and three of my ships being sinking, and

many incapable of keeping the sea longer, 'I was under the necessity of sending the sinking ships to St. Lucie, and with the 'others put into Barbadoes, to send the 'wounded men on shore, and to refit, as ' well as I can, my shattered fleet, not ten sail of which are really fit to go to sea.

John is perfectly well, and has had an 'opportunity of seeing more service in the 'short time he has been from England, than

has fallen to the lot of the oldest captain in

'the navy. It will be of infinite service to 'him. He is now gone on a cruise, in one of

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my frigates, to look out for a Spanish fleet ' of twenty sail of the line, that I yesterday ' received an express from Commodore John'stone had sailed from Cadiz, on the 28th ultimo, to the West Indies. Two other expresses are arrived this day from our 'friend Johnstone, with the same news, one of which saw and passed the Spanish fleet. 'To-morrow I sail in quest of them; and as the French fleet have got into Martinique in a very shattered condition, I hope to give a good account of the Spaniards before they 'can have an opportunity of joining the French. I can go to sea with only four'teen sail, unless Mr. Walsingham joins me, 'whom I have hourly expected for these six 'weeks past. Had the ministers suffered me to have taken the copper-bottomed ships with me that attended me to Gibraltar, the French fleet had been no more, and Martinique must have fallen again into our hands. What are they about? Are they 'determined to undo their country? Is it 'fair that the British fleet should be so