"While I made all the sail I could, they were jogging on under their fore-sails and top-sails; and when we came up within halfgun-shot, they made a running fight, firing their stern-chase. The frigates sometimes raking fore and aft, annoyed me very much, but also so retarded their own way, that I got up with my bowsprit almost over the Florissant's stern. 66 Finding that I could not bring the enemy to a general action, I gave the Buckingham a yaw under his lee, and threw into him a noble dose of great guns and small arms, at about the distance of half musket-shot, which he soon after returned, and damaged my rigging, masts and sails, considerably. The largest frigate being very troublesome, I gave him a few of my lowerdeck pills, and sent him running like a lusty fellow, so that he never returned into action again. The Florissant likewise bore away, by which means he got under my lee, and exchanged three or four broadsides (endeavouring still to keep at a distance from me), which killed and wounded some of my men. I presume, however, we did him as much damage, as our men were very cool, took good aim, were under good discipline, and fought with a true English spirit. An unlucky broadside from the French made some slaughter on my quarter-deck; at the same time I myself was wounded, losing three fingers of my right hand, and receiving a small wound over my right eye, which, by the effusion of blood, blinded me for a little while; I also had several contusions from splinters; but recovering immediately, I would not go off deck till the loss of blood began to weaken me. The master and lieutenant of marines were dangerously wounded at the same time. "I called to my people to stand by and do their duty, which they promised with the greatest cheerfulness. I then went down and got the blood stopped, but returned upon deck again, till, finding the strain made my wounds bleed a-fresh, I sent for the first lieutenant, and told him to take command of the deck for a time. He answered me, that he would take her alongside the Florissant yard-arm and yard-arm, and fight to the last gasp. Upon which I made a speech to the men, exhorting them to do their utmost, which they cheerfully promised, and gave three cheers. "I went down a second time, more easy than before. Poor Mr. Marshall was as good as his word; he got board and board with the Florissant, and received a broadside from her, which killed him as he was encouraging the men: thus he died, an honour to his country and to the service! The second lieutenant then came upon deck, and fought the ship bravely, yard-arm and yard Naval Chronicle, vol. x. p. 350. arm. We silenced the Florissant for some time, and she hauled down her colours, but after that fired about eleven of her lower tier, and gave us a volley of small arms, which our people returned with great fury, giving her three broadsides, she not returning even a single gun. Captain Troy, at the same time, at the head of his marines, performed the service of a brave and gallant officer, clearing the Florissant's poop and quarter-deck, and driving her men, like sheep, down their main-deck. Our top-men were not idle; they plied their hand-grenades and swivels to excellent purpose. It is impossible to describe the uproar and confusion the French were in. "It being now dark, and we having all the rigging in the ship shot away, the enemy, seeing our condition, took the opportunity, set her fore-sail and top-gallant-sails, and ran away. We endeavoured to pursue her with what rags of sails we had left, but to no purpose. Thus we lost one of the finest two-deck gun ships my eyes ever beheld. "I cannot bestow encomiums too great on the people and officers' behaviour, and I hope you will strenuously recommend the latter to the Lords of the Admiralty, as they richly deserve their favour. Notwithstanding the great fatigue the ship's company had experienced during the day, they cheerfully continued up all night knotting and splicing the rigging, and bending the sails. "I flatter myself, when you reflect that one of the ships of your squadron, with no more than sixty-five guns (as you know some of them were disabled last January, and not supplied), and four hundred and seventy-two well men at quarters, should beat three French men-of-war, one of seventy-four guns, and seven hundred men; another of thirty-eight guns, three hundred and fifty men; and one of twenty-eight guns, two hundred and fifty men; you will not think we have been deficient in our duty. If we had had the good luck to join the Bristol, it would have crowned all. Captain Boyles being on board the Buckingham, I gave him directions to go down and superintend the lower-deck, which he performed with great alacrity. "As we have been so greatly damaged in our masts, yards, sails and rigging, particularly our masts, I have thought proper to send the carpenter of the Buckingham, as he can better give you an account by word of mouth, of what fishes we shall want, than I can in many words of writing. "Before I conclude, I cannot help representing to you the inhuman, ungenerous, and barbarous behaviour of the French Naval Chronicle, vol. x. p. 359. during the action: no rascally picaroon or pirate could have fired worse stuff into us than they did; such as square bits of iron, old rusty nails, and, in short, every thing that could tend to the destruction of men; a specimen of which, please God, I shall produce to you upon my arrival. "I send you enclosed a list of the slain and wounded. "Killed-One officer, five seamen, one marine. Slightly wounded-Two midshipmen, twenty-six seamen, three marines. "Died of their wounds- One midshipman, one seaman. "N.B.-The officer killed was Mr. George Marshall, first lieutenant: and the officers wounded were, Captain Tyrrel; Mr. Matthew Winterborne, master; and Mr. Harris, lieutenant of marines." 1759. The different governors in the several quarters of Martinico sent a memorial to the commander-in-chief, in which they complained of the conduct of the French merchants, accusing them of arbitrarily disposing of all the provisions brought in, and of all the planters' commodities sent out of the island: the consequence of which was, that the former was at as high a price as their avarice could raise it, and the latter as low as self-interest could sink it. For two months the colony had been destitute of all kinds of provisions. The masters were unable to support their slaves, who were dying of hunger. Many of the best-provided inhabitants were without a grain of salt in their houses. The cattle employed to work the mills were killed, to feed the sick and Negro children. The memorial states, that from half-starved slaves, to whom all bondage was equal, dreadful consequences might be apprehended; that upon the citadel of Fort Royal depended the safety of the country; and if that fort was properly provided, and magazines established in the different quarters of the island for supplying provisions and ammunition, every man would vigorously oppose an invading army. The memorial was dated January 1st, and signed by Chaillon, De Folleville, De Lignery, Lou, Villiers de Poincey, and Rouille. From this it is evident that their assistance was only conditional, and their situation bad. Captain Collingwood, in his Majesty's ship Crescent, on the 13th of August, attacked the Amethyste and Berkely, two French frigates, off the island of St. Christopher's, and succeeded in bringing the Berkely into Basse Terre. Two French frigates, the Hardy, of twenty guns and 150 Annual Register, 1759, pp. 102. 209. Smollett, vol. xiv. p. 103. men, and the Hermione, of twenty-six guns and 170 men, were also taken by the squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Cotes, and sent into Jamaica. Upon the 3d of January, Commodore Hughes, with eight sail of the line, one frigate, four bomb ketches, and a fleet of transports, having on board 5374 troops, under the command of Major-General Hopson, arrived at Barbadoes, where they were joined by Commodore Moore, who took the command of the united squadrons, amounting to ten sail of the line, besides frigates and small craft.' 450 Highlanders were embarked at Barbadoes, and the armament sailed from Carlisle Bay upon the 13th of January. Upon the 15th, the fieet entered Port Royal Bay, Martinico; and the Florissant, seventy-four, which had been so roughly handled by Captain Tyrrel in the Buckingham, was by the French hauled into the carenage behind the fortifications. A frigate escaped in the night, running through the transports: she was chased by his Majesty's ship Winchester, but outsailed her. Next day, the Bristol, Captain Leslie, and Rippon, Captain Jekyl, attacked Fort Negro, which was soon silenced and taken possession of by a detachment of seamen and marines, who entered the fort through the embrasures with fixed bayonets, the enemy flying before them. The British colours were immediately hoisted, and a detachment ordered to keep possession of Smollett, vol. xiv. pp. 129. 132. 448. Memoirs of Sir John Moore, Bart., Naval Chronicle, vol. iii. p. 438. the battery. The Winchester, Captain Le Cras; Woolwich, Captain P. Parker; and Roebuck, Captain Lynn, were sent to reduce the battery of "Cas des Navires," which they soon effected. The French, perceiving the whole British squadron and all the transports already within the bay, and Fort Negro occupied by the marines, retired to Port Royal, leaving the beach open so that the troops were landed at four P.M. without opposition, and being formed, advanced into the country towards Fort Negro, where they lay all night upon their arms, considerably annoyed, during the night, by musketry. The next morning, some field pieces scoured the woods, and the troops advanced to Morne Tortueson, which overlooks the town and citadel. This eminence, the most important post in the island, was neglected by the French general, who had also resolved to blow up the fortifications of the citadel, but had not prepared materials for the operation. Some of the inferior officers, knowing the importance of Morne Tortueson, resolved to defend that post, but they were entirely unprovided with cannon. About two P.M. General Hopson thought proper to desist from attempting to carry it, after losing about seventy men in killed and wounded. He also gave Commodore Moore to understand, that unless the squadron would supply him with heavy cannon, landed near the town of Port Royal, or assist him in attacking the citadel by sea, that he could not maintain his ground. Both these expedients being deemed impracticable by a council of war, at which Commodore Moore did not assist, but sent word to the general, that he would land the cannon at Fort Negro, and that the seamen should draw them to any place he should think proper, without any assistance from the troops. The troops were recalled from the advanced posts, and reembarked in the evening without molestation. The inhabitants of Martinico were thus delivered from all their fears, at the time the principal individuals had resigned all thought of further resistance, and were assembled in the public hall to send deputies to the English general, with proposals of capitulation and surrender.' Smollett, vol. xiv. pp. 133, 134. 448. 1 Captain Gardiner, of the Marines, states, that the greater part of the inhabitants of our Leeward Islands wished the expedition might miscarry; 1. Because it interrupted their iniquitous trade with St. Eustatia, of transporting French sugars, their property, in Dutch bottoms; 2. Because many of them had plantations of their own in Martinico; and, 3. Be tional quantity of sugar in the English market would lower the price. J. J. a lieutenant in the navy, in his work relative to this event, published in 1759, says, "a ridge of inaccessible mountains runs N. W. and S. E. from one end of the island to the other. It is defended by strong and numerous garrisons of veteran regiments, under the directions of the |