СНАР. 1778. Orleans, on our right, and of Canada, on our left, and if seconded by the numerous tribes of "Indians in our rear, from one extremity to the "other, a people so friendly to her, and whom "she knows so well how to conciliate, would, it " is much to be apprehended, have it in her power "to give law to these States. I fancy that "I read in the countenances of some people on "this occasion more than the disinterested zeal of "allies. the whole, Sir, to waive upon every other consideration, I do not like to add "to the number of our national obligations. I "would wish as much as possible to avoid giving "a foreign power new claims of merit for services "performed to the United States, and would ask "no assistance that is not indispensable." * But The part that Washington took on this occasion did not disturb his cordial friendship with La Fayette. At this time the latter applied for and obtained permission to go home on leave of absence. His departure was delayed for several weeks by a severe illness, which, according to his own account, had been caused in great measure by his excesses in wine.t Nevertheless, he was able *To the President of the Congress, November 14. 1778. † "Ayant veillé, bu, et travaillé beaucoup à Philadelphie. .... Fété partout avec empressement il se fortifiait de vin, de "thé et de rhum, mais à Fishkill, huit milles du quartier général, il fallut ceder à la violence d'une maladie in"flammatoire." (Mémoires de ma main, Corresp., vol. i. p. 61. ed. 1837.) LVIII. 1778. to embark at Boston before the close of the year. CHA P. His reception by his countrymen was warm, almost enthusiastic. "On arriving at Court," says he, "I had the honour to be consulted by all the "Ministers, and, what is far better, embraced by "all the ladies!" Whatever his influence might be from his high connexions, or from his General's rank, it was exerted by him on behalf of his American friends. He zealously urged the Cabinet to send over the Atlantic both early and effective aid. * In the West Indies the intended attack on St. Lucia was made, and the island taken by the English. They likewise took St. Pierre and Miquelon, while, on the other hand, the Marquis de Bouillé, the French Governor of Martinico, made himself master of Dominica. But the newly kindled war between France and England was waged much nearer home. The command of the Channel fleet had been entrusted to Admiral Keppel; a choice that did honour both to him and to the Ministry, since Keppel, as a Member of Parliament, was a zealous opponent of Lord North. Under Keppel served Sir Hugh Palliser, like himself a good officer, but of dif ferent politics; one of the Lords of the Admiralty, * A Narrative, by the Hon. Colin Lindsay, of the occupation and defence of St. Lucia, will be found in the "Lives of the Lindsays" (vol. iii. pp. 330-356.), a most pleasant wellwritten book, in which the pride of ancestry is made subservient to the diffusion of knowledge. LVIII. CHAP. and of course, therefore, a supporter of Government in the House of Commons. When Keppel 1778. first arrived at Spithead, he found only six ships of the line ready for sea, but after the French Declaration of the 13th of March, there were the most active preparations in all the ports. The King himself repaired to Portsmouth to animate the officers, and held a levee on board the Prince George, the flag-ship of the Admiral. By unwearied exertion the number of ships of the line was within a few weeks increased to twenty. With this armament Keppel sailed from St. Helen's in the month of June. It was not long ere he fell in with two French frigates sent out to reconnaitre; the Licorne and the Belle Poule. In virtue of his full powers the Admiral decided on attacking them; thus, in fact, commencing the war. The Licorne he captured; the Belle Poule he drove to shore among the rocks. Next day, however, Keppel sailed away from the coast of France and retired into Portsmouth. For this sudden and, as it seemed, precipitate retreat he was greatly censured by the public. As he alleged, in vindication, the papers of the Licorne had shown him that anchorage was prepared in Brest harbour for no less than thirty-two ships of the linea force with which his own manifestly could not cope. It was answered that these papers might be fabricated on purpose to mislead him ; and that in any case he ought not to have given orders for retreat without first calling a Council of CHAP. War. In July the Admiral put to sea once more. His fleet had been reinforced, but was still inferior in numbers to the French, which, under Count D'Orvilliers, had already sailed from Brest. The two fleets met off Ushant, where, on the 27th of the month, there ensued an engagement of three hours. The result was not decisive. Several hundred men were killed or wounded, and several ships damaged on either side; and the combatants were separated by a squall of wind and by the approach of night. Admiral Keppel had both made signals and sent orders to Sir Hugh Palliser to come up and renew the conflict, but Sir Hugh, whose own ship had suffered greatly, could not obey him. In the night Count D'Orvilliers steered back to Brest, and next morning, Admiral Keppel, finding pursuit in vain, set sail for Plymouth. A nation like the British, long familiar with naval victory, could ill brook the news of a pitched battle, still less of an inglorious retreat. Keppel and Palisser finding themselves arraigned, began to cast blame upon each other. Sir Hugh commenced, far from discreetly, by publishing a vindication in the newspapers-a vindication which his chief, when required by letter, refused to confirm. The spark thus kindled was blown by the angry breath of partisans; each eager to claim and to support the Admiral of his own political opinions. No sooner had the two Houses met LVIII. 1778. 1778. CHAP. again in November, than the matter was keenly LVIII. discussed. It is a remarkable feature of these times that the leading Admirals and Generals of the war were also for the most part Members of Parliament. Thus, throughout the winter and the 1779. spring of 1779, we find not only Admiral Keppel and Sir Hugh Palliser, but also Lord and Sir William Howe and General Burgoyne, able themselves to allege their grievances or defend their conduct. In some of these cases there were Committees of Inquiry, and examinations of witnesses, but in none any clear or positive Parliamentary result. These altercations, in their full details, could not fail to interest, because they inflamed, the party-spirit of the day, but a slight sketch of them may well suffice for the information of a later age. Sir Hugh Palliser now brought forward charges against Keppel for misconduct and incapacity in the recent action. Upon these the Admiralty ordered a Court Martial. But as Keppel was now in an ill state of health, an Act of Parliament was proposed by the Opposition, and allowed to pass by the Ministry, enabling the Court Martial, contrary to the common rule of the service, to meet on shore. It did meet accordingly at Portsmouth. There Keppel was seen attended by many of his principal Opposition friends, as their Royal Highnesses of Gloucester and of Cumberland, the Duke of Richmond and the Marquis of Rockingham, Fox and Burke, and two young men, as yet un |