Rooke re Sir George before in the Latitude of forty five Degrees, Cape Finisterre then ceives Advice bearing South, distant about forty Leagues, he met with a Fleet of of the French French Ships of War, being in all forty Sail, thirty four of them Ships. A great want of cruising Fri gates. The Lime count of the from fifty to eighty Guns, as nigh as he could judge, and that they were then steering away N. N. E. with the Wind W. N. W. four of them Flag Ships, viz. the Vice and Rear-Admirals of the White, and Vice and Rear-Admirals of the Blue. The Admiral was in great want of cruifing Frigates for Intelligence, infomuch that the French Scouts and Privateers made their Obfervations without Interruption; and by reafon of small Gales Southerly, our Fleet was kept on the Coast of England until the twelfth. The Night before the Lime came in, which Ship the Admiral had brings an Ac- left to cruife about the Streights, her Captain having received AdFrench Ships Vice the fecond of April from the English Conful at Malaga, that coming thro the French Fleet were feen off of Almeria Bay the twenty eighth the Streights. of the preceding Month; and the ninth of April he was farther The Fleet com fhant. informed that they were plying Weftward off of Cape de Gates, and that eight of their beft Sailers were got as low as Motril. Three Days after, by the help of a ftrong Levant, he got through the Streights, when lying off of Cape Spartell to oblerve their Motion, about Three in the Afternoon he made four of them coming down the Barbary Shore, which giving him chafe, they forced him the next Day into the Bay of Cadiz, where he had Advice the fixteenth, by an Express from Gibraltar, that the Enemy were at an Anchor off of that Place. The twenty firft he plied up to his Station off of Cape Spartell, and faw near fifty Sail coming down under the Land before the Wind, but five of them making towards him, he could not discover the Body of the Fleet again until next Morning about Ten, when they were between the Bay of Lagos and Cape St. Vincent, going away large with a preft Sail, the Wind at E. S. E. The fourteenth of May, in the Morning, our Fleet came on the ing off of U Coast of Ushant, and then a Squadron of Ships, with finall Vessels, were fent under the Command of Captain Bazil Beaumont between that and the Main for Intelligence. Without any Resistance he stood in to Camaret and Bertheaume Bays, and faw as much in Broad Sound as it was poffible to do without paffing their Forts, counting twenty two Sail, feventeen or eighteen of which he judged were Ships of the Line of Battel, and eight or nine of them with three Decks, with four Flags, viz. Admiral, and Vice, Rear-Admiral of White and Blue, and Rear-Admiral of the White, which, according to the Opinion of the Pilots, were all the Ships of Force they had there: But by the Captain of a French Man of War, called the ceived of the Foudroyant, taken by Captain Norris, the Admiral was informed being got into the Thoulon Fleet got into Breft the fifth, Old Style, and that they were forty feven Ships of the Line, four others being obliged to return to Thoulon, by reafon of the Damage they received before they paffed the Streights. This Prize had not been at Sea, but was now going to join Monfieur Chafteau Renault's Squadron, one of which he took Captain Norris's Ship to be, their Station Advice re French Ships Breft. b.ing, as he said, about S. W. and by W. forty eight Leagues from. Scilly, in Number two Ships with three Decks, two of feventy Guns, two of fixty, and two of about thirty; but by the Account given by Captain Fitz Patrick, it was judged that even this Squadrou was feen going into Breft, fome whereof he had certainly engaged with, had they not retired upon discovering other of our Ships advancing towards them. War resolve to Upon the fift Account given by Captain Beaumont, a Council of 4 Council of War of all the Flag Officers was called, and fince it appeared uncer- continue in tain whether or no the Thoulon Flect was got into Breft, it was re- the Station. folved to continue in the appointed Rendezvous as long as the Winds hung Easterly, in Expectation of the Ships ordered to reinforce the Fleet, and in the mean time to endeavour to gain farther Intelligence, by taking People from the Shore, and fending a finall Frigate, with an Advice Boat to Belle Ifle, to discover whether any Part of the French Fleet was there. But upon the aforemention'd Account, received afterwards from Captain Fitz Patrick, and what was reported by fome Perfons taken from the Shore, it was judged there was no room to doubt of the Thoulon Fleet, and Monfieur Nefmond's Squadrons being in Breft; fo that the Flag-Officers were it is aftercalled together again the eighteenth, when they refolved to lie as wards deser near the Rendezvous as poffible, while the Winds hung Northerly or Efterly; but upon the first thift Southerly, or Wefterly, to re- bay with the firft Southerly pair to Torbay, as the Lords of the Admiralty had directed by their or Wefterly Orders of the twenty ninth of the laft Month. mined to come to Tor Wind. join the Fleet. comes to Tor bay. The next Day Vice Admiral Everton, with twelve Dutch Men several of War, joined the A Imiral, together with an English Fourth Rate, Dutch and the Sunderland, and the Fortune Fire'hip, as Vice-Admiral Aylmer English Ships alfo did in the Elizabeth, with the Newark and Mary, and between thirty and forty Sail more, among which were the BombVeffels and Tenders: But, according to what was determined, the Fleet came to Torbay the twenty third, feveral Cruifers being fta- The Fleet tioned between Ubant and the Ifle of Bas, the Start and Ufhant, and of of the Lizard. At this time the whole Naval Strength was one hundred and fifteen Ships and Vessels, fixty seven of them English, and forty eight Dutch, whereof eighty five were of the Line of Battel, of which forty nine were English, viz. fix First Rates, eight Seconds, twenty eight Thirds, and feven Fourths. Of the Dutch there were thirty fix, eight of which carried ninery Guns, fourteen between feventy and leventy four, eleven of fixty four, and three of about fifty; but feveral of their Companies were very fickly, especially thofe which came from the Streights, infomuch that there wanted full four thousand Men in ours; nor was there any great Prospect of their fudden Recovery, fince the little Villages thereabouts were not capable of receiving many. Sir George at the Admi and John Lord Berkeley to command the Fleet. CHA P. XIX. John Lord Berkeley's Proceedings with the Fleet in and about the Chanel, and of feveral Attempts made on the French Coast, &c. T HE twenty feventh of May Sir George Rooke was ordered to return to his Duty at the Admiralty-Board, and to leave the ed to his Duty Command of the Fleet to the Lord Berkeley, who was appointed ralty Board, Admiral thereof; but before he came on fhore, he had Advice from Commiffioner St. Loe at Plimouth that one of our Advice-Boats, the Mercury, had counted a little above Camaret Bay seventy Sail of French Men of War, all ready to come to Sea, with four Flags flying, three whereof Blue and one White, and in the Bay itself five fmall Ships more; which Account he communicated to the Lords of the Admiralty. Being come to Town, he made the following Propofal to the Duke of Shrewsbury, Principal Secretary of State; "That the Body of the Fleet should lie in Camaret and Bertheaume " Bays, and a Detachment be made to sustain the fmall Frigates and Bomb-Veffels, while they went in to do what Mischief they could. "It was his Opinion that by thus blocking up the Enemy's Fleet in the French at their principal Port, infulting their Coafts, and burning their Towns "at the fame time, it would expofe them to the World, make them "very uneafy at home, and give Reputation to his Majesty's Arms; "and this he believed might be done, if fpeedily undertaken, with "the Affiftance of fome fmall Frigates, which were much wanted. A Propofal made by Sir George Rooke for attempting Camaret. The Lord Berkeley arriving in Torbay the third of June, he immediately betook himself to the Dispatch of all things neceffary; A Council of and fince a Council of War, both of English and Dutch Flag-OffiWar think it cers, thought it not practicable to attempt the French in the Harnot practica- bour of Breft, he was ordered to confult with them how the Fleet the French in might be beft employed the remaining part of the Summer. ble to attempt Breft Harbour. It was agreed, if the French difarmed not, to proceed to the Coaft of France for the Space of fourteeen or fifteen Days, for that thereby if they had not an Opportunity of destroying fome of their Shipping, yet it might very much alarm them, and occafion the weakening their Armies by keeping up their Militia, and standing Forces. It was alfo determined, that upon notice of their fending any Squadrons to moleft our Trade, an equal Strength fhould be detached to oppose them, and that when the French difarmed their Ships, it would be convenient to divide ours, fome to bombard their Towns, and others on neceffary Services: but yet that the whole should be fo difpofed of as that they might unite upon any emergent Occafion. On the fixteenth a Council of War was called, upon the Receipt of Orders from the Lords of the Admiralty, touching the Fleet's ly theaume and ing in Bertheaume and Camaret Bays, and a Squadron's being fent with the Bomb-Veffels to destroy fome of the French Towns; and though it was judged that the Fleet could not ride in either of those Bays out of Bomb-fhot, yet was it refolved to fail, when Weather 4 Resolution would permit, and look thereinto, and endeavour to destroy what to fail to BerShips they might meet with there. Accordingly the Admiral turn'd Camaret it up as high as Dartmouth, but the Tide of Ebb being spent, and Bays. it blowing hard at W. S. W. he was constrained to repair to Torbay, and the next Day, being the nineteenth, the Dutch Admiral had Orders from his Majefty to fend to Holland eight Ships of the Line Eight Dutch of Battel. Line of Battel- The Weather being fair, and the Fleet failing the twenty fourth home. of June, with the Wind at N. N. W. they had the good Fortune to get out of the Chanel, and in Broad Sound one of our Ships took a French Privateer which came from Breft fourteen Days before. The Prisoners faid all the great Ships were up in the River; that Advice receithere were about thirty Sail in Breft-Water, cleaned, and going ting out two ved of the fitout in two Squadrons, one under the Command of Monfieur Cha- Squadrons at teau Renault, and the other with Monfieur Nefmond; whereupon Breft for Monfieurs it was determined to fail with the Fleet to Belle Ifle, and from Chateau Rethence to fend ten Ships to protect the Bombardment of St. Mar. nault and tin's and Olonne. Neimond. chors off of Ile, and other The fourth of July the Fleet anchored about two Leagues from The Fleet anBelle 1fle, fome of our Men having been landed before at Grouais, Belle le, and where they burnt moft part of the Villages, and killed and brought did mischief off many Cattel without any Refiftance, for the People had deferted ar Grouais the Island. A little before the Fleet came to an Anchor, all the Places. Barges and Pinnaces were fent to Houat, one of the Islands called the Cardinals, where the Men landed, and brought off about three hundred Head of Cattel. Next Day the Kent, Boyne, and Torbay, with two Dutch Ships of War, and all the Long-Boats of the Admiral's Divifion, were fent to Grouais, and about feven hundred Soldiers and Marines landing there, they finished what had been begun, by burning almoft twenty Villages. The Boats employed againft Houat were ordered on the like Service against Heydic; fo that, upon a modest Computation, there were deftroyed about twenty Veffels, and thirteen hundred Houses; and near fixteen hundred Head of black Cattel and Horfes were killed. Upon the Ifland Grouais there were not any Fortifications, but on each of the Cardinals there was a Fort, with a deep Ditch and a double Wall, to which the Inhabitants, with fome Soldiers, retired. These Services being performed, the Admiral had thoughts of landing on Belle Ifle; but fince there were but two hundred and forty of Colonel Norcott's The reason Men, (the rest being gone with the Bomb-Veffels) it was not judged ed not at Belle advifeable; for the Enemy had there twenty five Companies of the e. Regiment of Picardy, befides three thousand Iflanders, who could carry Arms. Thus ended these little Enterprizes, and a Council of War determined that the Fleet should stay off Belle Ifle five Days longer, to cover the Ships at the Ifle of Rhe, and then proceed off of Ubant, Aaaa 2 the why we land the faid Ships, with the Bomb-Veffels, having very much damaged Damage done the Towns of St. Martin's and Olonne ; which leaving on fire, afto St. Martin's ter having expended almost two thousand Bombs and Carcasses, they and Olonne. join'd the Fleet. On the nineteenth Captain Beaumont met with a Ship from LisMonfieur Nef bon bound to the Downs, whofe Mafter informed him that four mond feen at Days before he fell in with a Squadron of nine Sail, commanded by Sea by a Mer- Monfieur Nefmond, in the Latitude of 46, about eighty Leagues chant Ship. from the Northward Cape; that he was on board the Commadore, and understood they had not been above four Days from Breft, being bound off of Cape St. Vincent to look for the Spanish Weft-India Ships. The Fleet being now in great want of moft Species of Provifions, the Admiral judged it abfolutely neceffary to move Eastward, left what they had yet remaining fhould fpend faster than they could be fupplied, but more especially if the victualling Ships expected from Portsmouth happen'd to be detained by Wefterly Winds; and having made a hard fhift to victual ten third Rates, two Fourths, Vice-Admiral and two Firefhips, he put them under the Command of Vice-AdmiMitchell or- ral Mitchell, whom he ordered to cruise in the Soundings for proSoundings tecting the feveral Trades expected home. dered into the with a Squadron. by reason of So many of the Dutch were withdrawn, that there remained but The Body of eleven, feven whereof were to be part of the Western Convoy; and the Fleet very by these Detachments the Body of the Fleet was fo very inconfideinconfiderable rable, that when the Convoys of both Nations came to Torbay, AdDetachments. miral Allemonde was forced to go with his own Ship, in Company of others particularly appointed, to fecure them well into the Sea; and it was render'd yet weaker, by Sir Cloudefly Shovell's being ordered by the Lords of the Admiralty with five Ships to Spithead; Lord Berke- infomuch that the Admiral foon after received Orders to repair thiley arrives at Spithead. ther alfo, where he arrived the thirtieth, with fix First Rates, as many Seconds, and four Thirds, together with four Fireflips, and some small Veffels, from whence he came to Town; but before he left Torbay the Portland brought in a Sloop of the Enemy's, whofe Commander gave his Lordship an Account that Monfieur Chateau Renault failed from Breft about fifteen Days before (on what Denault's being fign he knew not) with fixteen Men of War, and two Fireships, which were victualled for five Months. Advice of at Sea. An Account of Vice Ad miral Mitchell's Pro And now the Service of the main Fleet in a Body being over for this Year, it remains that I give fome Account of Vice-Admiral Mitchell's Proceedings in the Soundings, who chafing on the fixteenth of Auguft three Ships which stood Eastward, which he judged to be Privateers, there happened on a fudden a violent Storm of ceedings in the Wind and Rain which blew away every Ship's Mainfail that was Soundings. fet; the Torbay's Fore-top-maft came by the Board, although there was not a Knot of Sail on it, and the Reftauration, a Third Rate, was fo difabled, that fhe was forced to go to Spithead, having fprung her Bowfprit, broke her Mainyard, and her Main and Mizentop-mast. The |