was, that he had a very great convoy to carry out, and another ftill more valuable to bring home: perhaps indeed this lat ter might be called the most valuable that had ever reached England; for it brought us home naval fupplies of all forts, fufficient for the exigencies of our whole navy for two years. He was free to confefs at the fame time, he did not think it would be a mark of very great prudence in government to ftation a fleet in the Texel; he had never indeed ferved in the north feas; but ftill was of opinion the Texel would be too dangerous a station for a fquadron. The uncertainty of the Latitude in which the Vice-Admiral might be met with, was the reason why the Samplon had not been sent to him directly: but he was fent to the Gunfleet, where the Admiral was acquainted by a frigate, which failed before the Samplon was ready, the might be found, if he fhould ftand in need of her. His Lordhip expreffed his fatisfaction that the Hon. Member had discovered his error with refpect to the Berwick; from that circumftance, however, he hoped gentlemen would learn not to truft much to the Hon. Member's affertions, as they had now a proof that he often made them without any grounds; and he flattered himfelf that they would require fufficient evidence for every affertion made: though evidence was a thing which the Hon. Member did not feem much inclined to with for; it was his worst enemy, as it detected in many inftances where he expected that his friends would swallow his affertions for proofs; they had now a very recent inftance, that if they did, they would be the dupes of their own creduli ty. did not intercept Adm. Byland, there was every reason to believe, from the zeal, activity, gallantry, and skill of that Commodore, that it was because the thing was impoffible. His Lordship concluded by obferving, that the committee was going to pronounce on the character of an old and faithful fervant of the crown; and as he trufted that in either acquitting or condemning him they would be swayed only by evidence, fo he trufted that they would find in the papers that had been read to them, ample evidence of the innocence, merit, and activity of the Earl of Sandwich. Mr Ald. Newnham blamed the admiralty for having so far given way to the merchants, as to fuffer their fhips to touch at Madeira; the failing of the convoy under Capt. Moutray toward that island, had been the ruin of many men of property in London. Lord Howe admitted the doctrine of Lord Mulgrave refpecting the frigates off Breft; he thought the intelligence procured from them very uncertain: but still they were always able to know, whether the enemy's fleets had failed or not. There were places at Jerfey, where good anchorage might be found, and safe riding. The Texel was dangerous, it was true; but ftill he was of opinion, that we might have had a naval force there; and he thought Com. Johnston might have been better employed there, than in failing for the Cape of Good Hope, at a feafon when there was little reafon to hope for fuccefs against that fettlement, He faw no good reason for fending reinforcements to the Weft Indies in large fquadrons and therefore he could not approve of keeping Sir G. Rodney waiting for a fquadron, unless he had fome fecret expedition to go upon in his way; but this was a fubject on which he did not afk a fingle queftion, because he As to the Hon. Commodore (Stewart), thought it would be improper to afk one to whom the Hon. Member had alluded, on that head. But, in general, two or his character did not ftand in need of his three ships might very well fail for the praife; and therefore it was unneceffary Weft Indies; and if Sir Samuel Hood had for him to fay, that he was a gallant and had only three or four more thips, he anable officer. If the ftation in which did not doubt but he would have defeathe had been placed by the admiralty had ed the French. His Lordship spoke in not appeared to him the most proper for very high terms of an officer, who, in an watching the Dutch, he would have re- engagement under Adm. Knowles, had monstrated against that ftation; and as been a lieutenant, and ftationed between he did not remonstrate against it, it was decks, and had been wounded from head flattering to the board that an officer of to foot by fplinters. We could not hear his fkill and judgement fhould approve of the officer's name, but believe it was cithe ftation. If, on the other hand, he ther Adm. Darby or Capt. Moutray. With regard to Adm. Kempenfelt's craife, nothing new came out; that fubject was fo much difcuffed before the holidays, that not any light was thrown upon it. Darby From From what he had as yet heard, his Lordship faid he would vote for the motion; but if he should hear any thing to alter his mind in the course of the debate, he was open to conviction, and would vote against the motion. MrWebb condemned the admiralty as ufual, but particularly with respect to fhip-building in merchant yards. He faid he was glad to find, that what he had faid before on the occafion, had produced a good effect; for now he found that contracts had been made in all the yards in the river; in one for a ship of 90 guns. There were a great many fhips on the ftocks; he had a lift of them in his hand; they amounted to thirty-five; but he believed not more than ten of them could be launched this war, were it to laft for seven years. The Royal Sovereign at Plymouth had been in her frame these feven years, and was now completely rotten. He would recommend it to the board to give fome expedition-money to builders, and they being enabled to employ more hands, and give better wages, would launch fhips in a very fhort time; by these means the Shrewsbury had been built and launched in fourteen months. A builder at Briftol had built with great dispatch a ship of 50 guns, and was promifed a contract for another of 64 guns; but when the former was completed, he could not obtain the contract for the fecond, though, on the promise of it, he had purchased 10,000l. worth of timber; and now the yard lay idle. Much had been faid about the high price Mr Wells had demanded; from what had been faid, he really had imagined that the price was exorbitant; how greatly therefore was he furprised to find it was no more than 2 s. and 6 d. per ton; the price for fhips of 74 guns being 171. 12 s. 6 d.; for thips of 64, 171. 10s. It had been faid, that the proud ftomach of MrWells had been brought down; but, in fact, it was the proud ftomach of the admiralty that had been brought down, by coming up within 2 s. 6 d. of Mr Wells's price. The navy was the only, at leaft the principal inftrument of our fafety; and as he found that it did not increase in the hands of the prefent First Lord of the Admiralty, he would vote for the motion. Several other members fpoke; and at half past two o'clock the committee divided; when there appeared, for the motion, 183; againft it, 205: majority in favour of Lord Sandwich's adminiftration, 23: Substance of the STATE PAPERS laid before the Houfe of Commons by the ADMIRALTY, in confequence of Mr Fox's motion for an inquiry into the caufes of the want of fuccefs of bis Majefty's Naval Forces during this war, and particularly in the year 1781, rieux Adm. Geary's inftructions, May 27.1780. Intelligence having been received, that the Terrible 110, Zele 741 Marieillois 741 Hardi 64, Lion 64, Sagittaire 50, Experiment so, are fitting out at Toulon with all expedition, to proceed under Count d'Estaing to Cadiz, to join five other French hips there, Glopion 74, Hero 74, and then, in conjunc 74, Bourgogne 74, Zodiaque 74, SciBreft, and join the fquadron at that port; tion with the Spanish fleet, to repair to Geary is directed to put to fea with 24 lineof-battle fhips then ready, with frigates and fire-fhips, and to take fuch ftation as he fhould judge moft proper for intercepting these fquadrons, making it his chief purpose to engage them separately, and to use his utmost endeavours to take or destroy them; to leave orders for the flips getting ready where to join him; to give every protection trade of his Majefty's fubjects, confiftent to the fafety of the kingdom, and to the with the great purpose of preventing the junction, and engaging the enemy's fleets icparately. Mr Stephens, Secretary to the Admiralty, in intelligence of the French equipments at a letter, July 27. 1780, Sends the Admiral Breft, that they are fending their ships fingly to Cadiz; he is therefore earnestly defired to keep the fea as long as poffible, and not to confine himself to his former ftation be tween Ufhant and Scilly, but to extend it more to the fouthward, according to.his own difcretion and judgement. In another letter, Aug. 2. 1780, fends further intelligence; urges the Admiral in the ftrongest manner not to come into port; that large quantities of beer and water would be fent him from Plymouth to fuch rendezvous as he should appoint; and that the Gibraltar 80, Valiant 74, and Flora 36, would have orders by next day's post to join him. Spanish fleets at Cadiz and Ferrol, and of the Straits of Gibraltar, under Cordova. Intelligence received from Jan. 14. to May 9. 1781. Jan. 14. 18 fail to go from Cadiz as far as the Canaries to meet Solano. Feb. 6. 28 of the line in Cadiz hay on Jan. 24. D'Eftaing failed from Cadiz to Bref with None of thefe at fea Gince Nov. 7. when the French fleet and 100 merchant ships; nor had any arrived at Cadiz, except 6 or 7 of thofe that went with D'Eftaing towards Cape Finisterre, and returned again in feven or eight days. Feb. 8. 26 thips under Cordova and Beauffer to join, with 9 from Toulon, . to fight the English going to Gibraltar. Feb. to May 9. Cordova faid to be joined by 9. Don Vincent Doz, with a ships, failed three of the line from Ferrol; reported to from Cadiz before Jan. 26. fuppofed to meet have returned to Cadiz March 14, and to Solano. Feb. 11. 24 fail Spanish and have failed again the 19th to meet the EngFrench ready to fail Jan. 12. ten of them lil March 23. 5 or 6 of his ships feen victualled for four months. Spanish at Ca-tanding for Cadiz, and the rest were to foldia 30 in all, very foul, seven not cleaned low; part came back March 27, to land thefe fix years. Feb. 22. D'Estaing to com- their sick, and were to return with 5 fhips mand the fleet of observation, upwards of more in fearch of the English. March 13. 4 hips; armed neutrality perhaps to join. Spanish fleet four leagues from Cadiz; no He was to harass the coats of England very doubt of a battle. Returned March 27. Puc violently during the whole campaign. Con- to fea again April 3. with 33 fail: morally trary winds had kept Don V. Doz in port: certain Cordova's orders were to wait for Adm. he was in conftant readiness, and was fup- Darby off the Straits mouth, and risk an enpofed only to be going to craife off the gagement. Were fill in Cadiz, April 5. Capes. March 3 6 fail of the line to come to fail again the with 34 of the line; would from Fenol, would make 39 at Cadiz. certainly attack the English Advices receiCordova, Feb. 2. in Cadiz road, with 37 ved May 7. dated, Lisbon, April 14. 33 Spanish aps; his frigates looking out for the Eng- hips, large and small, at anchor in Cadiz bay, With His fleet, with the French, to confift March 30. and had not been out fince; the of 36 of the line. Don V. Doz to meet the seft supposed gone for America-May 9. Corgalleons with ro fhips. Twenty fire-fhips dova fent into Lagos for refreshments March itted to burn the English fleet fhould it pafs 7. he had 32 fail, 24 of them fuppofed of the the Streights. March 5. Cordova, with 32 line; and not to mean an attack on the Engof the line and 10 frigates, failed Feb. 6. to lish, but only to protect the Havannah fleet; meet the English. March 12. Spanish fleet after cruising two months, had returned into and a Dutch so cruising fince Feb. 6. be- port for ten days, by order of the King. tween Capes St Vincent and Spartel. Bar- Darby's correfpondence from his failing to fee the celo, with 8 fhips and 18 other veffels, gaards the Streights. March 13. No fquaconvays at Corke off the coaft, and to relieve Gibraltar. drea ever went from Spain more complete, better provided, or under more pofitive orders to fight, than Cordova's, and was fta tioned between Capes St Mary and Spartel, as near as poffible to the Streights. Barcelo had been reinforced at Algefiras, and, befides gun-boats, had 15 or 16 fire-fhips. Gibraltar was fuppofed reduced to the last neceflity. If the English approach, there will be a moft bloody engagement. March 14 Eight hips had failed from Ferrol to Cadiz. March 15. Spanish fleet, 30 of the line, had failed to oppofe the relief of Gibaltar. March 17, 50 fail, 32 of them of the line, failed Feb. 5. from Cadiz; were off Lagos on the 9th and 17th. The Engi will pafs their time very ill, if they make their appearance. March 20. Had taken & victuallers for Gibraltar. March 23. Combined fleets of France and Spain had been out, 34 of the line, and had put back agale of wind. March 26. An engage ent was impatiently expected. March 27; The St Ferdinand, 80 guns, had returned to top a leak. March 31. The fleet bad taken a priveer and four veffels with proons for Gibraltar. April. Cordova fully determined to wait for the English fleet: there will certainly be an action. Had been Out March 19. but put back in a gale of wind. April 8. A fleet feen going to the fouthward, fuppofed to be British; Cordoa between Cape St Vincent and Cape St Marys, waiting for the English. April 12, in a lens, March 13. 1781. Then without St Helens. · Darby to Stephens, dated, Britannia, off St HeDitto to ditto, off Cape Clear, March 13. Contrary winds prevented the convoys coming out of Corke. On the 19th had ipoke with a Swede, who faid the combined fleets, 34 fail of the line, had been out, but had put back in a gale of wind Ditto to ditto, Cape Spartel, April 11. Had failed from Cape Clear with the convoy March 27-Ditto to ditto, April the 11th. Capt. Fielding, of the Minerva, 22. Had chafed three frigates into Cadiz on counted 33 large flips in Cadiz, 6 of them with flags, with a number of fmall fhips. the day before; there were 28 fail of the On the 16th, spoke with a flip from Cadiz line ready for fea; had been out 48 hours, and put back again; were rather fickly. Cadiz. Another fhip, on the 19th, out one Another fhip reported 34 fail of the line in day from Cadiz, reported 33 fail of the line, two of them three deckers, all ready for fea, but very fickly. Ditto to ditto, dated, St Helen's, May 11. On the 20th, a Swede re ported, that the Spanish fleet, after cruising three months, returned to Cadiz, April 6. whilft he was there, confilling of 33 fail of Cadiz April 20 no talk of their failing a the line, 6 frigates, and 3 cutters. He left gain: no French among them. Darby relieved Gibraltar April 12. and remained there till the 20th, and chased fome Spafrigates into Cadiz in fight of their whole fleet, ni St St Euftatius fleet. Rodney to Stephens, dated, Sandwich, St Euftatius, Feb. 12. 1781. The convoy to fail in a fhort time, will, I believe, be more valuable, confidering the number of fhips, than any that ever failed to Britain. The commanding officer fhall have orders to gain the latitude of the Lizard, at least zoo leagues weft from it, that if their Lordships think it neceffary to fend an additional fquadron for its protection, they may know its track. Ditto to ditto, March 6. Com. Hotham has taken charge of the convoy, and will fail the roth inftant at fartheft. Stephens to Darby, dated, May 10. 1781. Reafon to believe La Motte Piquet has orders to intercept our valuable fleets from St Euftatius and Jamaica, which are hourly expected; therefore their Lordships recommend it to you, to order eight fail of the line of battle, with frigates, to cruife on such station as you shall judge proper for their protection, and for falling in with Piquet. The officer commanding fuch detached fquadron to cruise for fourteen days, unlefs he fooner falls in with the homeward fleets or the enemy. Darby's inftructions, dated, Jan. 21. 1781. Jamaica convoy; and to prevent a junction between the French and Spanish fleets. Whereas the homeward-bound convoy from Jamaica was off Tory ifland the ft inftant, on its way round the north of Scot land, and as it is believed Piquet is ftill waiting for a large reinforcement of hips; you are directed to return immediately off Scilly, and cruise between those islands and the Lizard, until joined by eight ships, or fo many of them as will make up 18 fail of the line: you are then to proceed off Breft, and ufe your best endeavours to prevent the enemy getting out, or any others going in. Stephens to Darby, July 12. He was to confider the bringing Guichen to a battle as his principal object. Weft-India convoys 1781. Stephens to Capt. Byron of the Proferpine, March 21. 1781. Inftructed to cruise 200 leagues weftward of the Lizard, to look out diligently for the homeward-bound Jamaica and Leeward-lfland fleets. The Jamaica was to have failed Feb. 15. under convoy of 5 King's fhips under jury mafts; that if the enemy was cruifing to intercept them, he was to keep to the westward of the enemy. Inftructions fent by the Proferpine and June to the commanding officer of the Leeward-Inland convy, dated March 21. That Adm. Darby had failed the 13th to relieve Gibraltar; therefore, left the enemy fhould fend a fquadron from Breft, he was to go north about. French Squadron under Piquet. Intelligence received from April 2. to May 11. 1781.—April a. At Breft, "March 31. or ders to fit out 6 fhips of the line. April 6. Piquet to go in the Invincible 1 to guns, with Bien Aime 74, Actif 74, Alexandre 64, Hardi 64, Lion 64. April 11. Not going a long voyage. On March 24. 6 fail in Breft road ready for fea; 15 more fitting; Piquet to command the whole. April 12. The 6 of the line would be ready about the 8th of this month; Piquet to command; fuppofed for the Texel to join the Dutch. April 24. Piquet arrived at Breft the 11th, to fail in a few days; imbarked 16 Dutch coafting-pilots. May 1. Piquet in Brest road April 18. only waited his final orders. May 7. Sailed April 25. into the road, and put to fea next day, with 20 Dutch hips under convoy. May 9. No more than two months provision on board; his fervice would not be of long duration. May 11. Piquet's final inftructions arrived at Brest April 25. in the morning, and at noon he was under way, with 6 of the line, 2 frigates, and 2 cutters *. Jamaica fleet, 1781. Sir P. Parker to Stephens, March 16. 1781. The first divifion of the homeward-bound trade failed this morning; the rest are to proceed to-morrow.-Ditto to ditto, July 2. The Albion, Princess Royal, Ruby, and Janus, are to fail with the homeward-bound trade to-morrow; the Ramillies and Licorne are to accompany them, with a frigate to look into the Cape.Ditto to ditto, Port Royal, July 27. Capt. Bowyer, with his Majefty's ships and the convoy, returned fafe to this port the aft and 22d inftant, in confequence of the French fleet arriving at the Cape on the 16th or 17th. -Bowyer to Stephens, Downs, Nov. 15. 1781. Informs their Lordships of his arrival in the Albion, and part of the Jamaica convoy. They failed, Aug. 19. 20. and 21. from Jámaica. De Graffe's fquadron. ved from Feb. 9. 10 April 24. 1781. Orders arIntelligence of its equipment and failing, receirived at Breft Jan. 26. to haften a squadron of 19 fhips of the line, for M. de la Touche Treville, deftined for America. Feb. 10. Piquet not to command, but Treville; the number to be as of the line. Feb. 17. By the end of the month 10 fail would be ready; great difpatch alfo at Rochfort: 4 of the line in ten days to fail from L'Orient for the East Indies. The troops to reinforce Rochambeau to be ready the middle of March, and would go with a large fquadron. Feb. 1. Treville made Lieutenant-General of the Marine; was to take leave of the court the 4. and fet out for Breft. Lift of as fail repeated; 4 of them for the East Indies. Feb. 17. De Graile named to command the fleet for America; he took leave of the King the 18th. March 12. *Piquet took the Euftatia fleet May 2. about 40 leagues from the Lizard. Marquis Marquis de Caftries was going to Breft to give orders relative to the failing of the fleet. De Graffe arrived at Breft Feb. 25. His fleet 25 fail; his own ship the Ville de Paris. March 16. Was to have been in Brest road the 7. Certainly for the Weft Indies. Match 17. Lift of 26 fail to go with De Graffe. March 20. 6 or 7000 men were to embark; departure, March 18. or 19. if wind would permit; 20 fail were copper fheathed; Languedoc, Czlar, Marseillois, Vaillant, Sagittaire, theath ed with wood; and Magnanime unfheathed. March 31. On the 13. all officers, both fea and land, on board, to fail the 20th at fartheft; in all aso fail of merchant ships, 21 of the line for Martinique, and 6 for the ifles of France and Bourbon. 3000 troops for the ifle of France, 9000 for Rochambeau in America. No certain account of the fleet having failed the 23d. April 2. On March a. at eleven at night, fleet not failed, but the wind was coming fair,and they were preparing to fail next day. April 6. M. de Cafiries returned to Versailles March 27. having had the fatisfaction to fee the fleet fail on the aid, wind at N. E.; it was out of fight next morning. April 21. On March 27. a cutter came back from the Count de Graffe, April 14. Intelligence, dated the 12th, from Guernfy. A matter of a fhip put in there, had, March 19. feen the French fleet, 140 fail, feering W. S. W. lat. 40. 48. long. 12. Weft India operations. De Graffe's fleet. Stephens to Rodney, March 30. 1781. Men tions his former letters of a Breft fleet fitting for the West Indies; that the account of Capt. Linzee (John) of the Santa Monica was erroneous; the fleet he faw off Cape Finifterre, fuppofed for the West Indies, being no other than part of D'Estaing's fleet from Cadiz to Breft. The fleet long preparing at Breft faid to be 15 or 26 fail, and to fail the 18th or 19th of the prefent month under De Graffe; 5 or 6 of them for the Eaft Indies; the other ao for the Leeward Inlands or Rhode Island. Inclofes lifts of the ships and ftrength. The 3600 troops for Mauri tius, and 9000 for Rochambeau in America. -Ditto to ditto March 31. No certain accounts of De Graffe's failing: the wind has been contrary the 18th and 19th, but had come fair, March 20. De Graffe was to have 300 fail under convoy; the largest and richest fleet France had ever feen. There was reafon to believe De Graffe had failed the 10th. Lift of De Graffe's fleet zo of the line: and the Victoir 74, Solitaire 64, Reflechi 64, Caton 64, Experiment so, Galatea 32, Confante 31, joined De Graffe from Fort Royal bay, Martinique, during the engagement between De Graffe and Hood off Point Salines; De Graffe's 24 of the line, Hood only 18. Hood's letter fays, that De Graffe, with whom the option of diftance lay, preferred that of the long fhot. De Guichen's Squadron, being the French divifion of the combined fleet. Intelligence of its equipment in May and June 1781, and of his failing from Breft to Cadiz, received from May 15. to July 21.May 15. On the ad they were working at Breft without intermiffion. May 19. 4000 men preparing to embark; deftination not known; two and a half millions [about 110,000 l. Sterling] in gold arrived. May 23. fleet will be ready on June 20. May 31. Spanish fquadron of 31 fhips to join that of Breft, confifting of 21 fhips; D'Eftaign to command. June 4. 16 fail ready; fome to join from Rochfort; to proceed to Ferrol and Cadiz to join the Spanish fleet: Dutch also to join. Piquet has got fafe into Breft with all his prizes. June 11. M. de Beauffet ordered to Breft. The Bretagne to be Guichen's ship: he is to be commander in chief. June 16. Guichen's fleet to be ready the 20th, the Actif will be repaired in ten days: fhips in the road, 12; ready in the inner road, 5; with yards and topmafts down, 4; in dock, Actif and two others; in all 24. June 18. Guichen will fail with 21 hips; Piquet to command the van. The plan, to infest the English commerce, to avoid an engagement. The thips of France and Spain in bad condition, only fit for fhort fummer-cruifes. June 22. Guichen had orders to proceed to Vigo on the 15th or 20th. June 23. Piquet, Beauf fet, and Vaudreuil, are to command under him. June 30. Guichen was ready the rgth; but his orders not being fufficiently explicit, he fent to Verfailles for an explanation. There are 20 of the line in the road; 3 are come from Rochefort, and 1 from Cadiz; he was to fail with 18 on the 2oth, ill manned and fitted. July 2. The Spanish grand fleet returned to Cadiz June 8. The French put to fea between June 20. and 25. July 318 of the line failed June 20. but put back in the afternoon; were to fail the next day, and to be joined with 3 from Rochfort, and then to join the Spanish fleet off Ferrol. July 4 Guichen with 22 fhips to join the Spanish fleet; Piquet, with to French and s Spanish, to feparate for a fecret expedition, fuppofed for Minorca. English fleet feen June 16. weft of Scilly. July 7. Guichen failed from Breft, June 23. in the morning, with a fair wind; force 18 to 22 fail of the line, faid to be for Ferrol or Cadiz. July 21. Guichen has no orders to attack any of the English ports: fleet ill manned; had 600 raw foldiers for want of feamen. Intelligente of the combined Flects. 74 guns. This was the hip which the Nonfuch of 64, Sir James Wallace, engaged on May 14, and 15. She was of Piquet's fquadron, returning to Brest, after taking the Euftatia fleet. [vol. 43. P. 319-] gay |