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he presided at the admiralty; and, so great were his fears of incurring this censure, that although sufficient grounds existed (which, by subsequent failures, have been too fatally confirmed) for the removal of some very improper appointments, yet he did not take advantage of his power, but continued those men in office and situations, much to the disadvantage and discredit of the country. It may also be asserted, with truth, that during his administration, mutual confidence, harmony, and satisfaction, were, in a considerable degree, restored to the

navy.

To all those points of service, (on which we have endeavoured to render lord Melville every credit) the talents of the new first lord of the admiralty were perfectly competent; and his indefatigable turn for business, enabled him to apply them with ease to himself, and satisfaction to others. But here his merits end. Far other qualities did it require, than he was known to possess, to wield the power of the British fleets, and direct their thunder in awful vengeance against the ene my. The few warlike events we have to detail, which took place under his direction, shew him to have been manifestly incapable of conducting a naval war. They exhibit as much deficiency in judgment and imbecility in execution, in the inilitary department of his office, as he was intelligent and vigorous in its civil branch: and another inactive and inglorious year sunk the British nation in her own eyes, and in those of Europe.

On the 16th of May, an unsuccessful attempt was made by com

modore sir Sydney Smith, in the Antelope frigate, and some sloops of war, to prevent the junction of the enemy's flotilla from Flushing with that at Ostend. The failure of saccess principally arose from the want of gun-boats, which, from the depth of water in which these vessels move, could alone act against the enemy with effect. Fifty-nine sail of the Flushing division reached Ostend in safety, and the English force, on the falling of the tide, were obliged to haul off into deep water, after being nearly a whole day engaged, and the loss of about fifty men in killed and wounded*.

Intelligence of a far more flattering nature was received by Government on the 22d of June, in dispatches from the commander-inchief of the land and sea service in the Leeward Islands, announcing the capture of the Dutch colony of Surinam, with very little loss on the part of his majesty's troops. This expedition sailed from Barbadoes, under the command of Major-general Sir Charles Green, and Comnodore Samuel Hood, who hoisted his broad pendant on board the Centaur. On the 25th following, the squadron came to anchor about ten miles off the mouth of the river Surinam. On the next day a corps of 600 men, under the command of brigadier general Maitland, was detached to effect a landing at the Warappa creek, about ten leagues to the eastward of the Surinam river, where the enemy occupied a post. The same day brigadier-general Hughes, with the 64th regiment, took possession of Braam's Point, after some slight resistance from the fort which defends the entrance of the river Su

* Vide "Appendix," page 540.

rinam, and on that and the following day the greater part of the fleet anchored in the river. The Dutch governor being now summoned, after some short delay, refused to capitulate. On the 29th it was determined to send two hundred soldiers and seamen, under brigadier-general Hughes, to try for a practicable rout through the woods, to come in the rear of the forts Leyden and Frederici, which formidable defences of the river it was considered unadvisable to attack in front. Accordingly, about eleven at night, this force landed at Resolution Plantation, and pro. ceeded, led by negro guides. After a most laborious march of nearly five hours, by paths always difficult, but then almost impassable, in consequence of the great quantity of rain which had fallen, the detachment arrived in the rear of the Frederici battery, which was immediately assaulted and taken, the enemy fiying to Fort Leyden, first setting fire to the powder magazine, by which a few British oflicers and men were severely wounded. A repetition of the same gallantry at Fort Leyden was attended with similar success. The success of brigradier-general Maitland's division, in effecting a landing at the Warappa Creek, was equally complete. By these operations the junction between the latter corps and the main army could always be effected, and the command of the finest part of the colony was secured. On the 3d of May, brigadier-general Maitland, having overcome every obstacle, came up the Commewine River, and was reinforced by a detachment from the main body. On the next day he advanced through a wood, and approached fort New Amsterdam,

situated on the confluence of the Surinam and Commewine Rivers, and defended by eighty pieces of ordnance, but which formed the last defence of the settlement. When on the point of investing the fortress on every side, a flag of truce arrived from the commander-in-chief of the Batavian troops, with proposals to surrender on terms of capitulation, which, after some modifications, were agreed to, and Fort New Amsterdam was taken possession of the same evening, and with it the whole of the colony, of which, general Green writes, "the inhabitants seemed greatly to rejoice at the event which had taken place restoring them to the powerful protection of the British government, and the solid advantages arising therefrom.”

On this occasion there likewise fell into the hands of the captors, the Proserpine frigate, of 32 guns, and the Pylades sloop of war of 18; the quantity of ammunition, ordnance, and stores taken, was im mense. The loss of the English force on this occasion, did not amount in killed and wounded to more than sixty men, whilst the prisoners taken, (navy included) exclusive of staff and departments, exceeded two thousand. In this affair, the only conquest Britain had to boast over the enemy within the year, the valour and perseverance of her soldiers and sailors, were eminently conspicuous*.

In the month of August an attempt was made on that part of the French flotilla, which lay at anchor in the road of Boulogne, by captain Owen, of the Immortalité frigate, and the sloops of war and cutters under his command, but with sleu

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der success *. And on the 24th of July, and 2d of August, captain Oliver, of the Melpomene, was equally unfortunate in his attempt upon the enemy's vessels in Havre Pier; some damage, however, was done to the town, by the shells and carcases thrown into it on that occasion +.

Dance, who acted as commodore, dated the 6th of August in the present year, to the court of directors of the East India company, announced his defeat of the French squadron, which had lain in wait for him, and doubtless considered him an easy and certain prey. On the 5th of February, the fleet under his command, as senior captain, consisting of fifteen company's ships from China, twelve country ships, a Portuguese East Indiaman, and a fast sailing brig, (destined to execute the orders of the commodore till he had passed he Streights of Malacca,) passed Macao Roads, on the night of the 5th of February, when the Portuguese vessel, and one of the company's ships, the Rolla, parted company and never joined the fleet again.

We have already adverted to the unfortunate circumstance of the French admiral having escaped from the roads of Pondicherry, in consequence of the English commander ip-chief, admiral Rainier, being ignorant of hostilities having commenced. Since that period admiral Linois had carried on a predatory warfare against the English commerce and possessions in that part of the globe, to a considerable extent. Not only had he, in the Marengo line of battle ship, of 84 guns, and some frigates, captured several of the East India Company's ships, and others of the private trade, but he had also made a successful descent on Fort Marlbo. rough (Bencoolen) and plundered the settlement. Flushed with his uninterrupted success, and in consequence of a pre-concerted project of the French government, he now determined on a bolder game. About the beginning of this year he cruized with his whole force in the Indian Seas, near the entrance of the Streights of Molacca, with an intention of capturing or destroying, at a single blow, the whole of the homeward-bound China fleet. In this measure, sufficiently well concerted, were his courage equal to his views, severe indeed would have been the consequence to Great Britain. An official letter from captain the challenge. At one in the after

On the 14th the signal was made by the headmost ship, of four strange sail in the south-west, which, upon reconnoitring, were perceived to be an enemy's squadron, consisting of a line of battle ship, three frigates, and a brig. The signal was immediately made, by the intrepid commodore, for his fleet to form a line of battle in close order. At sun-set the enemy was close up with the rear of the company's ships, and an immediate action was supposed inevitable. The country ships were then placed by the com modore on the lee-bow, for their more perfect protection. At day. break on the 15th, the enemy was three miles to windward, lying-to; at this moment both fleets hoisted their respective colours, when the French displayed a rear-admiral's flag, and battle was offered to him by the English, if he chose to accept

Vide Appendix, p. 548.

† Appendix, p. 519, 50,

noon,

noon, commodore Dance, not wish ing to wait an attack, and fearful that his rear might be cut off, executed a bold and gallant manœuvre, which decided the fate of the day. He made the signal to tack and bear down on the French line, and engage them in succession. This order being correctly performed, the company's fleet bore down upon the enemy, under a press of sail. admiral Linois then closed his line, and opened his fire upon the headmost of the English ships, which was not returned by them till a nearer approach, but before the three leading ships of the latter could get well into action, the enemy's squadron hauled their wind, and stood away to the eastward under all the sail they could set. At two the commodore made the signal for a general chase, and pursued his dastardly antagonists for two hours. Thus did the intrepid valour of a handful of British merchant ships, and the gallantry and presence of mind of cap. tain Dance, of the East India company's service, bring to action and put to flight, a French admiral, commanding ships of war superior in force and in men, to the indelible disgrace of the French navy, and the immortal honour of the British name. Nor should it be forgotten that the property, so rescued from the insatiate gripe of France, was estimated at a million and a half stirling! On the arrival of commodore Dance in England with his fleet, rewards were distributed with an unsparing hand, by the East India company, to the various commanders and their brave crews; the wounded and the representatives of the few killed in the

action were nobly remunerated; and, to crown the whole, the gallant captain (now sir Nathaniel) Dance, received the honour of knighthood at his majesty's hands.*

Towards the latter end of the year a great proportion of the enemy's flotilla having assembled in safety and in considerable force at Boulogne, the alarm of invasion universally prevailed. It was at this period, that a project for its destruction was set on foot, of the success of which the greatest hopes were entertained, as it was well known, that Mr. Pitt and the first lord of the admiralty had given it their entire approbation, and that the partizans of the government anticipated a result, which should at once confound the designs of France, and establish the superiority of the present naval administration over their predecessors in office.

This plan, which some wretched projector had influence enough to induce lord Melville to countenance, was one, which, to every experienced naval officer, appeared open to the severest animadversion. It was principally to be carried into effect through the medium of copper vessels, of an oblong form, containing a quantity of combustibles, and so constructed as to explode in a given time, by means of clock work.These vessels were to be towed and fastened under the bottoms of the enemy's gun-boats, by a small raft, rowed by one man, who being seated up to the chin in water, might possibly escape detection in a dárk night. Fire ships of different construction were also to be employed in this projected attack. The most

* For Commodore Dance's narrative of this transaction, vide "Appendix," p. 551, and for further particulars, “ Chronicle,” p. 409.

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active and enterprising officers were distributed in the different explosion vessels, and the whole put under the orders and direction of admiral lord Keith, commanding in the Downs, who was to cover the smaller force with his powerful squadron. The appearance of 150 of the enemy's flotilla on the outside of the pier of Boulogne, determined the moment of attack, and an early day in October was fixed upon for this important operation. It is not easy to describe the mingled sensation of anxiety and confidence, which the length of time, and the extent of the preparation for this enterprise had created in the public mind. The latter, however, far predominated, and was confirmed by the rumours which were industriously spread that the first lord of the admiralty would himself superintend the execution of his plan, and that Mr. Pitt and other of the ministers were to be witnesses of its success from the elevation of Walmer castle. To such a pitch had this infatuation risen, that accounts in the public papers were published, on the first moment it was possible that the issue of the contest could be known in the metropolis, announcing, in the most enthusiastic, and exaggerated terms, its complete success in the utter destruction of 150 of the enemy's ships (the whole number on the outside of the pier and congratulating the coun. try on the acquisition of such a naval minister as lord Melville, for whom they claimed the whole merit of the plan, and no small share of that of its execution! The joy and exultation to which those fabrications, (which were, doubtless, written in

anticipation of the event) gave birth, were lowered gradually by the nonappearance of official statements; and when lord Keith's account appeared some few days afterwards, totally subsided, and gave way to sentiments of a very opposite nature.

On a comparison of the English and French accounts of this affair, it may, we think, be fairly stated as follows. On the 2d of October, admiral lord Keith, with his formidable fleet*,anchored at about a league and half from the north to the west of the port of Boulogne. In the course of the day, a sufficient force was thence detached to take up an advanced and convenient anchorage for covering the retreat, and to give protection to wounded men, or to boats which might be crippled; or, should the wind freshen, and blow in shore, to tow off the boats in general. While these preparations were going forward, the enemy was not inattentive or negligent in preparing his defences: the batteries were prepared, and the army drawn up in readiness for what might happen. At a quarter past nine, under a heavy fire from the advanced force, and which was returned by a tremendous one from the shore, the first detachment of fire-ships was launched. As they approached the French line, the vessels of the flotilla opened to let them through, and so effectually were they avoided, that they passed to the rear of the line without falling on board of any one of them.

At half past ten the first explosion ship blew up; it produced an immense column of fire; its wreck

The French say 52 sail, of which 6 were of the line, 6 frigates, 16 corvettes 10 brigs, 12 cutters, and 2 luggers.

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