Iland of Dominica taken by the Marquis de Bouille, governor of Martinico.
State of the French fleet at Bofton. Riot between the French and inhabi
tants. Desperate riot between the French and American failors, in the city
and port of Charlestown. M. D'Eftaing fails from Bofton for the Weft-
Indies: having firft iffued a declaration addreffed to the French Canadians.
Admiral Byron's fleet driven off from the coast of New-England by a vio-
lent burricane, which afforded an opportunity for the departure of the
French Squadron. British fleet detained at Rhode-Ifland, to repair the da
mages fuftained in the tempeft. Reinforcement fent from New-York to the
Weft-Indies, under the conduct of Commodore Hotbam, and Major-General
Grant: narrowly mifs falling in with the French fleet: join Admiral
Barrington at Barbadoes, and proceed together to the reduction of the island
of St. Lucia: troops land, take the French pofts in the neighbourhood of
the Grand Cul de Sac: proceed to Morne Fortune and the Viergis. M.
D'Estaing appears in fight, with a vaft fuperiority both of land and marine
force: attacks the British Squadron in the Grand Cul de Sac; and is
bravely repulfed by Admiral Barrington, twice in the fame day. French land
their troops in Choc Bay: attack General Meadows three times in the Vier-
gie; are repulfed every time, and at length defeated with great lofs. Great
glory obtained by the British forces, both by fea and land, in thefe feveral en-
counters. M. D'Estaing, after ten days longer ftay, abandons the island of
St. Lucia, without any farther attempt for its recovery. The Chevalier de
Micoud, with the principal inhabitants, capitulate before the French fleet is
out of fight.
[36
Speech from the throne. Amendment moved to the addrefs in the House of
Commons. Great Debates. Amendment rejected upon a divifion. Op
pofition to the address in general, in the Houfe of Lords, but no amendment
propofed. Addrefs carried upon a divifion. Motion to address the Crows,
in the Houfe of Commons, for a disavowal of certain paffages in the late
manifefto iffued by the Commiffioners at New York. The motion, after
long debates, rejected upon a divifion. Similar motion by the Marquis of
Rockingham, likewife caufes much debate, and is rejected upon a divifion.
Proteft. Circumftances, which tended to the rendering the late action
off Breft, a fubject of parliamentary difcuffion. Admiral Keppel, being
called upon, gives fome account of that business in the House of Commons.
Answered by Sir Hugh Pallifer. Reply. Court martial ordered for the
trial of Admiral Keppel. Conduct of the admiralty cenfured and fup-
ported: Question, relative to the difcretionary powers of that board,
much agitated. Bill brought in and paffed, for the holding of the trial
of Admiral Keppel on shore, (in confideration of his ill ftate of health)
inftead of its being held a board ship, as before prefcribed by the law.
Recefs.
[75
Debates arifing on questions of Supply, previous to the recess. Augmenta
tion of 14,000 men to the land fervice. Trial at Portfmouth. Ad-
miral Keppel honourably acquitted. Receives the thanks of both Houses.
Vice-Admiral of the blue refigns his employments, and vacates his feat
in the House of Commons. Memorial figned by twelve Admirals, pre-
fented. Great difcontents in the navy. Refolution of cenfure moved
by Mr. Fox, on the conduct of the admiralty. Motion, after long de-
bates, rejected upon a divifion. Second motion, of a fimilar nature,
by Mr. Fox, rejected upon a divifion. Two great naval commanders,
declare against acting under the prefent fyftem. Refignation of naval
Debates on the army extraordinaries. Motion for printing the estimates re-
jeed upon a divifion. Committee on Eaft India affairs. Refolutions
moved for and carried, relative to the violence committed on the late Lord
Pigot in his government. Motion for profecuting certain members of the
late council at Madrass, agreed to. Mr. Fox's motion, for the removal
of the firft lord of the admiralty from that department, is, after long
debates, rejected upon a divifion. Committee of enquiry into the conduct·
of the American war. Amendment moved to the motion for the examina-
tion of Earl Cornwallis, by the minifter, and carried upon a divifion in
the committee. Amended motion then put, and rejected upon a divifion.
Third motion rejected. Transactions in the committee, difcuffed in the
Houfe, and refcinded. Committee revived. Earl Cornwallis, and other
witnesses examined, in behalf of Lord and Sir William Howe. Counter
evidence propofed, and agreed to. In the interim, General Burgoyne's
evidence brought forward and examined. Counter evidence examined.
Committee fuddenly diffolved.
[129
Two enquiries in the House of Lords, tending to the fame object, and carried
on through the greater part of the feffion. Enquiry into the fate of the
navy, and the conduct of the admiralty, inftituted by the Earl of Bristol.
Motions for naval papers, bring out much debate, and are rejected upon a
divifion. Motion by the Earl of Bristol, for the removal of the firft Lord
of the admiralty from his employment. Great debates. Motion rejected
upon a divifion. Protefts. Enquiry into the government and management
of Greenwich Hofpital, conducted by the Duke of Richmond. Moves for
a compenfation to Captain Baillie, late Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich
Hofpital. Motion rejected upon a divifion. Minority Lords quit the Houfe.
Refolutions in vindication of the Earl of Sandwich. Hard cafe of Captain
Baillie. Marquis of Rockingham endeavours to bring forward an enquiry
into the affairs of Ireland. After several ineffectual attempts, a kind of
compromife takes place, referring the buftness of that country to the ensuing
feffion. Mr. Townshend's motion to defer the prorogation of parliament,
rejected upon a divifion. Spanish manifefto. Address from the Commons.
Second addrefs moved by Lord John Cavendish. Motion of adjournment
carried upon a divifion. Amendment to the address of the Lords, moved by
Band. Different views and conduct of the hoftile commanders. gagement. Extraordinary acts of gallantry. Vice-admiral Barrington wounded. French persevere in their refolution of not coming to a clofe action. Views of the British commanders totally changed, upon difcovering that the island was already loft, as they had no force capable of attempting its recovery. Transports and disabled ships fent off to St. Christopher's in the evening. Followed next day by the fleet; the enemy having returned to Granada in the night. Prodigious lofs of men on the French fide accounted for. Claim a victory; and upon what ground. M. D'Estaing directs his operations to the northward. Firft object, the reduction of Georgia. Second, an attack upon New York, in conjunction with General Washington. Arrives upon the coast of Carolina; takes the Experiment man of war, and fome frigates. Anchors off Tybee. Lands his troops, and invests the town of Savannah. Summons General Prevoft. Is joined by General Lincoln, and Count Polaski. Attacks the British lines, and is repulfed with
great flaughter. French retire to their fhips, and totally abandon the coafts of America.
Abstract of the late A&t for altering the duty on boufes and fervants
of an Act for extending the provifions of the 12th of Geo. I. intitled,
an Act to prevent frivolous and vexatious arrefts
of the late Act passed to prevent smuggling
of an Act for laying a duty upon poft-borfes, &c.
of an A for recruiting his Majesty's land and fea forces
Proceedings at the trial of Admiral Keppel
Charge against bim for misconduct and neglect of duty
His Speech before the court martial, on opening his defence
Copies of letters between the Hon. Admiral Keppel, the Secretary to the Admiralty, the Judge Advocate, and Sir Hugh Pallifer
Votes of thanks of the two Houses of Parliament, and of the City of London, to the Hon. Admiral Auguftus Keppel Extract of a letter from Lieut. Gen. Burgoyne to his conflituents, upon his late refignation; with the correspondence between him and the Secretaries at War, relative to his return to America Copy of a letter from Capt. Pearfon, of his Majefty's fp Serapis, to Mr. Stephens, containing an account of his engagement with, and being capsured by, Captain Paul Jones
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