The Annual Register of World Events: A Review of the Year

by the commisioners. Cautionary measures recommended by the Congress to the people; followed by a counter manifesto, threatening retaliation. Singular letter from the Marquis de la Fayette, to the Earl of Carlisle. American expedition for the reduction of the British settlements in the country of the Natches, on the borders of the Millikappi. Expedition from New. York, under the conduct of Commodore Parker and Colonel Campbell, for the reduction of the province of Georgia. Landing made good, and the rebels defeated. Town of Savannab taken, and the province in general reduced. Major-General Prevost arrives from the fourbward; takes the town and fort of Sunbury, and afumes the principal command. [18

Island of Dominica taken by tbe Marquis de Bouille, governor of Martinico.

State of the French fleet at Bufton. "Riot between the French and inbabitants. Desperate riot between the French and American failors, in the city and port of Charlestown. M. D'Efaing fails from Boston for the WeftIndies : having for illued a declaration addressed to the French Canadians, Admiral Byron's fleet driven off from the coast of New-England by a violent hurricane, which afforded an opportunity for the departure of the French squadron. Britijn fleet detained at Rhode Island, to repair the damages Justained in the tempeft. Reinforcement fent from New-York to the Weft-Indies, under the conduct of Commodore Hotbam, and Major-General Grant : narrowly miss 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 posts in the neighbourhood of ibe Grand Cul de sac : proceed to Morne Fortune and the Viergie. M. D'Efaing appears in fight, with a vast superiority both of land and marixe force: attacks the British Squadron in the Grand Cul de Sac; and is 'bravely repulfed by Admiral Barrington, twice in the same day. French land their troops in Choc Bay : attack General Meadows three times in the Viera gie; are repulfed every time, and at length defeated with great loss. Great glory obtained by the British forces, both by sea and land, in these several encounters. M. D'Estaing, afier ten days longer pay, abandons the island of St. Lucia, without any farther attempt for its recovery.

Ibe Chevalier de Micoud, with the principal inhabitants, capitulate before the French fleet is out of fight,

[36

CH A P. IV.
State of public affairs during the recess of parliament. · Address and parition

from the city of London. Militia embodied. Camps formed. Admiral
Keppel appointed to the command of the grand fleet for the home service.
Peculiar situation of that commander. Fleet jails from St. Hellens.
Licorne, French frigate, fiopo and detained. Blameable conduct of the
Captain, in firing unexpeatedly into the America man of war. Desperate

O 2

engagement

engagement between the Arethufa, and the Bell Poule, frigates. French
fobooner, bravely taken by the Alert cutter. Another French frigate falls
in with the fleet; and is, with the Licorne and fcbooner, brought to
England. Fleet returns to Portsmouth for a reinforcement. Rewards
and bounty of the French King, to the officers and crew of the Bell Poule.
Admiral Keppel fails again from Portmouth. Falls in with the French
flett under the Count d'Orvilliers; and after a chace of five days, brings
them at length to action. Account of the engagement on the 27ıb of July.
View of those circumstances which were supposed to bave prevented ibat
attion from being decifive. French fleet escape in the night, and return
to Brejt. Prudent and temperate conduct observed by the Admiral. Re-
turns to Plymouth to refit. Proceeds again to fea, but cannot meet the

150

'French fleet.

Speech from the throne. Amendment moved to the address in the

Commons. Great Debates. Amendment reje&tid upon a division. Op-

position to the address in general, in the House of Lords, but no amendment

proposed. Address carried upon a division. Motion 10 address the Crowe,

in the House of Commons, for a disavowal of certain pallages in the late

manifesto issued by the Commissioners at New York. Tbe motion, after

long debates, rejected upon a division. Similar motion by the Marquis of

Rockingham, likewise causes much debate, and is reje&ted upon a divifion.

Proteft. Circumstances, which tended to the rendering the late a&tion

of Breft, a subje&t of parliamentary discuffion. Admiral Keppel, being

called upon, gives fome account of ihat business in the House of Commons.

Answered by Sir Hugh Palliser. Reply. Court martial ordered for the

trial of Admiral Keppel. Conduct of the admiralty censured and fup-

ported : Question, relative to the discretionary powers of that board,

much azitated. Bill brought in and pajed, for the holding of the trial

of Admiral Keppel on shore, (in confideration of his ill flate of bealb)

instead of its being bild a board ship, as before prescribed by the law.

Recefs.

(75

Debates arising on questions of supply, previous to the recess. Augmenta-

sion of 14,000 men to the land service. Trial at Portsmouth. Ada
miral Keppel bonourably acquitted. Receives the thanks of both Houjes.
Vice-Admiral of the blue reigns his employmenis, and vacates bis feat
in the House of Commons. Memorial figned by twelve Admirals, pre-

sented. Great discontents in the navy. Resolution of cenfure moved

by Mr. Fox, on the conduct of the admiralty. Motion, after long de-

bates, rejected upon a division. Second motion, of a fimilar naturi,

by Mr. Fox, reje&ted upon a division. Two great naval commanders,

declar: against asting under the present Siem. Resignation of naval

officers,

officers Sir P. J. Clerke brings in a bill against the contrattors;

first question carried upon a division; but the bill repeated upon another.
Bill in favour of Diflenters brougbt in and passed. Affairs of Ire-
land. Various attempts and proposals for affording commercial relief to
that country, prove at length ineffe&tual.

(105

Debates on the army extraordinaries. Motion for printing the estimates rea

je&ed upon a division. Committee on East India affairs, Rejolutions
moved for and carried, relative to the violence committed on the late Lord
Pigot in bis government. Motion for prosecuting 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 division. Committee of enquiry into the condus
of the American war. Amendment moved to the motion for the examina:
iion of Earl Cornwallis, by the minifter, and carried upon a division ix
the committee. Amended motion then put, and rejected upon a divifiona
Third motion rejected. Transactions in the committee, difcuffed in the
Houses and rescinded. Committee revived. Earl Cornwallis, and other
witnesses examined, in behalf of Lord and Sir William Howe. Counter
evidence proposed, and agreed to. In the interim, General Burgoyne's
evidence brought forward and examined. Counter evidence examined.
Committee suddenly diffolved.

(129

Two enquiries in the House of Lords, tending to the fame object, and carried

on through the greater part of the session. Enquiry into the fate of the
navy, and the condu& of the admiralty, inftituted by the Earl of Bristol.
Motions for naval papers, bring out much debate, and are reje&ted upon a
division. Motion by the Earl of Bristol, for the removal of the forji Lord
of ibe admiralty from his employment. Great debates. Motion rejected
upon a division. Protefts. Enquiry into the government and managemene
of Greenwich Hospital, conducted by the Duke of Richmond. Moves for
a compensation to Captain Baillie, late Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich
Hospital. Morion rejected upon a division. Minority Lords quit the House..
Resolutions in vindication of the Earl of Sandwich. Hard case of Captain
Baillie. · Marquis of Rockingham endeavours to bring forward an enquiry
into the affairs of Ireland. After several ineffectual attempts, a kind of
compromije lakes place, referring the business of that country in the ensuing
Jelion. Mr. Townshend's morion to defer the proroga:ion of parliament,
rejected upon a divifon. Spanish manifesto. Address from ibe Commoni,

Second address moved by Lord John Cavendish. Moriin of adjournment
carried upon a division. Amendment to the adelres of the Lordi, moved by

Ebe Earl of Abingdon, and rejefied upon a division. Second amendment

proposed by the Duke of Richmond; rejezted upon a divifon, after confider-

able debate

. Bill brought in by tbe minister for doubling the militia, after

much debate and proposed amendment, passed by the Commons. Indemniig

bill likewise passed. Militia bill meets with great opposition in the Houji

of Lords. Indemnity bill much opposed; but carried through. Proteft:.

Militia bill deprived of its principal effcitive powers, and returned to be

Commons. Debate cn à point of privilege. Bill pased. Speech from ibe

Ibrone.

(153

na..

Hoftilities in the East Indies. Sea-fight between Sir Edward Verrez and

M. de Tronjolly. French Squadron abandon the coast of Coromandel.
Sirge of Pondicherry. Gallant defence by M. de Bellecombe. Capita-
lation. State of affairs in Georgia and the Carolinas. Loyalifs de-
feated in North Carolina American General, Lincoln, arrives in Sou:b
Carolina to oppose Major General Prevost. Rebels defeated at Brier
Creek. General Prevost passes the Savannah, and penetrates into South
Carolina ; advances to Charles Town; retires. Action at Stono Ferry,
General Prevost takes polzllion of the island of Port Royal. Expedities

from New York to Chesapeak Bay, under the conduct of Sir George Col.

hier and Major General Matthew. Great damage done to the Americans

in the neighbourbood of Hampton and Norfolk. Expedition upibe North

River; Storey Point and Verplanks taken. Expedition to Conne&ticat,

ander Sir George Colier and Governor Tryon. Surprize of Stoney

Point by General Havne. Recovery of that poft. Attack upon Paulus

H oé. Lieutenant Colonel Maclane beforged by an armed force from Boftcn.

Relieved by Sir George Collier, who destroys the whole rebel marine iz

the Penobscot.

(174

CH A P.

Almiral Byron takes the commard in the West Indies. Endeavours is

draw M. D'Estaing 10 an engagement without effect. Mortality at Si.
Lucia. Mr. Byron convey's ive home ward-bound trade. Lots of the
iflund of St. Vincent's, during the absence of the fleet. French fleet rie
inforced by the arrival of M. de la Motte : proceeds to the reduction of
the Granudes. Lands a body of forces, which invejt ibe Hospital Hill
in the island of Graneda. crack the works by night, and carry tben
by storm. Lord Macarmuy propojes to capitulate; but the forms offered
és D'Estaing being drimcat inadmisible, surrenders the fort and island at
scretion. Admiral Byron returns to St. Lucia; proceeds with the
treet and army for the recovery of St. Vincent's.

Receives inicliigence
at fea of ibe attack upon Granada, and being ignorant of the great fa-
Jeriority of the French fleet, changes his course in order so juccour ikat