Meer and Tippoo Saib; but Hyder's whole army being in his way, is unable

to proceed on his march. Colonel Fletcher fent with a chofen detachment

to reinforce Baillie. Defperate action between Hyder's army and the

united detachment. Singular gallantry displayed by that small body of men.

Accidental blowing up of their powder, changes the fortune of the day,

and occafions the lofs of the whole corps. Great flaughter; Colonel Fletcher

killed, and Baillie, with a fmall number of Europeans, taken prisoners.

General Sir Hector Monro retreats to Chingleput, and from thence to Ma-

dras. Deplorable fate of the country, and of the Company's affairs. Gun-

toor circar reftored to Bazalet Jung; and a conciliatory letter fent to the

Nizam. Hyder renews the ficge of Arcot. Takes the city, and afterwards

the fort or citadel. Vigorous measures taken by the Supreme Council for the

relief of the Carnatic. Sir Eyre Coote arrives at Madras with a large fum

of money and a reinforcement of Europeans from Bengal: takes the com-

mand of the army. Mr. Whitehill fufpended from his office of Prefident and

Governor

[53

СНАР. IV.

Sir Eyre Coote's defign of relieving the befieged fortreffes, confirmed by the
opinion of the council of war and the approbation of the felect committee.
Hyder raifes the fiege of Wandewah, and retires with precipitation, on the
approach of the British army. The other beleaguered places relieved and

Jupplied. Dangers arifing from the perfidy of the French at Pondicherry

obviated, by the general's difarming the inhabitants, deftroying their boats,

and removing their magazines from Carangolly. Hyder's fhipping defiroyed

in his own ports by Sir Edward Hughes. Sir Eyre Coote marches to Porto

Novo, to fruftrate the enemy's defign on Tritchinapoli. Hyder's immense

force. Numberless difficulties which the English general bad to furmount.

Grand battle on the ft of July. Hyder's waft hof, after a very long and

obftinate engagement, defeated. Hyder retreats towards Arcot, and Tippoo

Saib raifes the fiege of Wanderwash. English general marches to the north-

ward, and forms a junction with the forces from Bengal. Takes Trepaffore,

defeats Hyder, in a bard and difficult conflit, on the 27th of Auguft. De-

feats him a third time on the 27th of September. Succeeding actions, in

which the English army is conftantly victorious. Sir Edward Hughes and

Gen. Sir Hector Monro befiege Negapatam by fea and land. Place furren-

dered upon conditions. The admiral proceeds to the island of Ceylon, and

takes the Dutch forts and fettlement of Trincomale

Retrospective view of affairs in Europe to the clofe

Second attempt of France upon the island of Jersey.

lands his troops in the night, and furprifes St. Helier

peks the lieutenant governor to fign a capitulation.

[79

of the year 1781.

Baron de Rullecourt

the capital. Com-

Summons Elizabeth

Cafile.

Cafile. Is gallantly attacked in the town by Major Picrfon. French
commander falls, and his remaining troops furrender prifoners of war.
Major Pierfon unfortunately flain in the inftant of victory. Neceffities of
the inhabitants and garrison of Gibraltar. Extraordinary prices of
provifions and neceffaries. Admiral Darby fails with the grand fet
and a large convoy to its relief. Spanish fleet retires into Cadiz at the
approach. Gun-boats. Dreadful cannonade and bombardment of the
town and garrifon from the Spanish camp. Town defroyed, and many
of the inhabitants perish. Convoy from St. Euftatius taken by M. de la
Motte Piquet. Secret expedition, under Commodore Johnflone and Gen.
Meadowves. Fleet attacked in Port Praya Bay by M. de Suffrein. French
repulfed. M. de Suffrein's timely arrival at the Cape of Good Hope,
fruftrates the defign upon that place. Dutch hips taken by Mr. John-
fione in Saldanha Bay. General Elliot's grand fally from Gibraltar, by
which he deftroys the enemy's batteries and works. Invafion of the island
of Minorca. Combined flects return from that fervice, to cruize at the
mouth of the Channel. Propofal for attacking Admiral Darby at Torbay,
overruled in a council of war. Enemy, fruftrated in all their views,
retire to their respective ports. State of the war with Holland, in
Europe. Admiral Hyde Parker fails with a small squadron for the pro-
tection of the Baltic trade. Upon his return, falls in with Admiral

Zoutman, with a great Dutch convoy, and a fuperior force. Defperate

engagement on the Dogger-Bank. Dutch Fleet and convoy return in

great diforder to their own coafts. Hollandia of 68 guns funk. Confe-

quences of the action. Royal vifit
Royal vifit to Admiral Parker at the Nore. Ad-

miral Kempenfeldt fails to intercept a great convoy fitted out at Breft,

with troops, flores, and fupplies for the French fleets and armies in the

Eaft and West Indies. Falls in with and takes feveral of the convoy;

but difcovers the enemy to be fo greatly fuperior in force, that he could

not profecute the defign farther

-

[96

С НА Р. VI.

State of parties at the meeting of Parliament. Debates on the fpeech from the

throne. Addreffes moved in both Houfes, and amendments propofed and rejected.

Debate refumed on the report of the addrefs from the committee. Motion for

granting a fupply to his Majefly oppofed by Mr. T. Pitt, and after a warm de-

bate carried, on a divifion, in the affirmative. Mr. Burke's motion for a commit-

tee of the whole Houfe to inquire into the confifcation and fale of the effects and mer-

chandize taken on the island of St. Euftatious, rejected. Motion by Mr. Huffey

for adding 10,000 feamen to the number moved for by government for the fervice

year 1782. Sir James Lowther's motion for putting an end to the American

war rejected, after a long debate, by a majority of only 41. Debate on the army

eftimates. Converfation relative to the exchange of prisoners with America. De-

bate on the motion for adjournment. Petition from Mr. Laurens, prefented by

Air Burke. Recefs

the

[126

CHAP.

Motion of Mr. Fox, for a committee of the whole Houfe, to enquire into
the causes of the want of fuccefs of his Majesty's naval forces during
the war, and more particularly in the year 1781. Debate on the
ordnance estimates. Motions by Mr. Barre and Mr. Burke. Mo-
tion for the recommitment of the report negatived. Motion and de-
bate in the House of Lords relative to the execution of Colonel Haynes.
Committee on naval affairs. Refolution of cenfure rejected by a
Small majority. Motion and debate of the Houfe of Lords on the
intended advancement of Lord George Sackville Germaine to the
peerage. Motion on the fame fubject, after his creation. An ad-
drefs to the King, to put an end to the American war, moved by Ge-
neral Conway, and rejected by a majority of one. Committee of the
lords on the lofs of the army at York-town. Refolution against the
American war carried in the House of Commons. Addrefs to the
King. The King's anfwer, and addrefs of thanks. Second refolution
against the American war. Refolutions of cenfure on his Majesty's
minifters moved by Lord John Cavendish, and rejected by a majority
of ten. Motion by Sir John Rous, for withdrawing the confidence
of parliament from his Majefty's minifters, loft by a majority of nine.
Intimation, by Lord North, to the Houfe, of his Majesty's intentions
to change his minifters

CHAP. VIII.

L151

New adminiftration formed under the Marquis of Rockingham. Pub-.
lic meafures ftipulated for. Recefs of parliament during the Eafter
holidays. Debate on the affairs of Ireland. Meffage from the
King, and addrefs. Addrefs from the parliament of Ireland. Repeal
of the act of the 6th of Geo. I. Address of thanks from the Irish
Houfe of Commons, and vote of feamen. Reward voted for Mr.
Grattan. Farther proceedings in the English parliament. Revenue-
officers and contractors bills pafs both Houfes. Bill of reform
in the civil lift expenditure. Bill for regulating the office of pay-
mafter-general of the forces. Motion for refcinding the refolution
relative to the Middlefex election carried. Motion by Mr. Wil-
liam Pit, for a committce to enquire into the fate of the reprefenta-
tion in parliament, rejected, upon a divifion. Refolutions refpecting
Exchequer, and other offices. Death of the Marquis of Rocking-
ham. Changes in the miniftry. Debate on the fubject in both
Houfes. Short fate of the proceedings on the Reports of the India
committee. King's Speech

[177

СНАР.

CHA P. IX.

Retrospective view of affairs in North America and the Weft Indies

in the year 1781. South Carolina. Battle at the Eutaw springs.

Col. Stuart, with the British forces, retires to Charles-town. Ifland

of St. Euftatius furprised and taken by the Marquis de Bouille.

Dutch fettlements of Demerary and Effequibo recovered by France.

Marquis de Bouille invades the island of St. Chriftopher, with

8,000 men in the beginning of the year 1782, and is fupported by the

Count de Graffe, with a great fleet. Gen. Frafer and the governor,

with the few troops on the island, retire to Brimftone-hill. Gallant

attempt made by Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, with a very inferior

force to fave the island: draws the enemy out to fea, and then feizes

the anchorage-ground in Baffeterre road, which they had juft quitted.

French fleet repeatedly attack the English fquadron, and are repulfed

with lofs. Works on Brimftone hill in no degree anfwerable to

the firength of the fituation. Gallant defence made by the garrifen.

All the attempts made by the Admiral, and by Gen. Prefcot, for the

relief of the place, prove ineffectual. The works and buildings on

the top of the hill being almost entirely deftroyed, Gen. Frafer and

Gov. Shirley are obliged to capitulate, and obtain conditions highly

honourable to the garrifon, and advantageous to the island. English

fquadron flip their cables, and return to Barbadoes. Nevis and

Montferrat follow the fortune of St. Christopher. Formidable

preparations by France and Spain for the invasion of Jamaica. Ad-

miral Sir George Rodney arrives with a firong reinforcement from

England, and takes the command of the fleet. Fails in his defign of

intercepting the French convoy from Breft. Puts into St. Lucia to

refit, and to watch the motions of the enemy. Objects, and refpective

force of the commanders on both fides. Perilous ftate of the English

affairs in the West Indies. M. de Graffe proceeds with his fleet

and a great convoy from Fort Royal, in order to form a junction

with the French and Spanish forces at Hifpaniola. Is immediately

purfued by Sir George Rodney. Partial engagement between the

French fleet and the van of the English, on the 9th of April, Great

fea fight on the 12th, which lafts from fun rife to fun fet. Gal-

lantry displayed on bath fides. French fleet entirely routed. The

Count de Graffe taken in the Ville de Paris. Four other fhips of

the line take, and one funk. Various particulars of the action.

Cefar, one of the French prizes, blown up on the night of the battle.

Admiral Sir Samuel Hord detached with a fquadron, in purfuit of

the enemy. Takes two French fhips of the line and two frigates

in the Mona paffage. Sir George Rodney proceeds with the Count

de

de Graffe and the prizes to Jamaica. Confequences of the late

victory. Honours to the fuccessful commanders. Lord Rodney

returns to England, and is fucceeded by Admiral Pigot. Inactivity

of the oppofite armies in North America, confirmed by the refolutions

of parliament, and by the fubfequent negociations for peace

[189

Pre-

Minorca. Siege of Fort St. Philip. Fatal progrefs of the feurvy

and otherdiforders in the garrifon. Weakness in point of number.

Successful attack on the Duke de Crillon's head-quarters at Cape-

Mola. Powder-magazines blown up, bomb-battery destroyed,

and a fhip funk, by the fire from the fortrefs. Garrison being

reduced by fickness, General Murray fubmits to the neceffity of a

capitulation. Humanity and tenderness of the enemy to the fick.

Coafts of thefe kingdoms threatened by the enemy. Admiral Bar-

rington fails with a fquadron to the Bay, and falls in with a French

convoy. Captain Jarvis takes the Pegafé of 74 guns. Most of

the convoy taken. L'Actionnaire of 64 guns, taken by Capt. Mait-

land. Lord Howe fails to the coaft of Holland. Dutch fleet

returns to the Texel upon his approach. Combined fleets, in their

way from Cadiz, fall in with the Newfoundland and Quebec convoy,

and take feveral veffels. Combined fleets approach the Channel.

Lord Howe fails with a very inferior force to protect the great

Jamaica convoy. Enemy return to port, without effecting a junc-

tion with the Dutch, or being able to intercept the convoy.

harations for the relief of Gibraltar. Royal George man of war

loft at Portfmouth; Admiral Kempenfeldt, feveral officers, with a

great number of people, unfortunately perish. Lord Howe Jails for

the relief of Gibraltar. State of the fortress. Vaft preparations

by fea and land for its attack, by the combined fleets and armies of

France and Spain. Confidence placed in the new-conftructed bat-

tering fhips contrived by the Chevalier de Arcon. Some account

of thofe formidable machines. Arrival of the French Princes of

the blood in the camp before Gibraltar. Letter between the Duke

de Crillon and General Elliot. Unexpected and violent cannonade

and bombardment from the garrison, by which the enemy's works

Juffer greatly. Violent fire on the fortress. Combined fleets arrive

at Algeziras. Grand attack. Dreadful cannonade and bombard-

ment from the lines, the battering fhips, and the garrifon. Admi-

ral's fhip, and another, at length fet on fire, and blow up in the

night. General conflagration. Extraordinary exertions of gal-

lantry and humanity difplayed by Captain Curtis and his feamen in

the