In the month of September following, when Sir George Rodney sailed for North America, the command at the Lee-
St Lucia. Sir George hastened the equipment of his ships, and on the 2d April, proceeded off Fort Royal with his whole force, consisting of twenty ships of the line, one of 50 guns, and three frigates, and continued there for two days, offering the enemy battle. As M. de Guichen did not choose to venture out, notwithstanding his superior numbers, Sir George left a squadron to watch his motions, and returned with the remainder to the anchorage in Gros Islet Bay.
In the night of the 15th, the French fleet put to sea; on the 16th, they were discovered in the N.W., and Sir George immediately pursued them. Night coming on, the British ships were formed into a line of battle a-head, keeping sight of the enemy, who by his manoeuvres evidently wished to avoid a battle. In the morning of the 17th, the wind favoured the British fleet, so as to give them the advantage of the weather gage. At llh 50’, Sir George made the signal for every ship to bear down, steer for, and closely engage her opponent in the enemy’s line. At one P.M. the action began, and soon became general, which continued with great obstinacy until 4h 15’, when M. de Guichen, in the Couronne, with his seconds, the Triomphant and Pendant, were forced out of the line and bore away; this example of the French Admiral was soon followed by the whole of his fleet. The crippled state of the British ships rendered pursuit impracticable.
Every exertion was used to put the fleet in order, to go in quest of the enemy. On the 20th, Sir George again got sight of, and chaced them for three successive days, without effect; their great object seemed to have been to push for Fort Royal Bay, where alone they could obtain the necessary repairs; but M. de Guichen finding it impossible to succeed without the risk of a second action, took shelter under Guadaloupe. The British put into Chocque Bay, St. Lucia, to refit, water, and land their wounded. On the 6th May, Sir George Rodney was informed that the French fleet had left Guadaloupe, and were approaching to windward of Martinique. He directly put to sea, and on the 10th, discovered them about three leagues to windward. M. de Guichen studiously avoided coming to a general action; but sensible of his superiority in point of sailing to the British, frequently bore down in line a-breast; and then brought to the wind at a little more than random shot distance. The British Admiral, mortified at not having it in his power to force the enemy to battle, on the 15th directed his fleet by signal to make all sail possible by the wind; this manoeuvre led the French Commander to think he was retiring, and emboldened him to approach much nearer than usual. Sir George Rodney suffered him to enjoy the deception, until the enemy’s van ship had approached abreast of the centre of the English line, when by a lucky change of wind, which would enable him to weather the enemy, he made the signal for the van of his own fleet to tack. The French instantly wore, and fled with a croud of sail, notwithstanding which they
