ward Islands devolved on Commodore Hotham. On the night of the 10th Oct., there arose a hurricane at N.E. which increased by the morning to a degree of violence that is not to be described. The Vengeance, and some smaller vessels of war, were moored within the Careenage of St. Lucia, and prepared with every caution that could be taken to withstand the tempest, which had already driven several transports on shore. A little after twelve o’clock she parted one of her cables, and tailed upon the rocks. It now became absolutely requisite to cut away her masts, the loss of which, with the help of a number of guns that were got forward, considerably eased the force with which she struck; and by the wind fortunately shifting two or three points further to the eastward, her stern swung into deep water, and she was, beyond every expectation, saved; for it now blew, if possible, with redoubled violence, and nothing was to be seen or expected but ruin, desolation, and destruction in every part. The storm con-
would have been forced to fight, had not the wind on a sudden shifted six points, which enabled them to recover that advantage. At seven P.M. Captain Bowyer, in the Albion, reached the centre of the enemy’s line, and commenced a heavy cannonade, supported by the Conqueror and the rest of the van; hut as the enemy continued under a press of sail, none of the rest of the British fleet could partake in the action.
From this time to the 19th, the enemy had the advantage of the wind; on that day it so far favoured the British fleet, as to flatter the Admiral with the hope of being able to bring on a general action; but before he could close with the enemy, it again changed.
The French Admiral, seeing that his rear could not escape being engaged, appeared to have taken the resolution of risking a general action; for as soon as his van had weathered the British, he bore away along their line to windward, and commenced a heavy cannonade, but at such a distance as to do little execution; the Frenchmen could not however avoid being closely attacked by the ships of the van led by Commodore Hotham. The enemy continued under a press of sail to the northward; and on the 21st were entirely out of sight. The pursuit having led the fleet 40 leagues to windward of Martinique, and many of the ships requiring considerable repair, the Admiral steered for Barbadoes, and arrived on the 22nd in Carlisle Bay.
The loss sustained by the English in these three actions was 188 killed, and 567 wounded. In the first list was the Hon. Captain St. John, of the Intrepid, and 5 officers; and in the last Captain Watson, of the Conqueror, mortally, and fifteen officers. The enemy had 158 slain, and 820 wounded.
