282 ANNUAL R E G I S T E R, 1794. 



for tlieir reciprocal interest; on tlie 

 prosperous issue of which depended 

 the future security of this and every 

 country in Europe. 



It remains for us to satisfy the 

 ruriooity of our readers, by a sura- 

 Knary accountof the several objects 

 just mentioned, of his Majesty's 

 congratulations to parliament. On 

 the morning of the 28th of May, 

 the French fleet were discovered 

 far to windaid by the British 

 Channel fleet, under Lord Howe, 

 cruizing oft" the north-west coast of 

 Brittany. The French fleet con- 

 sisted of 26 ships of the line ; the 

 British, of 25. Partial actions took 

 placeontheeveningof the26thjand 

 on the 2t)tii, by vast exertions, the 

 British, Admiral weathcredthe ene- 

 my's line. On the morning of the 

 1st of June he beheld them to lee- 

 ward, waitinj^ his approach, and not 

 declining battle. He soon brought 

 the hostile fleet to a general and 

 decisive action. Six sail of the line 

 were tak.-n, one sunk, and many 

 crippled. The disabled ships, with 

 the remainder, retired from the 

 .scene of action, and took shelter 

 in the harbour of Brest. The 

 usu il intrepidity and exertion of 

 British seamen were fully displayed 

 on this glorious day; but it was a 

 hard contest. The valour of the 

 French could not be exceeded ; 

 and it is but just ce to say, that the 

 victory turned on the British Ad- 

 miral's superior knowledge of naval 

 tactics. His own ship, the Queen 

 Charlotte, of 100 guns, and a few 

 more, gallantry went through the 

 enemy's line; and by this, com. 

 bined with other mancEuvre';, ob- 

 taii;ed the wealhei-gage: and again 

 on the day of the general action, 

 he performed the opposi'e ma- 

 noeuvre, by breaking through their 



line, and fighting them in close 

 action to leeward. 



While the enemy's fleet went 

 back into port, ours regained, in 

 triumph, tlieir native shore ; and 

 were welcomed with tlie loudest 

 apnlause by all ranks and degrees 

 of loyal subjects. The grateful 

 public, with the usual sympathy 

 by which our countrymen are so 

 much distinguished, generously con- 

 tiibuted to assuage the sufferings 

 of the wounded and maimed, and 

 to dry up the tears of the fatherless 

 and v\ idow. 



Though the at'.empt on Marti- 

 nico in 179iJ hi'.d failed, the plan 

 of reducing the French islands was 

 not abandoned. An army of 5O0O 

 men, commanded by General Sir 

 Charles Grey, protected by a fleet 

 under the command of Sir John 

 •Tarvis, sailing in the end of 17Q3, 

 for the West Indies, reduced Marti- 

 nico after a gallant resistance on 

 the part of the F'rench, in the difl'e- 

 rent forts, particularly in Fcrt 

 Bourbon, the last tiiat fell ; where 

 the Gencralis*>imo, Rochambeau, 

 commanded. The date of this 

 event was the 25 th of March J 794. 

 Soon after this, the English made 

 themselves masters also of St. Lucia 

 and Guadaloupe, with its depen- 

 dencies, the Saints, Marie Galante, 

 and Dcsideiade. The island of To- 

 bago, as mentioned in our last vo- 

 lume, had already fillen once more 

 under the protection of the British 

 arms and government. 



The bi^ru'ng bilious fever inci- 

 dent to Luropeans in hot climates, 

 and called, from the tinge which it 

 gives in its last stage to the com- 

 plexion, the Yellow Fever, is at all 

 times to be dreaded by troops newly 

 arrived from norihern regions; but 

 pariicularly in war, when the blood 



is 



