THE SE E- V 
OF 
LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS 
IN 
FRANCE, NORTH AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES 
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1758 AND 1784. 
EDITED BY 
COLONEL F. A. WHINYATES, late R.H.A. 
PART III. 
The French capture the Islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 
Manoeuvres of and actions between , the English and French fleets. 
Chapter IV. 
June 19thj 1779. —We are just informed that the French have 
landed some troops under cover of three frigates in the Isle of St. 
Vincent. Governor Morris has written to General Grant for some 
assistance, but how the devil is assistance to get to him when Byron 
has not left us even an armed boat ? When the Admiral returns he 
may get succour but not before, and then most likely it will be too 
late to save the island, for if the French have landed but a very small 
number of men, yet assisted by the Caribbees, whom I am told 
amount to 1,100 men and are armed and supplied with ammunition by 
the French, it will not be an easy matter for us to take it. 
June 22nd. —This morning a French frigate passed us in going 
from Martinique to St. Vincent, and on the 23rd, early in the morn¬ 
ing, we saw the same vessel returning towards Martinique. We now 
begin to fear not only for St. Vincent but the Grenadines also. We 
cannot learn anything ef M. Byron, only that he is conveying the 
West Indian fleet to the latitude 24° north, so that d'Estaing can 
have nothing to fear, for this week or ten days, in which time, if he 
plays his part with spirit and vigour, he will cut out an entertainment 
for our army and navy. 
June 24th .—We are now informed for a certainty that St. Vincent is 
12. VOL. XXV. 49 
