566 THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, RA. 
taken, the rascality of the Governor and a Colonel Etherington hav¬ 
ing accomplished what the French when they landed had not the 
least thought of. They landed not 250 men, irregulars, ragamuffins, 
anything, from three small ships and remarkably enough all English, 
the Lively, the Weasel and a Bristol-man, their only intention we learn 
was to spirit up the Caribbees against the English, and on their landing, 
about 400 of these came down from their woods, but almost immed¬ 
iately returned, being dissatisfied at something or other. The enemy 
were scarcely on shore when the above poltroon of a scandalous Colonel, 
though commanding 370 English soldiers, sent to the Frenchman to 
know what terms he would grant. A question so unexpected surprised 
the French exceedingly, but as the island seemed determined to sur¬ 
render, they allowed our pusillanimous Governor and Colonel most 
things they demanded, except some matter relating to the Caribbees. 
July 1st , 1779. —As Byron came in sight this morning to the north, 
14 sail of French ships were in sight to leeward. He was told 
of them, he saw them, yet never went after them ; astonishingly 
strange! Byron is at length come back, he hove in sight early in 
the morning to windward, and soon after the whole fleet came to 
anchor, some in the Gros Ilot, and some in the Choc bay. This has 
been a most dismal day, incessant rain, violent gusts of wind, and 
loud claps of thunder. In the afternoon all the men-of-war came and 
anchored opposite the Careenage. A French fleet of 15 or 16 sail 
were also in sight to leeward. Byron never stirred an inch after 
them. 
The army, except the three regiments and artillery ordered to stay, 
have orders to embark immediately, the whole are in a bustle and 
confusion. 
July 2nd . —Army, baggage, horses, asses, goats, women and child¬ 
ren embarking, all bustle, all noise. St. Vincent must be re-taken. 
July 3rd. —The fleet are under way and going towards the island ; 
good luck go with them. D'Estaing they say is joined by six ships 
of the line, eight frigates, and 6,000 or 7,000 men—poor old England ! 
I wish Byron well over the bridge. I this day took possession of my 
quarters on the Morne and commenced Commandant. 
July 4th. —Getting stores, &c., from the Careenage to the Morne. 
Taken ill with fever and violent pains in breast and bowels. 
July 5th. —We are in a great bustle on the hill, and are not with¬ 
out our doubts of d'Estaing paying us a visit. Getting our stores 
from the town as fast as possible. 
July 6th. —We are told our fleet have got a thrashing, and that 
d'Estaing has gone to the Grenadines—very fine indeed ! Vile Byron! 
Unfortunate John Bull! 
Jtdy 7th. —Brought the two 5^-inch howitzers from town to the 
Morne this morning with 52 negroes and our own men. Byron's last 
trip of five or six weeks is the cause of the loss of St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines, and the defeat of his own fleet, because it was in his 
own power had he acted right to prevent d'Estaing being joined by 
M. de la Motte Piquet; had he remained to windward of Martinique 
