THE SERVICES OE LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 567 
the islands could not have been lost, and he might have interrupted 
the French re-inforcement. In all that long cruise he took not a 
single vessel, nor did he even see the West Indian fleet after they left 
St. Kitts, where he lay eight days inactive with his whole fleet, though 
he went with an intention to escort them to a certain latitude. 
July 10th .—We are informed this morning by a sloop that Admiral 
Byron is beaten, and that the Grenadines are taken. The master says 
he saw the action and that they were engaged six hours. This is the 
direful consequence of Mr. Byron's last trip. He has lost St. Vincent, 
the Grenadines and perhaps many of the transports. The French 
fleet, considerably larger than his (as they were just joined by the 
14 above mentioned) were drawn up in line of battle near the 
Grenadines. 
July 17th .—A fleet of very large ships, upwards of 30, passed this 
day to leeward towards Martinique. We are certain it is the French 
fleet. Who knows what is become of ours—we have heard nothing 
from them, but by French and others we are assured they have been 
beaten by d’Estaing. Of course they are dispersed and gone nobody 
knows whither. We are in daily expectation of a visit from Martinique 
and are making every preparation in our power to receive the French. 
July 26th .—A French gazette from Martinique, mentions the tak¬ 
ings of the Grenadines the - instant, with the loss of about 100 
men killed and wounded, also the attack of the British fleet on the 
French wherein they claim the victory, but at the cost of 1,000 men 
killed and wounded. We are told only eight of the British ships 
were engaged, the French having 24 in the action. Admiral Barr¬ 
ington behaved gallantly and is wounded. We cannot hear a syllable 
of news of our fleet, suppose they have gone to Antigua. 
August 6th i 1779 .—The Maidstone frigate and the Surprise sloop of 
war arrived this morning : they left St. Kitts on Saturday last and bring 
us the following information. That part of our fleet has been rather 
roughly handled by the French one, owing to that part bearing the 
chief of the fire from the whole French fleet. Our fleet did not get 
into action all together, as it was necessary to protect our transports. 
The enemy notwithstanding their superiority (for they had 26 or 27 
sail of the line and a vast number of frigates), gave way when our 
ships attacked them, but they afterwards made a double as if to get 
at our transports. This manoeuvre obliged Byron to alter his situation; 
in doing this and protecting his transports his force was much lessened, 
and some confusion or mistakes seem to have followed. Those of our 
ships that were hotly engaged were not supported and two or three 
of them suffered a great deal. The French fleet re-fitted at the Gren¬ 
adines, and our fleet, except the Lion which is missing, went to St. 
Kitts. The whole French fleet, while ours was lying at anchor at St. 
Kitts, bore down upon them until within half a cannon shot, then 
hauled their wind and went away and have not since been seen. Per¬ 
haps they are gone to Jamaica in conjunction with the Spaniards; 
perhaps they are gone to some other of our islands. Their intention 
was to have taken St. Kitts if Byron had not been there; they have 
