THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 573 
the windward, and ran down amongst our ships off the harbour's 
mouth. She considered this to be the island she was bound to, and 
the ships of course French. She was brought into port directly. 
Rain in the night. 
February 13th. —A rainy bad morning. Collingwood's fleet are off 
the Gros Ilot. We are told he has driven M. Piquet a great way to 
leeward, and that the Venus silenced a battery on Martinique, landed 
some men, spiked the guns, and destroyed two French ships that were 
at anchor. 
February 14th. —A very fine day. Two ships of the Commodore's 
division are at anchor at the mouth of the Careenage. The remainder 
are blocking up M. Piquet, who is in Guadeloupe with five sail of the 
line and three frigates. I am told by a navy officer that one of the 
ships destroyed by the Venus was from Glasgow with a rich cargo on 
board, absolutely bound to Martinique. The papers which were found 
on board shewed that she was cleared from Glasgow and intended for 
the island where she was destroyed, which I hope will be the fate of 
every traitor to his country. 
February 16th. —A remarkably fine morning. We can distinguish 
the houses in Martinique with the assistance of a glass. A great deal 
of rain fell in the night. Cannon firing was seen in the night on the 
coast of Martinique, and our fleet was seen close to Fort Royal harbour 
this morning. A vessel arrived yesterday from Barbadoes, which in¬ 
forms us of General Vaughan, with troops and a large convoy of 
merchantmen, being arrived at that island from England. 
February 20th. —Very fine through day and night. This afternoon 
a frigate with six victuallers arrived from Barbadoes. General Vaughan 
brought with him two regiments from England; one is to remain at 
Barbadoes, the other is gone to Jamaica. He is gone to Antigua to 
look into the state of the island, from thence he will visit St. Kitts, 
then Tobago, and lastly this island. Admiral Parker with his division 
attended the General from Barbadoes, Commodore Collingwood is still 
guarding the entrance of Fort Royal. 
February 24th. —A cold day with intervals of rain and sunshine. 
Rain fell in the night. M. de la Motte Piquet with his fleet has got 
into Fort Royal and is joined by four sail of the line in spite of the 
vigilance of our Commodore, who has been four or five times in chase, 
but could never catch him. Wonderful! A few nights ago one of 
their ships in pushing in got a peppering by some of our fleet. 
February 26th.— Admiral Parker with his division of ships arrived 
and anchored in the Gros Ilot. The whole fleet are now very busy in 
wooding and watering, and two frigates are cruising near Fort Royal. 
M. de la Motte Piquet has now 9 or 10 ships of the line in harbour. 
Sent to England by the packet which sailed on February 25th :— 
To Messrs Cox and Mair, pay-lists and abstracts for January and 
February, 1780. 
Pay list for Delaware prize money and bill on Cox for the amount. 
Muster rolls for January and February, 1780, to the beard. 
A letter to Cox and Mair on bill enclosed on Board for £120/17/- 
