529 
THE SERVICES 
OF 
LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A., 
IN 
FRANCE, NORTH AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES 
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1758 AND 1784. 
EDITED BY 
COLONEL F. A. WHINYATES, late R.H.A 
■J * 
---- - - ■ 
CHAPTER III. 
The manoeuvres of the English and French fleets , 
a R Yi 
p 4teht 
January 7th , 1779. —Admiral Byron on the passage fell down and 
broke two of his ribs and is not yet recovered enough to venture on 
shore. His fleet is very busy watering and preparing to pay a visit 
to M. d'Estaing. 
January 9th. —A frigate, the Weasel , sailed for England with des¬ 
patches. I sent Lord Townshend 1 a sketch of the different attacks of 
the enemy on our fleet and army. Wrote also to Mrs. D. 
January 11th. —The ship that went to Martinique with French 
prisoners returned to-day, bringing the men and officers taken in the 
Ceres . In the transport also came Captain Downing and the light in¬ 
fantry men with him, and two artillerymen taken in one of our horse 
sloops. We learn by this ship that the people of Martinique are very 
much dissatisfied with d'Estaing and the officers of his fleet, so that 
they will hardly suffer them to walk the streets. 
January 12th. —About noon we saw a fleet standing out of Fort 
Royal harbour; it directed its course towards us. A frigate of ours 
went out about 2 o'clock, and after a little while made the signal for 
an enemy. We could discover about sixteen sail,—twelve large and 
four small ships. Everyone of us is in high spirits; we flatter our¬ 
selves that d'Estaing is at length determined to attack the British 
fleet. 
January 13th. —At 3 o'clock this morning Admiral Byron made 
signals to unmoor ships, at daylight they got under way, and at 7 the 
whole, consisting of thirteen line of battle, one fifty, and three frigates 
1 Master-General of the Ordnance. 
11. YOL. XXV. 
46 
