THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 533 
March 3rd, 1779. —To-day the fourteenth officer, since our landing, 
was buried. But little rain to-day. 
March 4th.— -A fine day. In the evening, a quarter before eight 
o’clock, a shock of an earthquake was felt, which continued about four 
seconds. Some thunder and lightning in the afternoon. 
March 5th. —A fine day. Thunder at a distance. Fourteen sail of 
Byron’s fleet at length went and shewed themselves before Fort 
Royal harbour and returned in the evening, d’Estaing not choosing to 
come out. 
Captain Packenham, of 27th Regiment, died this day. A soldier of 
the 28th Regiment was attacked and bit by a very large snake, and 
died in 24 hours afterwards. He described the snake as being as 
thick as his thigh and its mouth so large that it grasped the calf of 
his leg. He was only half an hour before he got assistance, yet a 
mortification came on quite up to his groin. Had he got immediate 
application, probably his life might have been saved. 
March 6th. —Our fleet did not come to anchor on its return, but 
cruised off and on the Gros Ilot, and in the night returned close under 
Martinique and continued about there the whole day. 
March 7th. —The rain not so abundant as usual, the weather is also 
much hotter. Our fleet continued cruising sometimes to windward of 
Martinique, and at others before the harbour where d’Estaing lies 
with his fleet. 
March 10th. —-An exceeding hot day, the clouds and fog are close 
upon the earth, and not a breath of wind. A night of incessant rain, 
thunder and lightning. Several cannon were fired at sea, or at the 
Gros Ilot. 
March 11th. —A fine morning. Two or three more ships went out 
last night from the Gros Ilot and joined the cruising fleet, they are 
not to be seen this morning, being to windward. 
March 12th. — A fine day. The fleet cruising off Fort Royal 
harbour. 
The weather to this day, the 16th, has been variable, generally rain 
in the 24 hours. Our ships of war that were cruising off and on, all 
came in this day and some others went out. This morning very 
early we discovered one of our ships making signals for an enemy and 
standing from Martinique. Our whole fleet were all out of the Gros 
Ilot and under way by about 9 o’clock. We now can perceive the 
French fleet off the harbour of Fort Royal, the weather is hazy and we 
cannot distinguish their number. Our fleet are all standing with 
moderate sail directly over towards them; they weighed in three 
divisions. Our fleet lay to for a long time when the French fleet was 
near them. Strange! D’Estaing ran into his harbour again, and 
our d’Estaing came away directly. 
March 21st. —Our fleet is only now come to anchor from driving 
d’Estaing into port again, the currents drove them much to leeward. 
I was attacked with a fever, but thank God was quite recovered in 
five or six days. 
