534 THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
The Venus, frigate, has taken the General Trumble, a rebel ship of 
20 guns, and brought her into Gros Hot. 
April 2nd, 1779. —A sloop was taken to-day within our sight by a 
schooner of ours, we are told she is a rebel vessel from Charlestown 
loaded with rice and flour, a good prize at this time. 
Our amazing fleet of men-of-war are still lying in the Gros Ilot, and 
what Admiral Byron can be dreaming about is a matter of much 
astonishment to everybody. 
April 5th .—We learn that Colonel Campbell, of the 71sb Regiment, 
is in possession of all Georgia and has killed a great many of the 
rebels. 
We are informed for a certainty that the last time d'Estaing passed 
out of his harbour, he was induced thereto by being told by a person 
who called himself a relation of Dr. Franklin, that the English fleet 
then at St. Lucia were in a very sickly condition and unable to man 
the few ships that were there, and that the remainder of the fleet were 
out on a cruise. D'Estaing, being assured by the relative of his old 
friend and ally Franklin that this was actually true, treated his 
informant with much respect and attention, embarked 4,000 men 
aboard his fleet and was certainly about to pay us another visit that 
day. Had not Byron, Byron-like, always wrong, sallied out with all 
his fleet against the enemy's 14, the Comte might have been taken in. 
As matters were, I am credibly informed that Byron that day could 
have taken or brought to action seven of the enemy’s fleet. 'Tis 
strange ! 'Tis passing strange ! 'Tis wonderful ! You won't believe 
me perhaps when I tell you, that either French or Rebel privateers 
have taken an English vessel or two within a few miles of us (near 
the Soufriere). Hot long ago I was down at this Soufriere, a place 
well worth seeing, about 12 miles from the Careenage. I then saw a 
vessel taken that only left us an hour before. You would naturally 
conclude from these facts that we had no vessels to cruise, but, take 
my word for it, I have before my eyes at this moment about 30 sail of 
ships of war. 
A good story of Monsieur Byron. 
He went out the other day after d'Estaing. While cruising he fired 
a gun to call attention to the signal flying at the same time on his ship, 
and summoned the next in command, Admiral Parker, to come on 
board. On his arrival Byron asked what he was about that he did not 
form the line according to the signal. 
Admiral Parker said he had seen no such signal. 
“ No such signal! " replies the Admiral—“ Look aloft and see the 
signal." 
Says Parker, “ No sir, I have no such signal in my instructions." 
Admiral Byron cast his eyes aloft, lo ! and behold! it was a dream, 
or something like one, for his signal officer had rendered the signal 
unintelligible by hoisting in mistake a Dutch Jack instead of an 
English one ! 
The French fleet formed line to leeward under the shore. The 
English fleet made a bow to them and came back, and now for fear of 
