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M > i < i >o w waww« •r ■^Vi^-SS^Ww;;'' j'^'.' . ^T i- I f***'^ (i.. . /I"' » «(. >* . . * . . -•• -i; '» N "5^ \\ / I * ^#.„Jfc '^Vitm h h / LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JVilliam Pttt^ Efq; BEING An Impartial Vindication of the ConduA of thr Miniftry, from the Commence- ment of the prefent War to this Time. In Anfwer to the Afperfions caft upon them by Admiral Bjng and his Advocates. *The truth is greats Greater than Thou i and I will give it fPay, Thomson. LONDON: Printed for Philip Hodges, at the Globe in Great tumftile^ Holborn» MDCCLVI. (Price One Shilling.) ff ^ r XT /•„ 1^ •»/ -:^ ■ »• ■;. ^* -"*^, r>*r if iViM^iTiTi II ' I' I \t■^■"- uUrj'i '""^ -.p-'-iYr" ■■■"■'■ -^-^--^a TJ (I ) LETTER &c. V^V/ k SIR, IN an Age ungrateful and cenforious as this is univerfally allowed to be, it is not at all amazing to fee the Cha- raiSlers of the greateji and moji worthy Men, daily and hourly abufed and traduced. THE Darts of Malice, Envy and Prejudice, are continually pointed at thofe whom Fortune hath defervedly placed upon her highefl Summit. Calumny and Great- nefs always go Hand in Hand together, and the Shield of Virtue, though like that of •;;i; B Achilles, II II' -li>iiiiiilti'*ittit*l j^chillfSy impenetrable, is often blackened and defiled by the Dirt, that Ignorance and Wickednefs throw upon it. -^ ! 7 THESE, Sir, are deplorable 7r«//6j > but Truths they arej and I hope you, who are not noted for the moft zealous Friend to the prefent Mjniftry, will neverthclefs with Pleufure fee the Condudl of the worthy Gentlemen, nf)w at our Helm, fince the Commencement of the prefent War, fuliy and clearly vindicated. This Talk is mine, and if my Abilities equal my Wifties, I fliall fit down contented with the pleafing Thoughts of having refcued immaculate Virtue^ from the iufidious Attacks of Envy, Hatred and Mali^Q. :• -i ;* , i.:..:J' fT '' r-, ^>v. •>•♦ : V - BEFORE we enter upon the pro- pofed VindicatiGn, let us. Sir, if you pleafe, caft our Eyes l?ack to future Ages, and en- . . . . >'^ • deavour ■;^ \ 'ii,'^r,.Mi>AaiUlMjA^atmi'.t'. 'i-^l (3) deavour to find luch a glorious Set of Waif- riors, Statefmen, Politicians and Patriots> as Great Britain can now boaft of.— but the Attempt is vain : The Annals of the Unlvcrfe, from its Creation to this pre- fcnt Time, will be inefFcdual for the Pur- pofe I have mentioned. Can all the far- famed Heroes of Antiquity, co-joined witli the Conde'Sf Tur erne's, and Eugene's of a later Age, compare all their accumulated Vidorics to the fingle Defeat at Culloden ? CAN the Patriotifm and Contempt for Riches, which fo much diftinguifhed the Second Brutus, prefume to vie with thofe Qualities fo confpicuous in the prefcnt Lord Chancellor ? Can the Politics of the celetratcd Plorentine, Machiavely or the famous Rich- B a ' lieu, w. f 1 :r.i'- \ 'i ^.- '■\ 1 (4) li:u, equal thofe of the firft Lord Commif- . fioner of the Treafury ? WAS the Office of Secretary of War ever fo nobly filled as at prefcnt, by the illuflrious Perfon who is as remarkable for the Goodnefs of his Head, as for his Perfpicuity and Clearnefs of ExprefHon? O R, can we even prefume to hope, that our Poflerity will ever be bleffed with fo great a Genius as now condefcends to prcfide over our Naval Affairs ? The almoft unanimous Voice of a grateful People will anfwer, No, WHAT in the Name of Wonder, (may fome impartial People afk) can be the Objedions raifed againft the Miniftry ? Let me anfwer, and truly anfwer, few and frivolous. Upon the very firft Notice of the K^^v'^ti'W^ -jjg^%f»B*grAf«,*»/- tM"^ ( 5) the Encroachments of our perfidious Ene- mies the French, upon our Settlements in America^ every Method that human Wif- dom could fuggeft, was immediately taken to preferve thofe our moft valuable Acqui- fitions. A large and powerful Fleet was fitted out with an Expedition unparallelled, to check the unbounded Infolence and Am- bition of our hoflile Neighbours; and the Confequence was glorious. Great Num- bers of Merchant Ships and FifliingA'ciTels were taken by our Men of War, which Succefs gave a Blow, which for fome Cen- turies cannot be recovered, to the Trade of France, and reduced a great Number of its Inhabitants, efpecially the poorer Sort, to the utmoft Diflrefs. IF Braddock was defeated in North America, let me afk any impartial Mar, was it owing to the Negligence of thofe in Power •.ft . is\ ■%■ >.'i^*i » I ■Vj f'^^ ;.!' »(•■•' -. I ■Aa&isfflailfiSsf'f .^ MHuM La: JtnA^l. r *r' ( 6 ) Power at Home, or to his own Inadver- tency and Precipitation ? Certainly to the latter. The ill Confcquences of this De- feat were few or none at all, and the Wifdom of the Miniftry never was more confpicuous than in appointing Sir William Johnfon to command our Forces, who recovered the Laurels plucked from Braddock*s Brow, hy defeating the united Forces of the French Sind Canadians, . - -./-•' I F Ofivego is loft, muft it not be at-^ tributed to the fatal Difference between the New-England Troops and the brave Veterans who were fent over to protedt our Colonies 3 which no human Prudence could forefee or prevent ? And the Blocking up of Louijbourghj by which the Inhabitants were reduced (by their own Accounts) to the utmoft Diftrefs, muft by all be allowed to be a Mafter- Piece of Policy. Thus much for the '\ *-^^ ^if^fMiftlKi^lH^mmif^m''-^ r.:iLi^^f^;^Xx4-^ ifee:.tl^^^^?!ffi'.^^'T '> ( 7 ) ^ the Conduft of the Miniftry in regard to North America, which Candour mri/i com- mend, and Envy itfelf cannot blame. ■ ^ .*«!• ».*" •' you yourfelf Sir, muft own the Af- fertion^ that the Voice of the People is the Voice of God, to be as falfe as it is fpecious. The Clamour of the many-headed Beaft the Multitude, again ft the Government, for a Step the moft prudent that ever was taken> and which under Providence preferved this Kingdom from the Calamities of an Invafion, is a flagrant Proof. You need not be toldj I prefume, that I mean the bringing over of a large Body of He/Jian and Hanoverian Troops for the ProteSlwn, Defence and Safety of this Nation j a Proceeding againft which the Thunder of your Oratory was levelled in vain. A large Number of TranfjJorts were preparing at Breji^ the Coafts of France were filled with Troops ready if* ml ' '7 V- H •f ♦ ( 8 ) . ready at an Hour's Notice to embark, and pour in upon us. What at that Time could have protedled us ? The Military Force we had in this Kingdom, was univerfally al- lowed to be infufficient. Where then could we find an Afylum from the approaching, impending Danger but in our Allies ? In our U7iempIoye^F\ects, you willanfwer, which then were riding at Spithead, But was this Fleet Invincible ? and if it was, might not the Enemy's Squadron have efcaped it in the Night, in a Fog, or by a thoufand other Accidents ? What then would have been the Confequence ? — I tremble at the Thoughts of it. Had the Militia Bill pafled, what a poor Defence mull a raw, undifciplined, irregular Mob, (I cannot call them an Army) have made againfl fixty thoufand Veterans (for with no lefs were we threatned) headed by experienced Ge- nerals, fiufhed with the Victories obtained >"*•; f 5 • k, and e could orce we ally al- :n could )aching, ies? In :, which was this ight not , it in the id other ve been at the litia Bill (I a raw, I cannot linft fixty efs were iced Gc- obtained (9) • in the laft War. But by the Prudence and Sagacity of ourMinifters the grand Scheme of our inveterate Enemies was defeated, Eng* land was preferved by the Afliftance of hei: natural Allies, and our Fleets fet at Liberty to quit our Coafts and infeft thofe of our Enemies. Yet for this have they beeii branded with the odious Appellations of Enemies to their Country, Infringers of the Rights and Privileges of Englifhrnen, and every other degrading Name which ««- grateful Men ever did and will beftow uport their Prefervers, BUT confcious of their dwrt Skill and Virtue, the Noble Pilots rejoice in hav- ing preferved the Ship, tho* the foolifli Mariners would rather have utterly peri (hed, than owed their Lives to the Wifdom of their Superiors. \»f^:v :■- .. ?-j :-; • •\ m ^;i ••i" ' * ( lo) I flatter myfelf that I have now fully vindicated the Miniftry in relation to North America^ and the Importation of foreign Troops; yet, tho* much is done, ftill much remains behind. Minorca, the brighteft Gem in the Britijh Diadem is loft, (or as fome will have it given away) thro' the In- capacity, Negligence or Treachery of thofe who ought to have made ufe of every Effort to preferve it. The Garrifon of that invalu- able Place was infufHcient for its Defence, and the principal Officers of the few Regi- ments that compofed the Garrifon, were abfent from their Duty. Timely, frequent Notice was given the Miniftry that the French were preparing to attack the Ifland, yet not one Precaution was taken, to pre- vent the Landing of the hoftile Forces, re- inforce the brave Blakeney^ or relieve the Fort when befieged, tho' the Governor and Garrifon defended the Place for more than two M m \T\\ (II) . - two Months with uncommon Vigour, in hopes of receiving Succours from Eng- land. This, Sir, is the Language of fome Men j who they are I need not men- tion to ^oi/. THE Charge indeed is heavy, and the Lofs I fear irretreviable. The Key of the Mediterranean i the Protection of our Levant Trade, the commodious Harbour for Ships of all Burthens is forcibly torn from us and poflefled by the Enemy, to our great Lofs and Detriment. A greater Dif- grace never ftained the Britifi Annals. But let Impartiality reign in Indignationy and Candour mount the Judgment-Seat inftead of blind vindidive Rage j yet let not Pity blunt the Sword of Juftice, but where the Offence isy let the great Axe fall, C 2 ■ I '{ \ .. ! I 'V i>< n t I I f Y r{ il ? ( .2 ) I believe it cannot be difputcd that frequent and timely Advice was received by the Government, that the French were making great Preparations at Toulon, and that the Preparations were reported to be deflined againft the Illand of Minorca* But the certain Dcftination, however, was not known till Monfieur de Galijoniere ap- peared with the Men of War and Tranf- ports off Minorca. The Reports of the Trench had no Manner of Weight with our prudent Miniftry, who, probably imagined their whole Defign was to draw a great Number of our Ships from the Coafts of Great Britain, into the Mediter^ ranean, in order to facilitate the intended Invafion of thefe Kingdoms. Thefe Con- jedtures are very far from being romantic, if we confider that French Policy feldom declares its Intentions before-hand. How- ever, what was imagined to be a mere " ' ■ Gafconade, •A ft-: d that ceived ) were /7, and to be Unorca* was ere ap- Tranf- of the Lt with obably o draw bm the Miter' itended fe Con- m antic, feldom How- a mere conade, 4 ( ^3 ) Gafconadc, was verified by the Event; the Duke de Richlieu landed bis Troops, and Fort St, Philip was beleagurcd. UPON the fii'ft Confirmation of this melancholy News, every thing that Pru- dence could didtate was performed by the Miniftry. Nothing was left undone that had the leafl Tendency to the Prefervation of the important Place. A Fleet was ordered to be immediately fitted out to attempt its Relief i when ready, fome Land Forces were put on Board here^ and the Commander in Chief had Orders to receive a much greater Number at Gibraltar. However, the Governour of that Fortrefs, for Reafons beft known to himlelF, refufed to obey his Orders, wag recalled, tried for it, and the Confequences are too well known to be enumerated here. Thus much, however, it is necef- fary « sv, I; il ( '4 ) fary to prcmife, that had the Government known that General Fowke would not have parted with any of his Garrifon, a fufficient Number of Land Forces had been fent ivom England, A Fleet of thirteen Ships of the Line, ^elides Frigates, failed from England under .,*ie Command of the Honourable John Byngi Efq; and arrived after a tedious Paflage at Gibraltar: After unneceffarily confuming fome time there, failed for Mahon, fell in with GalliJfonniere*s Squadron and engaged them. Rear Admiral Wcjl with the Ships under his Diviiion, as foon as Mr. Byng made the Signal for en- gaging, bore down upon the Enemy with the utmoft Intrepidity. Had his fuperior Officer followed his gallant Example, in all human probability the French Fleet had either been deftroyed, or fo (battered i 1 l^ I i ( »5 ) ' as to be unable to keep the Sea. A Rein- forcement had been thrown into Fort St. Philips and that Fortrefs, as well as the Ifland of Minorca^ had been ftill numbered in the Lift of the Britijh Dominions. But, alas ! Mr. Byng^ unfortunately for his King's, his Country's and his own Glory, kept at a ceremhnions Diftance from the Enemy, faw with Unconcern Mr. Wefl and the brave Captains under him in the utmoft Danger, without giving or endeavouring to give them the leaft Afliftance ; and what is moft ftrange, and hardly ever will be be- lieved by Pofterity, beheld the Enemy's Fleet retreating, f'om feven Ships only, and had not either Honour, or Refolulion enough to follow them. _ , - , r K METHINKS, Sir, you fmile at this, and reply : " Nothing is more eafy " than to accufe a Man of Faults he never T " committed. MMIII fV •yfi t I. ^ i 1 cc (i6)^ committed. Is Mr. Byng aStually guilty " of the Crimes laid to his Charge? Was " his Fleet equal in Strength to that of " the Enemy, either in Weight of Metal " or Number of Hands ? Was not his Crew fickly ? Were not his Ships foul ? And did he not fight und^r the greatefl Dif- '* advantages ?—• Difadvantages occafioned " by thofe to whom the Care of our Naval " Affairs is intrufled." To put this Matter in as clear a Light as pofTible, I will repeat all that Mr. Byng or his Ad- vocates for him, have hitherto thought proper to fay in his Excufe, and Remarks fhall be made upon whatever he has offered in Juflification of his Condudt. t 'li 'U I I "• i- \ nn ' I. { T ' « : i8 ) U 1 » t » REMARK. This has been anfwered before. The Go* vernor of Gibraltar bad Orders to fupply the ^idmiral wiib a fufficient Number ofTroops,^^!/ He difobeyed bis OrderSy can the Minijlry be blamed^ . , r , . ARTICLE III. Monf, la Gallijfonnieres Squadron was fuperior in Weight of Me- tal, and Number of Men, to the Englifif. VJ') "J'T,, ^ REMARK. // was for the Honour of Great Britain that a larger Fleet was nbtjent into the Mediterranean : for what Honour can den to ifHcient Hfobeyed flry be ladrcn Me- to the t Britain ^ent into t Honour can I X-y v. . V 'V \ , \ ( 19 ) can be obtained by conquering an Enemy inferior in Strength? But we have only Mr, Byng'j own Word that the French were fupertor , and it is well known i that a Coward's Te- lefcope magnifies exceedingly, A Vcr- , non^ a Hawke, or a Bofcawen, if . in Byng'i Flace^ would have been better acquainted with their Weight of , P^tal, and Number of Men, ■ -iy M.RTICLE IV. Mr. Byng ufed his utmoft Endea- vours todeflroy Ga/lijonmeres Fleet. REMARK. Crcdat Judxus Apclla. When Byng •>i i made the Signal to bear down upon the bvmi^Jr'^^^ ^^^i Mr. Weft gallantly •k.y.\. fl'fycdi and did his Duty; while. the D Com' \ J f f • ill .;v \ . 'V ( 20 ) Commander in Chief kepi at a moft ceremonious Dijlance^ and had not one Man kiied or wounded on board the Ship in which he had hoifled his protcding Flag: A certam Proof how clofely he engaged. It is no Won- der therefore that iWr. Weft's jSyttj- dron was much damaged^ when his fuperior Officer^ with the beji half of the Fleet y was a mere Spe£latorof the Engagement^ and never offered to afjijl hi i. brave Coiinirymeny whom he faw overpowered with Number Sy and had tiot Courage enough to bear down and ajpjl them^ ■^ ■-> tn rmi- f ' r ,; jj^ARTICLF. y. J .u Mr. Byng ufed his utmoft En- deavours to land a Letter for General Elakeneyy to let him know the Fleet . was , *,— ,,_.. "S!^ a mojl )ad not n board M his Proof \o IVon- \ Squa- hen his half of lator of fered to ihom he Ts, and ir down a \ En- General e Fleet was ( 21 ) was off MahoHy and that he would do all in his Power to aflift him. •* •..<.:; ii. "*'''V,'v 'y ■<■-/ REMARK, M : '..r^i The jidmiral did indeed fend Captain Harvey for the Purpofe abovemen- "" "i* tionedy before he engaged, or rather paid his Compliments to Monf. la Galliffonniere ; but called him in when the Enemy's Fleet appeared : yet %\x zker the Engagement, notwith/landwg ' r\ \\t{by his own Account) the French */^rA )^:Admiral was obliged to edge away, :^:\-^ never made the leaft Attempt to fend '^^;^ jhe ■ Letter on Shore, or relieve the .,,,^^^^^ ^^^ Blakeney. -1 vjM . ;'1 :!'H AR- X f / I' (22) ■•^ k 'J i* ARTICLE VI. ^^ Mr. Byng and the Council of War found it impradlicable either to fuccour or relieve Fort Sf» Philip ditGT the Engagement, feve- ral of the Englijh Ships having re- ceived much Damage. ■ ■'■ REM ARK. Ba^ Mr, Byng might have prevented the Ships in Mr, Wcft'j Divificn from Juffertng fi much^ if be could have "^^ perfitaded himfelf to venture his Per" ' fon in the Fray, — ^e gallant Council of War finding it 'Would be dangerous to relieve the Fort^ wifely refolved that it was imprafticable. Several Land Officers who were on Board the Fleet y and afljftcd at the Council '\: -\ ;'« '^'i Ji.y •:/ cil of either t Sf. fcve- igre- of War y imagining {as it isfuppofed) that the Climate of Minorca would be too hot for their tender ConJlitU' ' tiom^ did not chufe to join their Regi^ menti in the Fort^ but unanimoufly agreed^ *twas better to return to Gibraltar, and covqt that important Fortrefs, ited the on from id have m Per^ Council ngerous refohed Several Board Council 4 ARTICLE VII. SUPPOSING Mr. Byng had driven Gallijfonniere from before Mahon^ as he had no Land Forces on Board, and could fpare no Sea- men, what Afliftance could he have given the Garrifon ? •^■j-:i::i ,^:l ,i; :5-r. ■?■*'» ■■ I ;i R E- ';%* I :K i"^- -«► u- (% 1.5 ( 24 ) REM ARK, ^ He might have landed the Sick and Wounded which he complains ofbav- , ing on Board his Fleets which would have been a ftrong Reinforcement to Blakeney and a vaji Eafement to bimfelf, . , .\ I- f ARTICLE VIII. Mr. Bjng was injurioufly treated by the Miniftry, who left out of the Gazette great Part of the Letter he fent to Mr. Cleveland^ Secretary to the Admiralty, in order to preju- dice the good People of Great Britain againft him. M n R E- :Vs ■t 55 ) V* V \ ... A. .1 -J, *. s. \ i ■« -v ',• • , , . . . "■" REMARK, !^ «J it^jj oSJsA; 5^j/ Mr, Byng*5 Lf//^r wj^ «(?/ printed entire /^ /^^ Gazette /V ^?/- lowed: But is what bis Advocate fays for him decent and proper ? Zf/ us hear bim ; " What prtfligate and abandoned^ Hearts mufi fhch Men poffefs, who by Omifjions of whole "Paragraphs (f a CoiHmdnder' s own Letter^ and Additions of others^ can Uffen the Force of his Jttftification in an Affair of Life and Death-, change the Account of his Proceedings, and almoft efface the whole Meaning y bis Letter i to make his own Words condemn bim to the Multitude, by fpeaking half what they exprefs; and extorting, by this new Way of putting E ' Letters ^ ■^. ti ■•v Letters to the Torturey fo contra^ di£tory to the Spirit of the Englifh LawSy a Meaning Jo different from what they truly import ^ a Confeffon of Guilt which is not to be found in the whole uncaftrated Original^ If this appear to be a true Reprefenta-^ tion, you will not witb^hold a jufl Re- fentment on this Occqfim i mid that it isy I dare to make appear from fuch Proof Sy that even the greateji Enemy again/l Mr, Byng Jhall be obliged to confefs his Convi^ion of the Truth ofwbat Jhall be faidi and that, however guilty he may appear to be, m comparifon with bis Oppreffors he is as innocent as the Perfon who treads on a Worm, compared with Camwhojlew his Brother, or he who burns his own Hovel, to him that fit B > '-i t 1 L'' '''M i ikv' \tfrom nfeffion mnd in al? If •efenta^ id that r from greatefl (hall be n of the ndtbat, to be^ ^Jfors be dn who rd with be who m that «"N .-JCV- vA %> .- I l-fi*; (27) ' fef Fire to tbe fhattered Ruins of ' "* Liibon amidfl tbe Calamities of the Earthquake" Is not this. Sir-, to you I appeal, endeavouring to vin^ dicate Mr, Byng at tbe Expence of tbe Government^ But can any Man, how partial or prejudiced foever, be fofbolifh as to imagine that tbe wifeft and bcft 'M$niflry that ever fat at ■ the Helm of State, intended by their ^ Metffod of retailing bis Letter to do tbe Admiral any Dijfervice ? Alas ! Sir, the very contrary, ^hey knew that tbe lefs of his Letter was pub' lijhed^ the Icis the Pqffions of the People Would be inflamed againft him\ and humanely refufed h let the whole Letter, written with fo much Pleafure, appear to bis Dijadvantage, This was Kindnefs, not Injuftice; but E ^ tbe \ i ' t^ « l« II >« .. -I T t, "■ 1- . . ■ - *- •S-j-^t. ;fP»- ■ ^- I t m ; t . „«•" : -V . the Minds offome Men (lmeat{ no Re^ JleSiion on the Admiral) are Jo weak, that tfyy carinot dj/linguijh 4 Benefit from an Injury. I i . \- ff ' ' ' v^-. ' . \v J .\ • d-iW/' « U^: ' ARTICLE IX. f Mr. 5^»f found few qr no 5torcs at Gibraltar^ in the Magazines, tQ| fiipply the Squadron; the careening Wharf, [Storehoufes, Pits, ^c, werQ intirely decayed. • W^hai Jignijies all this to the AdmiraTi Vindication f He was fent to Jight^ not to careen ; and he might as well have retreated to cov^r Portfmouth Dock as Gibraltar, * 'Ifl^ 'i I"- AR^ J r. ( ag ) v-S . ARTICLE X. Mr. Byngs Letter to the Admi^ K^ltyy dated on board the Ramillies^ ia Gibraltar Bay i May/^b^ 1756, )vas the Occafion of his Difgrace; The Miniftry declaring from that Letter, they forefaw he would not fight ; whereas the faid Letter con- tained only an Account of the Con- dition of the Storehoufes at Gib- raltary Force of the Enemy at Minorca^ ^c, Sfc. * " * ' '■'■,■'",■■; REMARK. Ai the Admiral has grievoujly complained of his Letter y containing an Account ;.<*" ,f (30) ff the Engagement off Minorca,* • beinf caftrated apd interpolated,' we ' will print the fjetier^ the Receipt of which, he fays, may he fixed as the '^ Mra of his Difgrace, Word for • ^ Word as be hiit^elf has given it ta. r.r the Public, I fti» ^:v'>:\\ "Jib lo ;;;.;.•! .'•^-' \ • v,.^ 4*»J\V«>*.Ai .\YVi\v T\ . •. X. I"- ■ ■ III i«»> »rca, ptof t the ifir itta 4 •« • • cri = JRtf « ( 31 ) RamillieSy in Gibraltar Eajf^ May 4, 1756. ii'ii »«' — -- •■*.*- »^ f • -- ♦ . .• i ^ /^, ^ :* THIS comes to you by Ex- prefs from hence by the ** Way of Madrid, recommended " to Sir Benjamin Keene, his Ma- " jelly's Minifter at that Place, to « be forwarded with the utmoft Ex- " pedition. * I' J ■■*. " I arrived here with the Squa- ** dron under my Command, the << 2d Inftant in the Afternoon, afl «ter ■ V ! ^.n 1 4'r << ter a tedious Paflagc of twenty- " feven Days, dccalioncd by cdh- ** trary Winds and Calms, and was " extremely concerned to hear from ** Capt. Edgcumbt /^who I found " here with the Princes Lous/a " and Fortune Sloop) that he was ** obliged to retire from Minor ca^ *' the French having landed on that " Ifland, by all Accounts, fromthir- " teen to fifteen thoufand Men. .; f _ ^j '., ^ iV % if •■ IS " They failed from Tou/on the " I oth of lad Month, with about *• one hundred and fixty, or two " hundred Sail of Tranfports, eti « corted by thirteen Sail of Men of \ cc War J " War ; how (33) many of the Line I ** have not been able to learn with (( any Certainty. « IF I had been fo h M it i* appy to ** have arrived at Mahon^ before the " i*r^^£'/6 had landed, I flatter myfelf ^< I fhould have been able to have " prevented their getting a Footing << on that Ifland; but as it has [o <* unfortunately turned out, I am <* firmly of Opinion, from the great <* Force they have landed, and thct « Quantity of Prov^fions. Stores and <* Ammunition of all Kinds they « brought with them, that the f< throwing Men into the Caftlc rA ^^ «wiU V !<' i -* li m i ( 34 ) *' Will only enable it to hold out but " a little Time longer, and add to " the Numbers that miift fall into *' the Enemy's Hands ; for the Gar- ** rifon in Time will be obliged to ** furrender, unlcfsafufficientNum- " ber of Men could be landed to " diflodge the French ^ or raife the *' Siege ; however, I am determined *' to fail up to Minorca with the c' Squadron, where I fhall be a bet- ** ter Judge of the Situation of Af- *^ fairs there, and will give General " Blakeney all the Afliftance he fliall " require; though I am afi::id all <* Communication will be cut off «' between us, as is the Opinion of f < lum- ed to e the nined h the abet- pf Af- neral ifiiall id all at off on of <« the »■ ( 3S ) « the Chief Engineers of this Gar- " rifon (who have fcrved in the « Ifland) and that of the other OL V' ficers of the Artillery, who are ** acquainted with the Situation of ^t the Harbour ; for if the Enemy ** haveeredfed Batteries on the two M Shoies near the Entrance of the ^* Harbour^ (an Advantage fcarce to V be fuppofed they have negleded) "it will render it impoflible for our " Boats to have a Paffage to the *' Sal/ee Port of the Garrifon. . ■ « BY the inclofed Lift, deli- ** vertd to me by Capt. Edgecumbi^ " their Lordfhips will obferve the ' ^ '' F 2 " Strength \ I i I I i ' m \l: .1' (( culty in keeping the Ships clean, as there is but one Wharf for them to prepare and careen at. :si CC k (C cc cc V cc cc cc <* By a Council of War, held by General F|J > i J- ,'; i w rS ■1/ ■' h : ;if-. 1? : ( 4O ' « with me, to compleat their Com- ** plemcnt.* vh i ' '\^"- f... i..:X.U iiO » -r « The Chefierfield^ Portland z,vA " Dolphin are on their Paffage from « Mahon for this Place. The ^}' Phasnix is gone to Leghorn by " Order of Capt. Edgcurnbe for **^ Letters and Intelligence; and the " Experiment is ctuizing off Cape ** fialldiy who I expe£l in every ^ Houn " ' • ' li ^'i'.:' f « V' n :;v*-r i^f^r*^ *' 'L' » ^j. « By a Letter from Mr. Banks^ ?f our Conful at Carthagena^ to !f General (43) . ^^Xi^ral Fo^ie, .d^d the 21ft of *< yipH/y ' , it appears, that twelve " Sail of Sfianijb h/kn of War are "ordered (or Cadiz and Ferrol^ " which are expeded at that Port, " but on what Acc9ujit he could " not tell the Governor. " We are employed in taking in J' ^Wine and compleating our Wa- « ter with ,^the utmoft Difpatch, « and (hall let no Opportunity flip " of failing from hence. * % .iw. c( Herewith I fend you enclofed " a Copy of fuch Papers as have G a " been i ' it- , Ik.. I i J-' I?' %. ■I 4 \r ( 44 ) "been dcHvcrH. me, which I " thought neceflaiy for their Lord- *< fliip's Inlpedion. '* V» j . 1 . • • 't » - »• "SIR, 1 li... > " Tour mofi bumble Servcmty " » . , . • -t . - V . . 1 .n. JB- Hon. J— n C—d, J^j^; . ; 't ' t t. ...til l 1 ■A i» •■' ^ . ij M 1 Let "t to i^,r.j I, ' ^ifc (45 ) Let us examine this curious Piece, and try if we cannot find that the Admiral gave too much Reafon for the Conjc^ure of the Miniftry in it. " He is of Opinion ** that reinforcing the Garrifon of Fort " Sf, Phillip would be of no Service, as " it muft in Time furrendcr." In the Name of Truth, in the Name of Jufticc, in the Name of common Senfe, what is this but faying that his Superiors were Fools, and had fent him to fatriBce un- necei&ry Lives by throwing them into the Garrifon ? " However, he vras determined " to fail up to Minorcay where he fhould (< be a better Judge of the Situation of " Affairs there, and would give General « Bkkeney all the AfTiflance he fhould re- ** quire." This Man had pofitive Orders to fight the French Fleet, and, if pofTiblc, to ■| .'V i' ■■ ■If' "i" T-^-*'*- ,M- \, ( 46 ) to relieve Minorca^ yet declares he will fail up there to form a Judgment whether it would be fafe for him to light or not* The formidable Account he gives of the Force of the French, and wi(hipg he had arrived there before they had Landed (in order it may be prefumed to (heltcr himfelf under the Cannon of the Fort) were but too fure Prefages of his Behaviour in the Day of Battle: And thus his Care to clean his Ships, inflead of fighting them, is cailly accounted for* Jl is. lycii; "to conclude; you are, I hope. Sir, fatisfied, by this clear , reafonable and /' r- iial Slate of the Cafe, that the Miuuiry are not in the lenft accountable for the Lo(^ of Minorca : That, on the contrary, they fent out a Fleet to its Relief, confifting of thirteen large Ships, bcfides YnpXtSy'wkU manned^ vi&ualled and cleaned, with a pro- per in (47) per Number of Land-Forces on board, and gave the Command to an Officer of rmdrkable Difcretion and Prudtnce. , I aha, . V 4 . SIR, ■ » '1 ■..,-■• ■ , >■»!-'», i''> ' . .» ■• >' .;:t. Your*8, &e. r^^ * .,« i HL ' FINIS. .; i — ^« * '« . k oa/f ,r.:j '■■/"■ *r, ■■ ... • \ *; :«f ».**" s .1; i'i / s ■ 7 ■ ,.fe / .« !} 1/1 ^^V 1 3fe ^ #• I* ^OOKS printed ffr F^Aup JF2ai>OE8. tff /^^ Globe iViGi^Tiirnftile, Hidborn, M » 7. npWE Devil upoii QlUc|ic8in^£^^ A Satiriadl Work. Wcten Vfibf Uif Pla»! of the celebrated £>f4[^/f Boiteux of Mbiifieur Le Sage, In Two Parts. Dedicated to Sir '"fames D^fhwood: By ^Gentleman oWxf ford. The Second Edition* Price few* d, 2^* Ni B\ The Second Birt may be had fp- parate to complete the Work. 2. {.iCtte^s correrning tJie Englijh ^a^ tion. "* By Monileur De Feltaire, In 1 2»w, Price bound 28. 6d. 3. Dryderi^ Virgil, in three Volumes %V9. royal Paper, a(' rned with above a hundred Sculptures. Price bound 1 8s e^ A very few Copies of this elegant Edition aie remaining, 4. The Rttdiments oC Grammar for rhe Englijh' Saxon iTongiie, firft given in £i^- lijh i being very uieful towards the Und^r-- itanding our ancicut EngUfi Poets, and other Writers. By Elizabeth Efflob, In 4to. Price bound d^, 5. The Temple of the Mofes, or the rrincipal Hiilories of fabqlous Antiquity^ With Explications and Remarks which dif^ cover the true Meaning fXf th<: fevcral FaMes tmd their Foundation jh ibSborr* Vetj lifeful fat young Gen^^^i iiidomn, who intend reading the €kf&^ h^ <3#9/ Prife hmmdi^'. 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