fcribed men of war of the line and one frigate, directly for New York, and there to put himfelf under the command of Vice Admiral Arbuthnot. The latter part of this order was, perhaps, in confequence of the iquadron hav-" ing been reduced a full fourth, that is, from eight to fix thips of the Ine; and perhaps up on a knowledge of the French from Breit having fo much the fart, that it was morally cer tain our hips could not overtake theirs. Be this as it may, the Rear Admiral put to fea on the 17th of May at 8 o'clock in the evening, after funfet, with a fpirt of wind that juft rended it practicable, which foon becoming fool, he beat against it for three days, indicad of returning into port, as mott of the tea othcers imagined he would have done, and at length, by perfeverance, he cleared the channel. ment (as I was foon informed, and read alfo. the next morning in the Morning Chronicle of the 18th of November, 1781), it was afferted by Lord. Denbigh, that "Rear Admi"ral Graves bad received repeated advices "from Sir George Rodney in May, July, and "August last, of an intended French naval ex -"pedition to the Chesapeak, with a recommen"dation to collect his whole strength, and meet"Sir Samuel Hood off the Capes of Virginia; "that Sir Samuel proceeded there in due time, "dispatched immediately a frigate to Admirali "Graves to let him know his arrival, waited afterwards nine days for bis coming, and being then out of patience, made sail with bis own jquadron for New York, locking by the "way into the Chejapeak and Delaware, "where be could fee neither friend nor foe; "that be found Admiral Graves at Sandy "Hook, not even preparing 10 ftir : and thus as" laft, when the Admiral moved from thence "towards the Chesupeak, be left four foips of 66 66 66 After this he loft no other time upon his paffage than in thifting the prifoners of at large French East Indiaman (which he accidentally fell upon in his very route and captured, and, the moment the became a delay force behind him." To this, the commont to the iquadron, left to the care of his fri report made his Lordship add," the Admiral' gate;) and arrived on the 13th of July at "bad the like information and inftructions frem Sandy Hook with his fix men of war of the "the Admiralty, but that he had equally difline, having accomplished the voyage in eight "regarded them." No fuch affertions were weeks to a day; and made a quicker progrefs hazarded in the House of Commons: although, than any other fquadron had ever done, or e- on the St. Eustatius day, Sir George Rodney ven than any fingle thip of war during the ftated the merit of his own preceedings in the Rear Admiral's fubfequent day of fixteen West Indies, and the advices which he had months in North America, excepting only fent to the commander in chief by sea at New the Lively brig. The French fquadron which York, and fpoke in the highest terms of Sir had failed from Breft on the 2d of May, at Samuel Hood. But in the last letter from Sir five in the morning, and had no channel to Henry Clinton, dated the 13th of November, pafs, and confitted of no more than eight ships he writes, "Had it been poffible for the fleet to of the line with one frigate, got to the Ame- "bave failed at the time it was firf imagined rican coatt but the fame day, or one day ear- "they would baze been able to do, I have not lier and Mr. Digby, with but three ships of “ the leaft doubt that Lord Cornwallis would· the line and a frigate, has been lately nine "have been relieved by the joint exertions of the weeks and four days in going, as Mr. Graves. navy and army, and I therefore cannot fuffi did, from Plymouth Sound to Sandy Hook ;, "ciently lament that they could not have been although the former went at an instant equal-made fooner;" which refers plainly to that ly preflug, and writes to the board, that he loft not a moment's time on the way, and fell in with nothing. Having faid thus much, which I truth is. enough, upon such an incident in a prior pe-, riod, I thall now go to what I undertook, a. faithful though concife relation of Rear Ads miral Graves's proceedings in North Ameri ca, after the command there had fallen upon. him, and previous to his failing to look out for Mr. De Graffe; to the end that his unus, fual vigilance and providence may become, known, in oppofition to the confident charge of the direct contrary, made against him in the House of Lords by a noble Earl, with the particulars of whofe rath affertions I thall therefore begin, as being the fole caufe of my. divulging the least circumstance, or even one fyllable, that paffed either at home or abroad during this unlucky period. Upon the first day of this feffion of parlia *See London Gazette, 6th November, 1781. 66 General's letter to Lord Cornwallis, of the 24th of September, informing his Lordfhip, "that the relief would fail the 5th of Oc" tabert." Now, Sir, as the Admiral, whilft in North Admerica, could not be apprized of what might be alledged here, and, by being ordered from thence to Jamaica, is fill farther removed from any intercourfe with this country, I think it my duty to lay before the public fo much of his proceedings, relative to thefe charges, as will thew the little ground there is for them. The fit of Sir George Rodney's advices was this. "Sandwich, St. Eufatius, 3d May, 1781. "SIR, "A very confiderable French fquadran "having arrived at Martinique from Europe, on the 29th of last month, I think it my du"ty to give you information thereof, that you "may be upon your guard fhould they vifit "the coats of America, in which cafe 1 thall fend you every attittance in my power. "I have the honour to be, &c. "G. B. RODNEY." It was addreffed to Vice Admiral Arbuthnot, fent by the Garland, Captain Chamberlayne,' and arrived (as I am informed) at New York the 19th of June. By a letter from the Admiralty, dated the 5th of April, Mr. Arbuthnot had been informed, that by their advices" the jquadron of ships, which had been fo ling preparing at "Brejt, faid to be defined to America" (by which was meant the Leeward Islands as "well as the Continent,) was expected to fail the 22d, and it was apprehended did fail the "24th ultimo. This fquadron was commanded by Monj. De Grafie, and faid to confift of 26 jips of the line, but there was intelligence "that 6 of them were to be detached to the Eaft" a Indies, and that the remainder were to go to "the Leeward Islands or Rhode Islind, most "probably to the former, though an account of that day (the 5th of April) exprefly fad "four were to go to North America and the remaining 16 to Martinique. The number of troops faid to be embarqued were from 7 lo "12000 men, and that a part of them was to go to the Eafi Indies; but of thefe there were And no very certain or diftinct accounts." by another letter of the 4th of May from the Admiralty, which came by the pacquet in the month of June, the fame Vice Admiral was intructed that by the board's intelligence young Laurens would return, in about ten days after the 2nd of April, in a French frigate 1rom Breit. No more re force of any kind would from France. Mon. De Graffè was cerkarly gone to Martinique, and would not go in North America till July or perhaps Augult. The troops and transports intended for Khode hjland, having been deprived of the Convoy of the Sagittaire, bad gone to Martimique with Ment. De Graße, from whence they would probably fail in July with a part "of his fleet, about ten or twelve ships of the the rest of Monf. De Graffe's ficet “would convoy the merchantmen ready for Eu sope in July or Auguji.” " line: 44 Upon the 2d of July Mr. Arbuthnot turned over his fleet to Rear Admiral Graves, the Vice Admiral having for fome time received permiffion to return home, and directions in that event to leave the command to the Rear Admiral, or, if he was gone to the Weft Indies (although the latter had no orders for going there), with the fenior officer upon the ftation; and on the 5th the Vice Admiral actually departed for England in the Roebuck, leaving behind him for the defence of North America feven thips of the line. On the very day of the command being thus devolved upon Mr. Graves, he fent the following letter to Sir George Rodney at the Leeward Inlands. "London, at Sandy Hook, 2d July 1781. "SIR, "I have the honour to forward to you by "Lieutenant Delanoe, in the Active brig, "his Excellency General Clinton's meffenger, alfo my difpatch, containing the latest "intelligence obtained here, as well as that "from Europe. The importance of that ob"tained here, which was taken from an in"tercepted poft, will thew you the apprehen❝tions of a confiderable force expected from "the French commander in chief in the Weft "Indies, in concert with whom Monf. De "Barras feems to act; and will demonftrate "how much the fate of this country muft "depend upon the early intelligence and de"tachments which may be feat by you hi "ther upon the first movement of the e 66 nemy. "I iball certainly keep the fquadron under my command as collected as poffible, and fo "placed as to fecure a retreat to New York "where our ftand must be made; and will "keep cruizers to the southward. The French have the addition of a fiftyfour gun thip. We are weaker by the ab"fence of the Royal Oak, now at Halifax "heaving down; in lieu of which the War"wick has arrived fickly, and is not yet fit "for fervice. "I have the honour to be, &c. "THO. GRAVES." Lieutenant Delanoe was injoined by his or ders to proceed without a moment's lofs of time, and to make the best of his way back with whatever difpatches he might be charg ed, taking care not to be spoken to by any thing on his paffage. And by a letter to Lord Sandwich of the 5th of July, conveyed by the Roebuck, the Rear Admiral communicated the fame information, and obferved withall, that the intelligence obtained in that country, "confirming the connection as well as dependence "of Monf. de Barras upon the French Admiral "at Martinique, made it very much to be ap"prehended that fomething material would be "attempted when the hurricane feafon should "make it necesary for fects to quit the Weft In"dies; fo that our prefervation must turn upon "the fuccour we might receive." He apprized his Lordship of the true ftate of the North American fquadron, and gave his own opinion of the kind of fhips belt calculated for that Aation. And in a fubfequent letter of the 20th of July he tranfmitted to his Lordthip another accurate flate of his fhips, defcribed the fort of war which he propofed to carry on, until there fhould arrive force fuficient to enable him to act more vigorously, pointed out the inconveniencies and wants which his Majefty's fleet had to fruggle with, and what he conceived would be the beft remedies, in that region; region; reprefenting withall what had paffed between him and the Generals relative to thofe objects, being extremely detirous of their acting in perfect concert. car. On the 19th of July came advice from the Admiralty, dated the 22d of May (addreffed to Vice Admiral Arbuthnot), by the Hornet floop of war, of large jupplies of money, clothing, and military flores, preparing to be "fent by young Laurens for the ufe of the Ribil amy in North America, who would in all "probability fail from France, before the end "of June, with a number of merchantmen, un"der the convoy of one ship of the line, another "armed en flute, and two flout frigates; that "there was every reason to believe it one of the "most important supplies the French bad ever "fent to the Rebils; that there was no doubt "this fleet was of the utmost importance, and considered by the Rebels themfelves as furnish. "ing them with the only poffible means of 66 rying on the war, the capture of which "would be decifive of the flate of america, and "of the war; and their Lordships fignified their "directions to the Admiral to caufe a good Lok"out for the hips and vefjels having the faid fupplies on board, but left it to his own judg "ment to determine upon the most likely places to fiation cruizers for the purpose of intercepting "them." In obedience to thefe infiruétions Rear Admiral Graves, then lying without the bar at Sandy Hook, failed fo foon as the wind permitted, which was the 21t, with fix thips of the line, ordering the Adamant of 50 guns, that only wanted water, to get fupplied, come over the bar, and follow him; which the did, and reached him by the next day at fea; and the Royal Oak coming from Halifax joined near St. George's Bank, on the 18th of July. The probability of a rencontre with the Rhode Island fleet, then called eight hips of the line, made this affembly of the whole New York fquadron very defireable. 86 The Admiral, before he failed, had ftrength ened the cruizers both of the Delaware and to the northward. The Aurance, Amphitrite and Monk were appointed to Bollon Bay; and to the convoy for Canada he had added the Warwick of 50 guns, knowing that the French had a fhip of that force and four frigates at Bofton, and that they were very much upon the watch to intercept all convoys from Europe for Halifax and Quebec; but the War sick was to return fo foon as they got above the range of privateers, which is generally a bout the Ifle du Bic. This convoy in particular was very important, for it confified of German recruits, exchanged prifoners, convalefcents, ftores, and clothing under the care of General Reidefell, being the whole provifion for the army which government had fent out the preceding year for Canada, and for which General Haldiman had been very preffing. It failed the 26th of July; and the King's thips were directed by the Admiral, when they came back from Halifax, to bring whatever mast and storeships were ready; par ticularly the Prince William maftship, which had been lying in the bay of Fundy fix or feven months in expectation of convoy: for the yard at New York was extremely deficient in all kinds of naval furniture, without cordage, rigging, fiores, or provifions, every thing having been bought for a long time paft in New York itfeit. The Solebay was ftationed from the Neverfunk to Cape May, and the Midea, Richmond and Iris off the Delaware, with orders to look out for the French fleet from the Weft Indies: the Charon, Guada. loupe and Bonetta were in the Chesapeak: the Savage failed (the 28th of July) with orders to call at Chesapeak and thence proceed to Charleftown, where were the Cary fort and Corme. rant; all of which being coppered had direc tions to cruize alternately from a fortnight to three weeks to look out for the enemy then expected; one of them to go out every week, one to lay on her fation, and one to return inco port, fo that there might be a rotation of intelligence kept up by them, exclusive of what might be carried to and from the Chesapeak by the general runners. To quicken the intercourfe with the fquadron, each station had orders to fend duplicates of their difpatches; one part to be forwarded to the commander by tea at New York, whilft the other proceeded immediately in queft of the fquadron, accord. ing to a rendezvous depofited for that purpose aboard the guardship at the Hook. Commodore Affleck, who was left in the command of the port, had inftructions from the Admiral to tend to the fouthern stations, all neceffary information and inteRigence for the guidance of cruizers. In a word, every regulation for intercourfe and expedition that could be devised, was made; and the molt cogent exhortations fo diligence and attention were given throughout the various itations. And On the 27th of Joly (whilft the Admiral was at fea) arrived Sir George Rodney's fecond dispatch by the Swallow floop, of which I could get from Sir George no other than the flowing general minute. "Sand In confequence of what fell in the House of Lords the jame might, I asked him (as we wire dividing in the House of Commons) for the dates and particulars of bis three dispatches to North America, when, with great franknefs and pɔliteness, be told my," I should have copies of "them, for be thought I had a right to them;" telling me withal," that the dispatch of the "7th of July was the most material of all." The next day be gave me a running minute of them; but on my reminding him of his promife of copies, be affured me be would have such made and fext to me. After waiting feveral days, I called truice at his house for the purpose; ard, not finding him at home, I wrote two or three notes to refresh his memory; but from the burn (1 fuppofe) of business, be omitted to fend me any copies. However, the St. Eufatius affair brought "Sandwich, Carlisle Bay, July 7, 1783. "Acquanting Vice Admiral Arbuthnot, that the French fleet, under De Graffe, had quitted Martinique with the trade of "that liland, and were undoubtedly gone to "Cape Francois; that in all probability they "would afterwards proceed to the Chefapeak; "therefore recommending it to him to jom, "with all his force, the fquadron I thould "bring or fend to his affiflance off the Capes "of Virginia, ftationing frigates to look out "for that purpose, and to give my fquadron "the neceffary information relative to affairs " in America.". The literal contents I now know to have been thefe: Sandwich, Barbadoes, July 7, 1781. "SIR. "As the enemy has at this time a fleet of twenty-eight fail of the line in Martinique, "a part of which is reported to be destined brought him to the bufe; when be flated bis feveral advices, and appeared to bare tranfcripts of them: I applied to him, as we were rifing, for thofe tranfcripts; and he then, after turning over all bis papers three or four times, drew out feveral, and gave them to me. I did not at that time look into the contents, but did fo the next morning, when I found the dispatch of the 7th of July to be only mifling: whereupon I eurote directly to Sir George to mention the omiffion, and pray it might be supplied. In anjwer, be fent a ve y genteel note (December 5,) Jaying, The copy of bis letter of the 7th of July was « in bis letter-book left at Plymouth, but a copy 46 was, be believed, jent to the Admiralty." Upon this I wrote to Mr. Stephens, to beg a tranfcript, alluring him, if I bad it from bim, I would not print it. I had no anfwer; but, on meeting him ten days afterwards, be told me be bad made a diligent rummage among their pa pers at the Admiralty, and it could not be found. So joon as I heard of Sir George getting in Pit mouth, I wrote again to entreat the favour of a copy of this letter of the 7th of July from bis letter-book: I have had no anfer. Being ware of his multipheity of business, I wrote at the fame time to a friend there to wait upon Sir George and his Secretary for the purpose: the latter (Mr. Paget), upon being applied to, faid be would look out the copy, if there was one, and fend a tranfeript the next morning; but this not being done, my friend went to Sir George bimfelf, at the Commitioner's boufe, December 21, who received him with bis ufual politenes, aflured him of his good intentions forwards, and bis great defire to ferve, Admiral Gravni, whose character he well knew was myfi unjustly injured; and, after paffing several high encomiums upon bim, told the gentleman that if any copy of this letter was in bis poflion, he would cerMainly fend it to him when he got aboard: but no copy has been feent, and Sir George is failed for the Well Indies. 1 "In cafe of my fending a fquadron to A"merica, I thali order it to make to the "Capes of Virginia, and proceed along the "coal to the Capes of the Delaware, and "from thence to Sandy Hook; unless the "intelligence it may receive from you should andace it to act otherwife. You will be pleased to order cruizers to "look out off the first mentioned Capes, "giving them orders to hoift, &c. (Sgnals *for knowing each other). "The enemy's fquadron destined for Ame "rica will fal, I am informed, in a thort "time; but whether they call off at Cape "Francois I cannot learn: however, you may depend upon the squadron in America being reinforced, should the enemy bend "the force that way. "I have the honour to be, "with great regard, Sir, "Your most obedient "humble Servant, "GEO. BRIDGES RODNEY." "To the Commander in Chief of his "Majy's Lips, &c. &c. "North America. By comparing the minute with the letter every body may perceive that the former makes Sir George fay the French fleet had "quitted Martinique, were undoubtedly gone "to Cape Francois, and in all probability "would proceed to the Chefapeak; and be "therefore recommended to the Commander in "North America to join with all bis force the “Squadron he fhould bring or fend off the Capes "of Virginia" whereas Sir George in fact only writes that "as a part of the French "fleet at Martinique is reported to be defined for North America, he bimself should keep a "good look-out on their motions; that in cafe "of his fending a fquadron to America be thould "order it to make the Capes of Virginia; and "therefore defired croizers might be ordered to "look out for it off thofe Capes: (adding) that "the enemy's fquadron defined for America "would fail, he was informed, in a fhort time, but whether they would call off at Cape "Francois he could not learn; however, the Squadron America might depend upon being reinforced, fhould the enemy bend their force that way." This great variance of the minute from its original, the decided pofitevenefs of the one as to time and place fo irreconcileable, in both thofe refpects, with the provifionalness, indeterminatenefs, and uncertainty of the other, will induce the reader, I have no doubt, to lament along with me that Sir George thould not be able to get at his letter book when he favoured me with the minste; more especially as Mr. Stephens too, after the most diligent rummage rummage among the Admiralty papers, could The Commodore, having opened and read "Iris, off New York, July 28th, 1781. "SIR, His Majefty's floop Swallow, arriving with the difpatches I herewith inclofe, I fend them forward immediately with the "Dispatch brig to accompany her; and I am "to add that, by letters from merchants at "Cape Francois, we learn that Monf. de "Graffe and his fleet were daily expected "there on the 4th inftant. "The Warwick failed two days ago with the Halifax convoy. The Amphitrite and General Monk failed at the fame time. The Savage is gone this morning. The "Hornet with the pacquet will fail to-mor row. "I have fent Sir George Rodney's private "I am, &c. A privateer coming within fight of Captain Upon the 11th of Auguft came in the Ampbion and two armed fhips, with twenty-three tranfports, bringing German troops from Bremerleke, of which no previous notice had been fent from Europe either by the Hornet of any other conveyance; fo that this convoy, as well as that for Canada, probably owed their fafety to the New York fquadron being at fea, for the enemy's at Rhode Island was lying in wait, and ready to ftrike, whenever any fuch occurrence thould afford an opportunity. The Admiral did not return from his cruize until the 16th, when he directly paffed the bar with his fquadron to refit with the utmost expedition; and on the 17th the Robuft began to get her guns out. She and the Prudent were ordered to the yard in the East River; the former (having many complaints in her bottom, being extremely leaky, and not coppered) to be taken to the wharf, ftripped and caulked, and her bottom thoroughly examined, to render her capable, if poffible, of going to Halifax to be hoven down; and the latter to get in new lower mafts, those which the had being unferviceable and unfafe, their wounds in the action of the 16th of March VOL. VI. Jan. 1784, having opened during the late cruize fo as to endanger their falling. The Europe, that had a wooden bottom, was brought close into the fhore, lightened and heeled as much as poffible, in order to mend her fheathing and ftop her leaks. But the Chatham of 50 guns, fo foon as the could be revictualled, and made ready, was fent to cruize from Cape Sable as far as Cape Ann for any thips that might be coming for the rebels from Europe; on which fiation the captured la Magicienne a French frigate. On the 28th of Auguft arrived the Nymphe Captain Ford, while the Admiral was ac Denyzes (the Narrows) on Long Island, in confultation with the General (Sir Henry Clinton) upon the movement of Washington's army across the North River; and juft as he had received intelligence of the whole French iquadron under M. De Barras having failed from Rhode Ifland the Saturday before, that is, the 25th inftant. The Nymphe, without flopping, proceeded directly over the bar for New York, but the Captain, fo foon as the came to the Narrows, put off in his boat, and haftening to the Admiral, delivered Sir Samucl Hood's difpafch, at the fame time faying" there is Sir Samuel bimself now come to "an anchor without the bar," pointing to the whole Leeward Itland fquadron full in view. The Admiral had feen it before he had left his own fhip, and had therefore given orders for buoying the bar and for the attendance of pilots, &c. that if the Commander fhould find it neceflary to come within he might have the speedieft means of fo doing; and had left directions alfo to acquaint him that five fail of the line were lying there fit for fea. The Nymphe, although detached exprefs, the fleeteft failer of the whole Leeward Inland fquadron, and commanded by a very alert officer, did not precede their arrival two hours. The letter, however, which Captain Ford was charged with, ran thus. "Barfleur, at Sea off Cape Henry, 25th Aug. 1781. SIR, "Herewith you will receive a duplicate "of the letrer I had the honour to write you "by Lieut Delanoe of the Active brig, left any misfortune might have befallen her in "returning to you. I am now fleering for "Cape Henry in order to examine the Che"fapeak; from thence I thall proceed to the "Capes of the Delaware; and not seeing or "hearing any thing of De Graffe, or any de "tachment of hips he might have fent upon "this coaft, fhall then make the best of my "way off Sandy Hook; where I thall be "permitted to anchor, or not, as may appear "most defireable to you. Annexed is my " line of battle, by which you will fee the "number and force of his Majefty's fquadron " under my command, "I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. "SAM. HOOD. "Rear Admiral Graves." |