Journal of a French Officer at Martinico.

little parties, and engaged in platoons as well as
they could; and the English, finding themfelves
attacked from every quarter, foon gave way, with
the lofs of a great many men. 'Tis not our cuf-
tom to carry off fcalps, and we contented ourselves
with their grenadiers caps; but cannot help ob-
ferving, that the threatening motto of Nec afpera
terrent ill agreed with the behaviour of thofe that A
wore them. Their platoons, fupported by a body
of their troops, having advanced near a wood,
were brifkly fired upon; and, among others, the
party which had paffed the water before-men-
tioned, retreated and rejoined the main body of
their army. One of their principal officers put
himself at their head, to try to regain the poft
they had quitted, but he was foon killed.

During this time the bomb-ketches approached and threw several bombs into the town and fort. One of them fell within 20 feet of the Floriffant's ftern, which thewed the critical fituation fhe was in: but there was a neceffity for pofting her in that manner, both for defending one fide of the town, and for blocking up the entrance into the Cul du fac. One of the bombs thrown from the fort carried away the flag-ftaff of one of the frigates, which obliged them to retire.

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Monf. Lignery, an officer of diftinction and merit, and one in whom the island placed the highest confidence, had the command of Fort Royal, and behaved with fuch activity, that none of the enemy's fhips came within reach of his guns, D without paying dear for it.

His Majefty's fhip Floriffant, commanded by M. Morville, lay in fuch a manner as to prevent any difembarkation at the favannah next to Fort Royal, and to fire upon the town in cafe the enemy fhould poffefs themselves of it.

M. Morville fent into the fort one of his officers and fome men, with the best of his gunners, E and formed a company, with two officers and fome of the marines who defired to go as volunteers, whom he fent to the Morne Tortuefon, where the greatest push was expected; and, that nothing might be wanting that the fhip could furnish, he fent provifions and ammunition to the camp; in fhort, there was not one of the King's officers who did not give the highest proofs of his zeal and ardour, and fhew as much warmth for the prefervation of the county, as if they had all had estates in it to defend.

The officers of the garrifon diftinguished themfelves very much; and M. Mahaut, a Captain in the infantry, threw feveral bombs with good fuccefs.

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ported had run foul of another flip in the night and funk: That one of their transports, with 150 Highlanders, was taken by two French frigates in the chops of the Channel: That it was publick in England that C M had reprefented the Ifland of Martinico in the most deplorable circumstances, without provifions, or hopes of having any, by the care he had taken to prevent neutral powers from furnishing fupplies: That he had made the Court of London believe he should meet with little refiftance in attacking it, and it was probable, many of the inhabitants, reduced by want, and in hopes of better treatment, would furrender themselves."

This deferter added, that the General and principal officers of the English army had remonstrated to Mr, M, that they found things very different to what they had been reprefented; that they faw no enemy to fight with, and yet bullets were flying about them from every leaf and bough they came near; that the country was full of ambufcades: and that, if they proceeded further, they must be all cut to pieces: Befides this, they were eat up by infects, and fcorched to death by an infupportable heat; and as there was no profpect of fucceeding in the attempt they were upon, they were determined to embark again.

What this deferter told us was foon verified; for in the night-time, and when we were expecting fome grand effort from the enemy, they embarked with all imaginable precipitation, infomuch that at the dawn of day we found in their intrenchments a large quantity of the implements of war, fuch as powder, guns, cartridges, fhovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, and chevaux de frize. I imagine we must have killed and wounded them 400 men, with a lofs on our fide of only 21 killed and

wounded.

Thursday the 18th, their fleet got under fail, and made feveral tacks off the road till-night came on. The next morning we found they had fteered their courfe for St. Pierre's, where every thing was in readiness to give them a good reception.

In fight of the road of St. Pierre's the fleet food to and fro fome time, as if there had been an intention of bombarding the town, which was then Ffull of nothing but fighting men, as every thing elfe had been moved out fome days before. In standing in too near, one of the men of war ran a-ground, almoft abreast of the little battery at the mouth of Dry Gut, which plyed her very warmly, and fhe, on her part, returned a brifk fire: Other veffels were fent to her affiftance, aud eight fhallops to tow her off, which, at length, they effected, tho' they muft certainly have loft a great number of men : On our fide we loft but two matroffes. In the enfuing night the fleet left us and fheered towards Guadalupe.

G

On the 17th, in the morning, we took two prifoners that had been wounded, which were carried to the fort, and an Irish foldier, who had deferted, came in to us. Being carried before the "That the following account: General, he gave the enemy left Portsmouth the 15th of Nov, and arrived at Barbadoes the 3d of Jan. where they embarked 150 Negroes: That they had afked at H Barbadoes a reinforcement of 1000 men, which the Government promifed, if there was occafion, to fend to their affiftance: That one of their hofpital fhips, which had on board five of their principal Surgeons, was not arrived, and it was re

We had made moft excellent difpofitions against the next day. A little work was raised at the Morne Tortuefon, and we had got fome field pieces there which would have put us upon a footing with the enemy; all diforder and confufion was rectified; the ardour of our people for action was great; in fhort, every thing gave us an affurance of fuccefs, when the enemy robbed us of the glory of a conqueft, by running away.

Aaa 2

Hiflorical

TH

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HE military tranfactions of the prefent month in Germany, have been all preparatory to fome grand ftroke that is to follow. The King of Pruffia and Marfhal Daun keep their eyes freddily fixed on the progrefs of the armies of Ruffia and France. Prince Henry, after difperfing the Imperialifts, and raifing heavy contributions upon the petty States in the neighbourhood of Bamberg, has again taken poft in Saxony, and fixed his headquarters at Plauen. As the Ruffians approach, troops are every where filing off to receive them; and when they have advanced to a certain diftance, his Pruffian Majefty defigns in perfon to give them battle, and in the mean time the command of the army in Silefia is to be given to Pr. Henry. B The whole French army is in full march, in order to re-enter his Britannick Majesty's Electoral dominions. Some detachments have already taken poffeffion of Caffel, the capital of the Landgraviate of Heffe, whilft the light troops of the enemy have penetrated as far as Hildesheim, within 15 English miles of the city of Hanover.

In this critical fituation, it is no wonder that C the poor inhabitants are in the utmost confternation. The Allied army, though very powerful, is yet unable to feek the enemy, but must watch fome favourable moment to attack them with advantage. One fignal defeat would be fatal to either army, but moft fo to the French, who are now in the heart of an enemy's country, from whence it. would be difficult for them to retreat.

fomuch that the scattered remains being got together, can scarce form a body of 10,000 effective men. Of the Auftrians and Pruffians, numbers have been killed and taken prifoners on both fides.

Among the enterprizes that are termed the Jes de Guerre, one was formed by the Austrian General Laudon to furprize Berlin, who with a body of 8 or 10,000 chofen troops, had penetrated, by forced marches, as far as Spermberg, within 15 miles of the place. But his Pruffian Majefty being apprised of his defign, caused a body of troops, under the command of General Seidlitz, to file off with all poffible fecrecy from Landshut, in order to purfue them. The Auftrians, perceiving their danger in time, made a seasonable retreat, and the expedition ended in the furprize of Liebau, a small poft, in which were two Pruffian battalions, who retired upon the first appearance of the enemy. this poft the Auftrians were afterwards driven by his Pruffian Majefty in perfon, and nothing material has fince happened.

From

While the attention of the Public was nxt upon the war in Germany, an alarm has been fpread, that France is meditating a defcent upon England. To countenance this report, troops are filing off towards the fea coafts, fhips of war are every where fitting out in the enemy's ports, boats of a new conftruction are building for the transportation and landing of men and horses, and vaft quantities of D provifion and military ftores are amafing to give colour to an intended expedition. It is, however, the opinion of many, that all thefe preparations are but a feint to keep the fleets and armies of England at home, till fome other blow fhall be ftruck that has greater probability of fucces. On this occafion the wisdom of the Miniftry is confpicuous, a fufficient force is provided both by land and fea, for the defence and fecurity of our own coafts; and at the fame time a powerful fleet is fitting out, to caufe a diverfion upon thofe of the enemy. As their fouthern provinces are unguarded, it may not be improbable that the object of their deftination may be the fertile borders of the Rhofne.

The Swedes appear lefs active than in former campaigns. The hearts of the people are with Pruffia; but a corrupt faction hath fwayed the measures of government in favour of the French. About 6000 Pruffians are employed to watch the motions of their army, and to keep them within the limits of their own territories in Pomerania. E

In this critical fituation of affairs, fo many men in the field and no general action commenced, the practice of fkirmishing is often as fatal as a battle; this the Imperialifts have experienced; they have been every where attacked in fmall parties, and every where defeated with confiderable lofs. In

Advices from the Eaft-Indies.

Madrafs, March 22, 1758. Ommodore Stevens is this day arrived with

Bombay, having been

much retarded by currents and easterly winds off Ceylon.

F

Advices are received that on the 22d of April M. de Lally had arrived on the coaft with nine fhips of the line, and two frigates. The two English 20 guns fhips, Triton and Bridgewater, wore in the road of St. David's when the French fleet came there, fo were obliged to run afore. On the morning of April 29, boats from Pondicherry were bringing to land the foldiers, but fled on Admiral Pocock's appearing with his fquadron, con- G fifting of the Yarmouth, Elizabeth, Tiger, Weymouth, Salisbury. Cumberland, Queenborough, and Protector. The French weighed, and bore to the northward, to avoid coming to action; but at two in the afternoon Adm. Pocock came up with

them, and had a hot engagement for two hours, during moft part of which the Zodiac of 74 guns, commanded by M. d'Apfche, Chef d'Efcadre, the the Bien-aimé of 64, and the Comte de Provence of 74, engaged the fhip in which Adm. Pocock was; but he acquitted himself fo gallantly, that the Zodiac was forced to bear away, and her example was followed by the rest of the fleet. Adm. Pocock had only five ships in the action; but with thefe he pursued the French till night, when they put out their lights. On board the Admiral's thip 7 men were killed and 32 wounded; in the other four fhips 22 were killed and 55 wounded. The Bien-aimé was fo much fhattered that they were obliged to run her afhore at Allumperva, and many of the crew were faid to be drowned. The French fleet got into Pondicherry, having paft ours in the night.

June 22. Advice was this day received at Ma

AFFAIRS.

James-Fort, March 4, 1759.

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B

I had wrote thus far, when I was interrupted by the most shocking news I ever yet experienced: Engledue and the floop are cut off by thofe damned villains in the Caffinka country, who C attacked him at the port of trade, where he nobly defended himself; he weighed anchor to get clear of the creek; they purfued, and bush-fought him; he killed 17 of the brutes: at laft, being wounded with an arrow in the breaft, and moft of the crew maffacred, he went into the cabbin, opened the powder fcuttle, hailed the natives to come on board, collected the remains of his crew, laid a train, walked the quarter-deck with his pistol in his hand, a black boy ftanding ready with a lighted match; when he faw a fufficient number on board, he gave the word of command to fire; the faithful flave obeyed; their bodies were fcattered in the air,

A

and above 30 of the barbarians perished by the explofion. Thus died poor Engledue, with eight fine lads, my own flaves. It is not 20 days fince I was with the King in the Caffinka country, and fettled, as I thought, a lasting friendship with him. He received me with all demonftrations of friendfhip and honour; fold me flaves, and I parted from him on the beft terms in the world; nor is there any account of the leaft falling out between Engledue and the natives, but that they fell on him for the fake of plunder. The brave defence, and the disappointment of the villains, will strike a terror, and render them cautious how they attempt the like, Letter from Dunkirk, June 9.

"An embargo is laid on all our privateers, and the crews are taken to man the King's fhips. We expect foon in our road 13 fhips of war which are arrived at Havre-de-Grace, and which are to bring with them a great number of flat-bottomed boats, Twenty-five men are to be draughted out of each regiment of the French guards who are at St. Omer's, and put on board this fleet."

Letter from Dover, June 20.

"Here have been three or four vefiels taken by a French row-boat within thefe two or three days. One little fishing fmack with one man and two boys was taken yefterday by a row-boat: the Frenchmen put two of their men on board the fmack, and then took the old man out, and left the two boys; after which, the Frenchmen falling D aflcep, the boys agreed to cut their throats, but they had no knife. They had a boat a-ftern, fo got into it, and rowed into Dover, leaving the Frenchmen faft afleep with the fmack to go to France. One of the boys was 11 and the other 13 years old,"

CHRONICLE of OCCURRENCE S.

TUESDAY, May 29.

Terrible fire broke out in the tar and oil warchoufes near the Dock gates at Liverpool. On the third ftory of the warehouse were lodged about 30 tons of oatmeal, which, as foon as the floors were confumed, fell in and smothered the flames, otherwife it is thought that quarter of the town would have been burnt down.

WEDNESDAY, 30.

E

So great a fnow fell in the neighbourhood of London, that in fome places it lay on the ground four inches thick. This ftorm, which happened in the morning between one and two o'clock, was of fuch a nature as was never known in the memory of man; many trees were twisted, and feve- F ral had their boughs blown off, or fhivered in a moft extraordinary manner; beans and peafe were laid flat by the weight of fnow, which was five or fix inches deep in many parts of Effex. It was very furprizing to fee fields covered with a deep fnow the 30th of May. The evening before this form happened, Farmer Newnham, of Bedding in Suffex, had a bull and three cows ftruck dead by G lightning, and a tree near that place was split. This happened on the fame night in which a great quantity of fnow fell in that and feveral other Counties round London,

Both Houses of Parliament received a message from his Majefty, importing, that fome advices having been received that preparations were actually making in the ports of France to invade this kingdom, his Majefty was defirous that the militia, or fuch part thereof as may be neceffary, might be drawn out and embodied, and to march as occafion fhould require.

Upon this meffage, both Houfes addressed his Majefty. In the Addrefs of the Lords they declare their utmost indignation and abhorrence of fuch a defign, and that they will with united duty, zeal, and affection, at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, ftand by and defend his Majefty against any fuch prefumptuous and defperate attempt,

In that of the Commons they fay, that animated by indignation at the daring defigns of an enemy whofe fleet has hitherto fhunned, in part, the terror of his Majefty's Navy, they will chearfully exert their utmost efforts to repel all infults, and effectually enable his Majefty not only to difappoint the attempts of France, but, by the bleffing of God, to turn them to their own confufion.

And in both Addreffes, the Parliament authorize his Majefty to affemble the Militia in what manner he fhall think proper, and to take fuch other meafures as he fall judge necessary during the recefs of

Parlia

CHRONICLE of OCCURRENCES. 367

Parliament; and likewife to defire his Majesty to baften thofe Lord Lieutenants, who are not fo forward with their men as could be wished.

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The king's meafures have all been directed to affert the honour of bis crown; to preferve the effential interefts of his faithful subjects; and to fupport the caufe of the proteftant religion, and public liberty. H His Majefty, therefore, trufts, that the uprightness of his intentions will draw down the blessing of beaven upon his endeavours.

We bave it, alfo, in command from bis Majefty, so let you know, that be hopes, the provifions you bave made, to prevent, and correct, the exceffes of the

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