The Commanders of the Second and Third Divisions of this Squadren, were the Comte de Guichen and the Sieur Hector. REAR-GUARD-Blue Squatriz. H. S. H. The Duc de Chartres, Lieutenant-General. Note 111. Lift of the Killed and Wounded on board Admiral Total, 133 373 Officers wounded. Lieutenant Nicholas Clifford, fecond of the Formidable. Note 113. Letter from Admiral Keppel, to Philip Stevens, Efq; Secretary of the Admiralty. "SIR, Victory, at Sea, July 30, 1778. My letters of the 23d and 24th inftant, by the Peggy and Union cutters, acquainted you, for their Lordships information, That I was in purfuit, with the King's fleet under my command, of a numerous fleet of French fhips of war. From that time, till the 27th, the winds conftantly in the S. W. and N. W. quarters, fometimes blowing strong, and the French fleet always to windward going off, I made ufe of every method to close in with them that was poffible, keeping the King's fhips at the fame 1 3 time, move of a purfuit "would admit of, try to be cautious manner the French machcom dat appeared in them to allow g: hos cine sp to a regular engagement: nce of getting in with them, than by nat oformi, the morning of the 27th, by the of the Eng's fleet under my command, mong mi, centre and rear. ip the headmoft of Vice-Admiral Sir the hips with him, as they led up; acing hips and the Vice-Admiral foon rehe as ney could clofe up: The chace had ocng scented, nevertheless they were all foon in ifferent ticks, paffed each other very ved of the French emed to be the difabling the King's ms and suis in which they fo far fucceeded as to e hips of my feet being able to follow me when I French feet; this obliged me to wear again, hs, and thereby allowed of the French forming their get in a line to leeward of the King's fleet, to* a day; which I did not difcourage, but allowswg & without firing upon them, thinking they meant their force with us the next morning; but they acen in the day, that they took the advantage of the weacher being fuch that they could reach their own Shere was any chance of the King's fleet getting up a the gate the thips were in, in their masts, yards, and to choice of what was proper and adviseable to do. sod conduct of Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Harland, ViceNugh Pallier, and the captains of the fleet, fupported xicers and men, deferves much commendotion. e killed and wounded is herewith inclofed. Sprain Faulknor, captain of the Victory, with this ac- A, KEPPEL. Note Note 114. Lift of the Fleet under Admiral Keppel, which failed from St. Helens, September 28th, on a cruize, and their Line of Battle. Hasand int Admiral Keppel. of July 1778, having a fleet Command, and being then in the ike mumber of ships of the line, make the neceflary preparations for to a line of battle, or into any order, ratacking an enemy of fuch force; but, as been was already dispersed and in dis a for everal ships of the Vice-Admichace to windward, increased the disorder nu ne hips were in confequence more scatt before: and wint in this disorder, he adA 24 made the ignal for battle. such was the more unaccountable, as the eneen order, nor beaten, nor flying, but found atre on that tack which approached the British aurcating plainly a defign to give battle, and cracked it whilft in diforder. By this unoffiGeneral engagement was not brought on; but the ...and captains were left to engage, without order or weace great confufion enfued; fome of his ships ng into action at all, others were not near enough care from the confufion fired into others of the id them confiderable damage, and the Vice-AdSo was left alone to engage fingly, and unfupported. the aid Admiral Keppel negligently performed ede van and centre divifions of the British fleet paffed emy, the Admiral did not immediately tack and de cacy with those two divifions, and continue the the collect them together at that time, and keep fo , is to be in readiness to renew the battle as foon as but, on the contrary, he flood away beyond the great dittance, before he wore to ftand towards them the Vice Admiral of the Blue engaged with the eneyled to be cut off. ter the Vice-Admiral of the Blue had paffed the last thips, and immediately wore, and laid his own fhip's dx the enemy again, being then in their wake, and at a lance only, and expecting the Admiral to advance with all renew the fight, the Admiral did not advance for that fhortened fail, and hauled down the fignal for battle: nor me, or at any other time whilst ftanding towards the thips together in order to renew the attack, as he particularly the Vice-Admiral of the Red and his divifion, |