Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, from 1727 to 1783

advance as foon as they reached the shore. The enemy perceiving the difpofition made to receive them, thought proper to retire, and returned to their own coaft.

Upon the alarm guns being fired in the morning, the troops affembled at the alarm pofts, and the battalions of Militia in the neighbourhood of St Helier's, preceded by two companies of the 78th regiment, under the command of Captain Hugh Fraser, marched for St Owen's Bay. Elizabeth, St Aubin's, and Mount Orgueil caftles were occupied by the invalids. The three companies of the 78th, commanded by Captain George Mackenzie encamped at Grenville bay, moved to Breiadis, and by a fpirited march, was time enough to occupy the heights on that bay, joined with some militia from the north part of the island, in cafe the enemy should have found that place more eligible after a repulse in St Owen's, which the wind by having now changed to the north west, would have easily admitted of. These troops were fo fituated as either to be ready to defend St Breladis, move eastward to St Helier's, or to fupport the line already drawn up to defend St Owen's, as occafion might require. The animated fpirit of the 78th regiment was highly pleafing to the Militia of the island, who alfo fhewed every difpofition for the defence of it, and from the good countenance in the moment we expected the enemy to land, I am confident, would have done their duty. Lieut. Nugent, late of the 3d regiment upon half-pay, is fent by the Lieutenant-governor with his difpatches. I thought I could not give the charge of this to a more proper perfon, as he is perfectly capable of giving your Lordship every information you may wish to know.

I have the honour to be, &c.

Copy of his Majesty's approbation of the conduct of the Officers and Soldiers upon this occafion, fignified in a letter from Lord Viscount Weymouth, Secretary of State, to Lieutenant-governor Corbet, dated St James's, May 17th, 1779.

"His Majefty particularly noticed the commendations you give "to the fpirited behaviour of the 78th, and the militia of the island, "and to the zeal of Captain Mulcafter, Captain Falle, and Mr James Amia Lempriere, and of the other half-pay officers, both "of the navy and army, and of the feveral gentlemen of the island, among whom were the chief magiftrates and members of the "ftates, as alfo the activity of Major Robins of the fouth-west regi60 ment. You will exprefs his Majesty's approbation of the zeal, "conduct, and bravery of thofe feveral gentlemen, as well as of the "colonels, and other officers of the regulars and militia, who have "fo properly diftinguished themfelves for the honour of his Majefty's arms, and the fafety of the island. I have great pleasure alfo "in acquainting you, that his Majefty has been graciously pleafed "to approve of your conduct on this occafion, and of the attention you have fhewn to give the earlieft intelligence poffible of the mo"tions of the enemy."

Note

Note 151. A Lift of the Enemy's fhips and Veffels taken, and deftroyed, on the 13th day of May, 1779, in Concale Bay, near St Maloes, by a divifion of his Majefty's fhips that failed from Jersey, on the 11th inft. to go round the S. W. end of the Island, under the command of Capt. Sir J. Wallace.

Ships. La Danae,

La Valeur,

Le Reeleufe,

Le Duppe, cutter,

250 Deferted by her crew, boarded by the boats of the fleet, and ordered to Portsmouth or Plymouth, under the command of Lieut. Rothe, ift of the Experiment. 160 Burnt by Capt. Dod of the Cabot. 130 ditto by Lieut. Rothe.

80 Scuttled and left on fhore by our people.

La Fleur, a floop of 40 tons, 4 men, taken about ten in the morning of the 13th, loaded with timber for building, for St Maloes, from the river Vilaine.

A brig of 50 tons

deferted by their crews, taken, the brig laden
with lintfeed, and the floop with lead.

A floop ditto.
Several fishing-boats, and other fmall craft, deftroyed.

Note 152. Lift of the Squadron that failed from Spithead, May 24th, under Vice-Admiral Darby, to accompany the fleet for North America, under Admiral Arbuthnot*, a certain diftance to the westward-Sailed 24th May, and returned June 20th.