pany with the prizes taken on that memorable occasion, and a large fleet of merchantmen, the whole under the orders of Rear-Admiral Graves. Nothing material occurred until the night of the 22d, when l’Hector, a French 74, being badly manned and a heavy sailer, dropped a-stern and parted company. On the 8th September it blew a strong gale, and the leaks of the Caton, another of the prizes, and the Pallas frigate, had so much increased, that the Rear-Admiral was under the necessity of ordering them to bear away for Halifax. On the 16th the fleet encountered a heavy gale from the E.S.E. which continued to blow with unabating fury till three o’clock next morning, when on a sudden it shifted to the N.N.W., and soon increased to a hurricane. As the day broke, it discovered an indescribable scene of horror and dis-
Brimstone Hill. As no object could be gained by General Prescott remaining on shore, he re-embarked the same evening.
Soon after the arrival of the fleet, Captain Inglefield of the Centaur, was sent to Brigadier-General Fraser with a message of importance, and returned in safety, after establishing signals between the fort and the squadron. The vigilance of the enemy cut off all further communication. Many attempts were afterwards made to throw succours into the garrison, all of which proved ineffectual; and several officers sent with messages to the Brigadier, were detected and taken prisoners.
The enemy prosecuted the siege with unabating vigour till the 13th Feb., when a practicable breach was made in the works, and BrigadierGeneral Fraser and the Governor, having given up all hope of succour, reluctantly consented to capitulate.
On the morning of the 14th, the French fleet, reinforced by five ships of the line, anchored off Nevis; and it being no longer necessary for the British to continue in its present situation, which was useless and dangerous, not only from the vast superiority of the enemy’s fleet, but that they were preparing to erect gun and mortar-batteries on a hill commanding the anchorage, Sir Samuel Hood issued orders to the respective Captains to slip or cut their cables without signal, at 11 P.M., the sternmost and leewardmost ships first, and so on in succession, then to proceed under an easy sail until directed otherwise by signal. That this order might be punctually obeyed, the Captains were directed to set their watches by Sir Samuel’s time-piece . This was performed with the utmost order and regularity, without being molested or pursued by the French fleet; which was lying within five miles, and must have witnessed the manoeuvre. The British fleet anchored at Antigua on the 19th, and a few days after was joined by Sir George B. Rodney, with a reinforcement from, England.
