FRENCH AND SPANISH FLEETS IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
In the meantime the French and Spanish fleets advanced towards the British coasts, and for some time rode triumphant in the Channel. At this time Admiral Darby had sailed from Spithead on a cruise to the Westward; but on the 26th of August he returned and got safely into Torbay. He had with him only twenty-three sail of the line, twelve frigates, and six fire-ships; while the united fleets amounted to seventy sail, the greater number of which were ships of the line. The French and Spanish commanders held a council of war, to consider whether they should attack Darby in the harbour; but fear prevented them; and after some unavailing attempts to intercept our homeward-bound traders, this mighty armament, by the wretched state of its ships and crews, caused by sickness and dissension, was compelled to return to port, in the month of September, without performing any deed worthy of notice. All that the French and Spanish admirals did was to pick up some English vessels, which were bringing home part of the money and property which the British had seized, as hereafter noticed, at St. Eustatius.