"These are considerations which, without doubt, will have their due weight with your Lordship, and induce you, I trust, to view the measures I have adopted as those best calculated to promote, as well the honour of His Majesty's arms, as the safety of this part of his dominions.
"I herewith transmit a comparative state of the force of the two squadrons, in order that your Lordship may be satisfied with my reasons for not discouraging a Naval Engagement, in which, if all had done their duty, I should have had a very different report to make.
"I have the honour to be," &c.
"The Right Hon. Earl Bathurst."
J. M'Creery, Printer,
Tooks Court, Chancery Lane.
FOOTNOTES:
[99] Captain Watson of the Tweed; Tate of the Nancy; and Higgins of the Betsey.
[100] Compte O'Duin's own expression.
[101] Gordon, Author of the History of the American Revolution, vol. iii. p. 328, &c.
[102] "On the 9th January, 1808, died General Naguês, first Aid-de-Camp, &c. &c. His loss was strongly felt. This General had conciliated the esteem of the public by his inclination to do good, his attention to his duty, and his strict probity. Before he entered into the service of Holland, he had been Governor of St. Lucie, which he had defended as a brave soldier, and where he acquired the affection of the Planters."—Historical Documents and Reflections on the Government of Holland, by Louis Bonaparte, vol. ii. p. 214.
[103] From Toulon and Rochefort.