Although not properly within my scope, still the bravery of Captain Moore in the Fame privateer of Dublin, cannot pass unnoticed. It reflected honour upon his Country. In his little ship of 24 guns and 108 men, he attacked five sail of the enemy formed into line, carrying 54 guns and 167 sailors. Four out of that number were taken, and recompensed his courage by their wealth.
The alertness of a British Seaman, whose name cannot be retraced, was the means of developing sufficient matter for reprisals against the Dutch, upon the 20th of December. Never did there appear such a scene of low intrigue, and selfish cunning as in these papers which were saved from the ocean. They betrayed a treaty of commerce, which had existed, in secret, ever since 1778, with the rebel states, which would have been soon cemented by one of alliance, under the same dark cover, if this disaster had not discovered all, and brought down the vengeance of Britain for such perfidy.
[CHAP. XXXV.]
Twenty thousand three hundred and seventeen Marines were voted for the service of 1781.
The widely extended commerce of Holland now lay open to general enterprize, which was soon successfully exerted. As avarice was the predominant cause of hostilities, so it was the object of chastisement.
Gibraltar attracted the early attention of our Ministry, by an effort to relieve it, which was accomplished by Admiral Darby, with the Grand Fleet, under circumstances of apparent difficulty, but of eventual good fortune. If the Combined Forces had been united, which was their annual policy and within their power, such an attempt must have been abortive, or performed at an unwarrantable risk.
That fortress persevered in a system of defence, peculiarly destructive to the enemy, and of a kind the most honorable to General Elliot and his garrison. Captain Hervey in the Panther, with his small squadron, also gave proofs of wonderful courage, in frustrating the aim of some fire vessels that were employed to burn it.
France always intent upon her own interests, embraced this occasion of reinforcing her West India fleets by a powerful detachment under the Compte De Grasse. This became necessary, from the return of De Guichen to Europe, who, after having joined Don Solano's fleet, went down to Hispaniola, with an evident purpose of attacking Jamaica, but from whom he separated without a stroke. Although the battles of Admiral Rodney afforded no signal marks of victory in captures, still their effects had a strong influence in the conduct of De Guichen for proceeding homewards with those shattered ships, from amongst his fleet, that could be refitted only in Europe.