January the 10th, 1740.
It was resolved in the principal Council of War[1] held at Spanish Town in Jamaica, that the whole Fleet should proceed to Windward, to observe the Motions of the Squadron under the Command of the Marquis d'Antin; and that Capt. Dandridge should be sent before in the Wolf Sloop to get Intelligence.
No Time having been lost in preparing to put to Sea; January the 22d, Sir Chaloner Ogle sailed with his Division out of Port-Royal Harbour; Commodore Lestock the 26th, and Vice-Admiral Vernon the 28th: The three Squadrons, having join'd January the 31st, made Cape Tiberon, on the Coast of Hispaniola, February the 7th; the same Day Captain Dandridge came into the Fleet. February the 8th, the Admiral made a Signal for General and Flag Officers, and communicated to them the Report he had received from Captain Dandridge,[2] viz. "That he had, January the 30th, look'd into Port-Lewis, where he had seen nineteen Ships of War; that one of them carried a Flag at the Main-top-mast Head, and another a broad Pendant;" which Report being taken into Consideration, it was resolved to steer directly to the Isle of Vache; where the Fleet arrived February the 12th, and cast Anchor at about two Leagues to the Westward of Port-Lewis.
The same Day Captain Laws was sent in the Spence Sloop a-fresh to reconnoitre the Harbour of Port-Lewis, who return'd in a few Hours with a Report, "That he had there counted sixteen Ships of War, and that one of them carried a broad Pendant."
February the 13th, the Admiral, accompany'd by the General, went in his Barge into the Bay between the Isle of Vache and Hispaniola, where there was found sufficient Depth of Water for the large Ships, and good Anchorage for the Transports. February the 14th, a French Officer came off with a Message; but the Admiral declining to see him 'till late in the Evening, he return'd without having deliver'd it.
The Admiral went further up the Bay to a small Kay (Island) with an Intention to reconnoitre the French Fleet, and was there join'd by the General, who perceiving it to be impossible thence to look into the Harbour, desired, that he might in Person go in with the Spence Sloop, and that Captain Knowles, being a good Draughts-Man, might accompany him; to which the Admiral consented.
As soon as the Sloop open'd the Harbour, Capt. Laws declared, that the Ships there lying at Anchor were French Men of War, and pointed to one, as having a white Flag at the Main-top-mast-Head; but the General, not being fully satisfied, order'd the Sloop to stand within Gun-shot, when it appeared, that the Ships in View were Merchant-men, most of them unrig'd; excepting one Frigate of forty Guns, whose Main-top-mast-Head lying in a Line with the white Gable-End of an House, occasioned the Mistake about the Flag.