of battle, but on the opposite tack, the flccts paffed each other about noon in a diagonal direction. The action, though very warm, was confequently partial; but the English admiral having in a fhort time fufficiently repaired his damages, made the proper fignals for the van and rear divifions to take their respective stations. This order was inftantly obeyed by Sir Robert Harland, of the van; but Admiral Sir Hugh Pallifer, of the rear or blue divifion, who had fallen a great way to leeward, took no notice whatever of the fignals. Admiral Keppel, after waiting perhaps too long, fent the Fox frigate at five o'clock with peremptory directions to Sir Hugh Pallifer, to bear down into his wake in order to renew the engagement. Hugh answered, "that he was knotting and Splicing, but would obey the order as foon as poffible."

Sir

At fix o'clock the commander threw out another fignal for ALL SHIPS to come into their ftations; and at feven o'clock, wearied with expectation, he threw out a third fignal, for each particular fhip of the blue divifion to come into her ftation in the line-but all to no purpofe, and the day finally closed before Sir Hugh Pallifer rejoined his commander. In the night the French made fail for their own coaft, and in the morning fcarcely were the rearmost ships difcernible from the topmaft heads of the English fleet. Admiral Keppel therefore returned to Portsmouth to refit; but his

public letter, containing an account of this tranfaction, occafioned great fpeculation-his defire to fcreen the mifconduct of the admiral of the blue inducing him to give fuch a relation of this engagement as feemed to imply great impropriety of behaviour in the commander himself. For no reason whatever was affigned for not renewing the engagement in the afternoon, except the expectation of the admiral," that the French would fight it out handsomely the next day."

It was impoffible that the truth fhould not in fome degree tranfpire; and a well written letter appearing fome time afterwards in the public prints, feverely reflecting on the conduct of Sir Hugh Pallifer, that officer thought proper to require from the commander in chief a formal dif avowal of the charges it contained, and a public juftification of his character. This the commander abfolutely and indignantly declining, the vice-admiral immediately exhibited articles of accufation against Admiral Keppel, for mifconduct and neglect of duty on the 27th of July (1778), although he had in the month of October, a fecond time failed with Admiral Keppel, and had never before this fo much as whispered a word to his prejudice.

The Lords of the Adiniralty, to the astonishment of the nation, without the least hesitation, and even with apparent alacrity and fatisfaction, fixed a day for the trial of the Commander in Chief; the result

of

of which was in the highest degree honorable to that brave and injured officer, who was not only unanimously acquitted by the court-martial, but received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his fervices. Sir Hugh Palliser afterwards demanded a court-martial upon himself, which terminated in a flight cenfure only; but the refentment of the public was fo great that it was deemed expedient by the Minifters to accept his fucceffive refignations of his place at the Board of Admiralty, his Lieutenant-Generalfhip of Marines, his Government of Scarborough Castle, and to permit him to vacate his feat in the Houfe of ComThe acquittal of Admiral Keppel was celebrated with illuminations and rejoicings in all parts of the kingdom; and the houses of Lord Sandwich and Sir Hugh Pallifer were infulted by the populace, and the demolition of them with difficulty prevented.

mons.

The ready acquiefcence of the Board of Admiralty in the appointment of the court-martial, on a charge fo grofsly invidious and unjust, gave the higheft difguft to the officers of the navy. A ftrong memorial was prefented to his Majesty on the subject by the Duke of Bolton, figned by twelve admirals, with the venerable Hawke at their head, ftating to his Majefty, in ftrong colors, the ruinous confequences which the precedent now introduced would inevitably bring upon all naval fervice and

difcipline.

difcipline. "If," faid thefe gallant defenders of their country," we had conceived that this Board had no legal ufe of their reafon in a point of fuch delicacy and importance, we fhould have known on what terms we ferved; but we never did imagine it poffible that we were to receive orders from, and be accountable to, thofe who by law were reduced to become mere paffive inftruments to the poffible ignorance, malice, or treachery of any individual, who might think fit to difarm his Majesty's navy of its beft and higheft officers. We conceive it to be disrespectful to the laws of our country, to fuppofe them capable of fuch manifeft injuftice and abfurdity."

The only part of Admiral Keppel's conduct really culpable appears to have proceeded from that excefs of deference and refpect for Sir Hugh Pallifer, which prevented his adopting thofe daring and decifive measures the occafion called for, in order to improve in the most effectual manner an opportunity of which he had little reason to expect the return. The courage of Sir Hugh Pallifer had been on many occafions too confpicuous to be queftioned; but that principle of envy, fo powerful in fome minds, could not endure that a man whom he regarded in the light of a rival fhould acquire fuch an addition of fame and fuperiority as must have resulted from a complete and decided victory.

The SESSION commenced on the 26th of November 1778. The speech from the throne was loud in complaint of" the unexampled and unprovoked hoftility of the Court of France; and regret was expreffed that the efforts which had been made for disappointing the malignant defigns of the enemy had not been attended with all the fuccefs which the juftice of the cause, and the vigorous exertions which had been made, feemed to promise." The addreffes of both Houfes, in the ufual ftyle of duty and loyalty, were carried by great majorities. But in a fhort time the attention of Parliament was attracted by a motion made by the Marquis of Rockingham," That an humble address be presented to his Majefty, to exprefs the difpleafure of the House at the manifefto iffued under the feal of the American Commiffioners on the 3d day of October laft; and to acquaint his Majesty with the fenfe of this House, that the said Commiffioners had no authority whatfoever under the Act of Parliament, in virtue of which they were appointed, to make fuch declaration; and humbly befeeching that the faid manifesto be publicly disavowed by his Majefty." The noble mover, in the courfe of an able and excellent fpeech, addreffed himself to the BISHOPS in a manner peculiarly ftriking. He obferved that "the nature and principle of the war were entirely changed. The right reverend Bench, relying on the affurances of Minifters, might oriVOL. II. ginally

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