command attacked the enemy's
fleet, consisting of twelve ships of the line, attended with
eleven frigates and some smaller cruisers, on the 23rd instant,
close in with the port of L'Orient. The ships which struck are
the Alexander, Le Formidable, and Le Tigre, which were with
difficulty retained. If the enemy had not been protected and
sheltered by the land, I have every reason to believe that a
much greater number, if not all the line-of-battle ships, would
have been taken or destroyed.

In detailing the particulars of this service, I am to state that
at the dawn of day, on the 22nd instant, the Nymphe and Astrea,
being the look-out frigates ahead, made the signal for the
enemy's fleet. I soon perceived there was no intention to meet
me in battle; consequently, I made the signal for four of the
best-sailing ships, the Sanspareil, Orion, Russell, and
Colossus, and, soon afterwards, the whole fleet, to chase; which
continued all day and the whole night with very little wind.

Early in the morning of the 23rd, the headmost ships, the Orion,
Irresistible, Queen Charlotte, Russell, Colossus, and
Sanspareil, were pretty well up with the enemy; and a little
before six o'clock the action began, and continued till near
nine. When the ships struck, the British squadron was near to
some batteries, and in the face of a strong naval port, which
will manifest to the public the zeal, intrepidity, and skill of
the admirals, captains, and all the other officers and seamen,
and soldiers, employed upon this service; and they are fully
entitled to my warmest acknowledgments.

I beg also to be allowed to mark my approbation in a particular
manner of Captain Domett's conduct, serving under my flag, for
his manly spirit, and for the assistance I received from his
active and attentive mind. I feel great satisfaction in doing
justice to the meritorious conduct of all the officers of every
class, as well as to the bravery of the seamen and soldiers in
the Royal George, upon this event and on former occasions.

I judged it necessary, upon the information I received of the
force of the enemy, to put the Robust, Thunderer, and Standard
into my line of battle; but their distance from my squadron, and
there being little wind, prevented them from joining me till
after the action was over.

I shall proceed upon my station as soo