ad he ever enjoyed the command of such a
fleet, almost passes imagination. Certain it is that he would have
wasted little time in formal evolutions. But the fleet was commanded
by Count d'Estaing, a French naval officer of honorable reputation.
What he accomplished during his first year's cruise in American
waters, can be told in a few words. His intention was to trap Lord
Howe's fleet in the Delaware, but he arrived too late. He then
followed the British to New York, but was baffled there by the fact
that his vessels were too heavy to cross the bar. Thence he went to
Newport, where the appearance of his fleet frightened the British into
burning four of their frigates, and sinking two sloops-of-war. Lord
Howe, hearing of this, plucked up courage, and, gathering together all
his ships, sailed from New York to Newport, to give battle to the
French. The two fleets were about equally matched. On the 10th of
August the enemies met in the open sea, off Newport. For two days they
kept out of range of each other, manoeuvring for the weather-gage;
that is, the French fleet, being to windward of the British, strove to
keep that position, while the British endeavored to take it from them.
The third day a gale arose; and when it subsided the ships were so
crippled, that, after exchanging a few harmless broadsides at long
range, they withdrew, and the naval battle was ended.

Such was the record of D'Estaing's magnificent fleet during 1778.
Certainly the Americans had little to learn from the representatives
of the power that had for years contended with England for the mastery
of the seas.

CHAPTER XIII.

LAST YEARS OF THE WAR. -- DISASTROUS EXPEDITION TO THE
PENOBSCOT. -- WHOLESALE CAPTURES ON THE NEWFOUNDLAND BANKS.
-- FRENCH SHIPS IN AMERICAN WATERS. -- TAKING OF CHARLESTON.
-- THE "TRUMBULL'S" VICTORY AND DEFEAT. -- CAPT. BARRY AND
THE "ALLIANCE." -- CLOSE OF THE WAR.

The year 1779 is chiefly known in American naval history as the year
in which Paul Jones did his most brilliant service in the "Bon Homme
Richard." The glory won by the Americans was chiefly gained in
European waters. Along the coast of the United States, there were some
dashing actions; but the advantage generally remained with the
British.

Perhaps the most notable naval event of this year, aside from the
battle between the "Bon Homme Richard" and the "Serapis," was the
expedition sent by the State of Massachusetts agains