e 4th of November. On the same day there left New
York for Barbados a British squadron,--two 64's, three 50's, and
three smaller craft,--under the command of Commodore William Hotham,
convoying five thousand troops for service in the West Indies.

Being bound for nearly the same point, the two hostile bodies steered
parallel courses, each ignorant of the other's nearness. In the
latitude of Bermuda both suffered from a violent gale, but the French
most; the flagship _Languedoc_ losing her main and mizzen topmasts. On
the 25th of November one[54] of Hotham's convoy fell into the hands
of d'Estaing, who then first learned of the British sailing. Doubtful
whether their destination was Barbados or Antigua,--their two chief
stations,--he decided for the latter. Arriving off it on the 6th of
December, he cruised for forty-eight hours, and then bore away for
Fort Royal, Martinique, the principal French depot in the West Indies,
where he anchored on the 9th. On the 10th Hotham joined Barrington at
Barbados.

Barrington knew already what he wanted to do, and therefore lost not a
moment in deliberation. The troops were kept on board, Hotham's convoy
arrangements being left as they were. On the morning of December 12th
the entire force sailed again, the main changes in it being in the
chief command, and in the addition of Barrington's two ships of the
line. On the afternoon of the 13th the shipping anchored in the Grand
Cul de Sac, an inlet on the west side of Santa Lucia, which is seventy
miles east-north-east from Barbados. Part of the troops landed at
once, and seized the batteries and heights on the north side of the
bay. The remainder were put on shore the next morning. The French
forces were inadequate to defend their works; but it is to be observed
that they were driven with unremitting energy, and that to this
promptness the British owed their ability to hold the position.

[Illustration]

Three miles north of the Cul de Sac is a bay then called the Carenage;
now Port Castries. At its northern extremity is a precipitous
promontory, La Vigie, then fortified, upon the tenure of which
depended not only control of that anchorage, but also access to the
rear of the works which commanded the Cul de Sac. If those works fell,
the British squadron must abandon its position and put to sea, where
d'Estaing's much superior fleet would be in waiting. On the other
hand, if the squadron were crushed at its anchors, the troops were
i