actly
the same character as the last, although without the same preliminary
manoeuvring. On that occasion the British, who in the interim had
been reinforced by one 74 and one 50-gun ship, lost 47 killed and 113
wounded. The result was equally indecisive, tactically considered;
but both by this time had exhausted their staying powers. The French,
having been absent from Martinique since the 13th of April, had now
but six days' provisions.[88] Rodney found the _Conqueror, Cornwall_,
and _Boyne_ so shattered that he sent them before the wind to Santa
Lucia, while he himself with the rest of the fleet stood for Barbados,
where he arrived on the 22d. The French anchored on the same day
at Fort Royal. "The English," says Chevalier, "stood on upon the
starboard tack, to the southward, after the action of the 19th, and
the next day were not to be seen." "The enemy," reported Rodney,
"stood to the northward with all the sail they could possibly press,
and were out of sight the 21st inst. The condition of his Majesty's
ships was such as not to allow a longer pursuit."

By their dexterity and vigilance each admiral had thwarted the other's
aims. Rodney, by a pronounced, if cautious, offensive effort, had
absolutely prevented the "ulterior object" of the French, which he
clearly understood to be Santa Lucia. De Guichen had been successful
in avoiding decisive action, and he had momentarily so crippled a few
of the British ships that the fleet must await their repairs before
again taking the sea. The tactical gain was his, the strategic victory
rested with his opponent; but that his ships also had been much
maltreated is shown by the fact that half a dozen could not put to sea
three weeks later. The French admiral broke down under the strain,
to which was added the grief of losing a son, killed in the recent
engagements. He asked for his recall. "The command of so large a
fleet," he wrote, "is infinitely beyond my capacity in all respects.
My health cannot endure such continual fatigue and anxiety." Certainly
this seems a tacit testimony to Rodney's skill, persistence, and
offensive purpose. The latter wrote to his wife: "For fourteen days
and nights the fleets were so near each other that neither officers
nor men could be said to sleep. Nothing but the goodness of the
weather and climate would have enabled us to endure so continual a
fatigue. Had it been in Europe, half the people must have sunk under
it. For my part, it did me g