assistance of England and the states-general.
The admiral detached two ships into the gulf of Narbonne, with
some refugees and French pilots, who had concerted signals with the
Cevennois; but the mareschal de Montrevil having received intimation of
their design, took such measures as prevented all communication; and the
English captains having repeated their signals to no purpose, rejoined
sir Cloudesley at Leghorn. This admiral, having renewed the peace with
the piratical states of Barbary, returned to England without having
taken one effectual step for annoying the enemy, or attempted any thing
that looked like the result of a concerted scheme for that purpose. The
nation naturally murmured at the fruitless expedition, by which it had
incurred such a considerable expense. The merchants complained that they
were ill supplied with convoys. The ships of war were victualled with
damaged provisions; and every article of the marine being mismanaged,
the blame fell upon those who acted as council to the lord high-admiral.

ADMIRAL GRAYDON'S BOOTLESS EXPEDITION.

Nor were the arms of England by sea much more successful in the West
Indies. Sir George Rooke, in the preceding year, had detached from the
Mediterranean captain Hovenden Walker, with six ships of the line and
transports, having on board four regiments of soldiers, for the
Leeward islands. Being joined at Antigua by some troops under colonel
Codrington, they made a descent upon the island of Guadaloupe,
where they razed the fort, burned the town, ravaged the country, and
reimbarked with precipitation, in consequence of a report that the
French had landed nine hundred men on the back of the island. They
retired to Nevis, where they must have perished by famine, had they
not been providentially relieved by vice-admiral Graydon, in his way
to Jamaica. This officer had been sent out with three ships to succeed
Benbow, and was convoyed about one hundred and fifty leagues by two
other ships of the line. He had not sailed many days when he fell in
with part of the French squadron, commanded by Du Casse, on their return
from the West Indies, very full and richly laden. Captain Cleland, of
the Montagu, engaged the sternmost; but he was called off by a signal
from the admiral, who proceeded on his voyage without taking-further
notice of the enemy. When he arrived at Jamaica, he quarrelled with the
principal planters of the island; and his ships beginning to be crazy,
h