a floating battery. This vessel, manned by
detachments of volunteers from different ships, and commanded by captain
Hore, was warped into the inner harbour, and moored before day, at a
considerable distance from the walls, in very shallow water. In this
position she stood the fire of several batteries for some hours, without
doing or sustaining much damage; then the admiral ordered the men to be
brought off in boats, and the cables to be cut; so that she drove with
the sea-breeze upon a shoal, where she was soon filled with water. This
exploit was absurd, and the inference which the admiral drew from it
altogether fallacious. He said it plainly proved that there was not
depth of water in the inner harbour sufficient to admit large ships near
enough to batter the town with any prospect of success. This indeed
was the case in that part of the harbour to which the Gallicia was
conducted; but a little farther to the left he might have stationed four
or five of his largest ships abreast, within pistol shot of the walls;
and if this step had been taken when the land-forces marched to the
attack of Saint Lazar, in all probability the town would have been
surrendered.

EXPEDITION TO CUBA.

After the re-embarkation of the troops, the distempers peculiar to the
climate and season began to rage with redoubled fury; and great numbers
of those who escaped the vengeance of the enemy perished by a more
painful and inglorious fate. Nothing was heard but complaints and
execrations; the groans of the dying, and the service for the dead;
nothing was seen but objects of woe, and images of dejection. The
conductors of this unfortunate expedition agreed in nothing but the
expediency of a speedy retreat from this scene of misery and disgrace.
The fortifications of the harbour were demolished, and the fleet
returned to Jamaica.--The miscarriage of this expedition, which had cost
the nation an immense sum of money, was no sooner known in England, than
the kingdom was filled with murmurs and discontent, and the people were
depressed in proportion to that sanguine hope by which they had been
elevated. Admiral Vernon, instead of undertaking any enterprise which
might have retrieved the honour of the British arms, set sail from
Jamaica with the forces in July, and anchored at the south-east part
of Cuba, in a bay, on which he bestowed the appellation of Cumberland
harbour. The troops were landed, and encamped at the distance of twenty
mile