to it, who were in England upon
leave of absence, nor give directions for any vessel to transport them,
until the French armament was ready to make a descent upon that island.
[372] _[See note 2 Z, at the end of this Vol]_

ADMIRAL BYNG SAILS FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN.

At length, the destination of the enemy's fleet being universally known,
the ministry seemed to rouse from their lethargy, and, like persons
suddenly waking, acted with hurry and precipitation. Instead of
detaching a squadron that in all respects should be superior to the
French fleet in the Mediterranean, and bestowing the command of it upon
an officer of approved courage and activity, they allotted no more than
ten ships of the line for this service, vesting the command of them
in admiral Byng, who had never met with any occasion to signalize his
courage, and whose character was not very popular in the navy; but Mr.
West, the second in command, was a gentleman universally respected for
his probity, ability, and resolution. The ten ships destined for this
expedition were but in very indifferent order, poorly manned, and
unprovided with either hospital or fire-ship. They sailed from
Spithead on the seventh day of April, having on board, as part of their
complement, a regiment of soldiers to be landed at Gibraltar, with
major-general Stuart, lord Effingham, and colonel Cornwallis, whose
regiments were in garrison at Minorca, about forty inferior officers,
and near one hundred recruits, as a reinforcement to St. Philip's
fortress.

ADMIRAL BYNG ARRIVES AT GIBRALTAR.

After all the intelligence which had been received, one would imagine
the government of England was still ignorant of the enemy's force and
destination; for the instructions delivered to admiral Byng, imported,
that on his arrival at Gibraltar, he should inquire whether any French
squadron had passed through the straits; and that, being certified
in the affirmative, as it was probably designed for North America, he
should immediately detach rear-admiral West to Louisbourg, on the island
of cape Breton, with such a number of ships, as, when joined with those
at Halifax, would constitute a force superior to the armament of the
enemy. On the second day of May, admiral Byng arrived at Gibraltar,
where he found captain Edgecumbe, with the Princess Louisa ship of war,
and a sloop, who informed him that the French armament, commanded by M.
de la Galissonniere, consisting of thirteen ships