oduce effects far exceeding the most sanguine
expectations; and this prudent arrangement proved displeasing only
to those whom violent party attachment had inspired with a narrow and
exclusive spirit.

DESCENT ON THE COAST OF FRANCE MEDITATED.

The accumulated losses and disappointments of the preceding year, made
it absolutely necessary to retrieve the credit of the British arms and
councils by some vigorous and spirited enterprise, which should, at
the same time, produce some change in the circumstances of his Prussian
majesty, already depressed by the repulse at Kolin, and in danger of
being attacked by the whole power of France, now ready to fall upon
him, like a torrent, which had so lately swept before it the army of
observation, now on the brink of disgrace. A well-planned and vigorous
descent on the coast of France, it was thought, would probably give a
decisive blow to the marine of that kingdom, and at the same time effect
a powerful diversion in favour of the Prussian monarch and the duke of
Cumberland, driven from all his posts in the electorate of Hanover, by
drawing a part of the French forces to the defence and protection of
their own coasts. Both were objects of great concern, upon which the
sovereign and ministry were sedulously bent. His royal highness the
duke, in a particular manner, urged the necessity of some enterprise of
this nature, as the only expedient to obviate the shameful convention
now in agitation. The ministry foresaw, that, by destroying the enemy's
shipping, all succours would be cut off from America, whither they were
daily transporting troops; the British commerce secured, without those
convoys so inconvenient to the board of admiralty, and to the merchants;
and those ideal fears of an invasion, that had in some measure affected
the public credit, wholly dispelled.

COMMAND OF THE FLEET GIVEN TO SIR EDWARD HAWKE, &c.

From these considerations, a powerful fleet was ordered to be got in
readiness to put to sea on the shortest notice, and ten regiments of
foot were marched to the Isle of Wight. The naval armament, consisting
of eighteen ships of the line, besides frigates, fireships,
bomb-ketches, and transports, was put under the command of sir Edward
Hawke, an officer whose faithful services recommended him, above all
others, to this command; and rear-admiral Knowles was appointed his
subaltern. Sir John Mordaunt was preferred to take the command of the
land-forces: