n a council of war held on the eighth, to make a
descent, and attack the forts leading to and upon the mouth of the river
Charente. An order, in consequence of this resolution, was immediately
issued for the troops to be ready to embark from the transports in the
boats precisely at twelve o'clock at night. Accordingly the boats were
prepared and filled with the men at the time appointed, and now they
remained beating against each other, and the sides of the ships, for the
space of four hours, while the council were determining whether, after
all the trouble given, they should land; when at length an order was
published for the troops to return to their respective transports, and
all thoughts of a descent, to appearance, were wholly abandoned.
The succeeding days were employed in blowing up and demolishing the
fortifications of Aix; after which, the land officers, in a council
of war, took the final resolution of returning to England without any
further attempts, fully satisfied they had done all in their power to
execute the designs of the ministry, and choosing rather to oppose the
frowns of an angry sovereign, the murmurs of an incensed nation, and the
contempt of mankind, than fight a handful of dastardly militia. Such was
the issue of an expedition that raised the expectations of all Europe,
threw the coasts of France into the utmost confusion, and cost the
people of England little less than a million of money.

THE FLEET RETURNS TO SPITHEAD.

The fleet was no sooner returned than the whole nation was in a ferment.
The public expectation had been wound up to the highest pitch, and now
the disappointment was proportioned to the sanguine hopes conceived,
that the pride of France would have been humbled by so formidable an
armament. The ministry, and with them the national voice, exclaimed
against the commanding officers, and the military men retorted the
calumny by laying the blame on the projectors of the enterprise, who had
put the nation to great expense before they had obtained the necessary
information. Certain it was, that blame must fall somewhere, and the
ministry resolved to acquit themselves and fix the accusation, by
requesting his majesty to appoint a board of officers of character and
ability, to inquire into the causes of the late miscarriage. This
alone it was that could appease the public clamours, and afford
general satisfaction. The enemies of Mr. Pitt endeavoured to wrest the
miscarriage of t