he expedition to his prejudice, but the whispers of
faction were soon drowned in the voice of the whole people of England,
who never could persuade themselves that a gentleman raised to
the height of power and popularity by mere dint of superior merit,
integrity, and disinterestedness, would now sacrifice his reputation
by a mock armament, or hazard incurring the derision of Europe, by
neglecting to obtain all the necessary previous information, or doing
whatever might contribute to the success of the expedition. It was
asked, Whether reason or justice dictated, that a late unfortunate
admiral should be capitally punished for not trying and exerting his
utmost ability to relieve fort St. Philip, invested by a powerful army,
and surrounded with a numerous fleet, while no charge of negligence or
cowardice was brought against those who occasioned the miscarriage of
a well-concerted and well-appointed expedition? The people, they
said, were not to be quieted with the resolutions of a council of war,
composed of men whose inactivity might frame excuses for declining
to expose themselves to danger. It was publicly mentioned, that such
backwardness appeared among the general officers before the fleet
reached the isle of Oleron, as occasioned the admiral to declare, with
warmth, that he would comply with his orders, and go into Basque-road,
whatever might be the consequence. It was asked, Why the army did not
land on the night of the twenty-third or twenty-fourth, and whether the
officers sent out to reconnoitre, had returned with such intelligence
as seemed to render a descent impracticable? It was asked, Whether the
commander-in-chief had complied with his majesty's orders, "To attempt,
as far as should be found practicable, a descent on the coast of France,
at or near Rochefort, in order to attack, and, by a vigorous impression,
force that place; and to burn and destroy, to the utmost of his power,
all docks, magazines, arsenals, and shipping, as shall be found there?"
Such rumours as these, everywhere propagated, rendered an inquiry no
less necessary to the reputation of the officers on the expedition, than
to the minister who had projected it. Accordingly, a board consisting
of three officers of rank, reputation, and ability, was appointed by
his majesty, to inquire into the reasons why the fleet returned without
having executed his majesty's orders.

The three general officers, who met on the twenty-first of the
same mont