s was the first intelligence the ministry received of the state of
Rochefort, which afforded sufficient room to believe, that an attack
by surprise might be attended with happy consequences. It was true
that colonel Clark made his observations in time of peace; but it was
likewise probable that no great alterations were made on account of the
war, as the place had remained in the same condition during the two or
three last wars with France, when they had the same reasons as now to
expect their coasts would be insulted. The next information was obtained
from Joseph Thierry, a French pilot, of the protestant religion, who
passed several examinations before the privy-council. This person
declared, that he had followed the business of a pilot on the coast
of France for the space of twenty years, and served as first pilot in
several of the king's ships; that he had, in particular, piloted the
Magnanime, before she was taken by the English, for about twenty-two
months, and had often conducted her into the road of the isle of Aix;
and that he was perfectly acquainted with the entrance, which indeed is
so easy as to render a pilot almost unnecessary. The road, he said,
afforded good anchorage in twelve or fourteen fathoms water, as far as
Bayonne; the channel between the islands of Oleron and Rhe was three
leagues broad, and the banks necessary to be avoided lay near the land,
except one called the Board, which is easily discerned by the breakers.
He affirmed, that the largest vessels might draw up close to the fort of
Aix, which he would undertake the Magnanime alone should destroy; that
the largest ships might come up to the Vigerot, two miles distant from
the mouth of the river, with all their cannon and stores; that men might
be landed to the north of fort Fouras, out of sight of the fort, upon a
meadow where the ground is firm and level, under cover of the cannon
of the fleet. This landing-place he reckoned at about five miles from
Rochefort, the way dry, and no way intercepted by ditches and morasses.
He said, great part of the city was encompassed by a wall; but towards
the river, on both sides, for about sixty paces, it was enclosed only
with pallisadoes, without a fosse. To the intelligence of colonel
Clark and Thierry, the minister added a secret account obtained of
the strength and distribution of the French forces, whence it appeared
highly probable that no more than ten thousand men could be allowed
for the defence o