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English. Nor was the success of the British ships of war confined to
the English channel. At this period the board of admiralty received
information from admiral Coats, in Jamaica, of an action which happened
off the island of Hispaniola, in the month of October of the preceding
year, between three English ships of war and a French squadron. Captain
Forrest, an officer of distinguished merit in the service, had, in the
ship Augusta, sailed from Port Eoyal in Jamaica, accompanied by the
Dreadnought and Edinburgh, under the command of the captains Suckling
and Langdon. He was ordered to cruise off Cape Francois, and this
service he literally performed in the face of the French squadron under
Kersin, lately arrived at that place from the coast of Africa. This
commander, piqued at seeing himself thus insulted by an inferior
armament, resolved to come forth and give them battle; and that he
might either take them, or at least drive them out of the seas, so as to
afford a free passage to a great number of merchant ships then lying at
the Cape, bound for Europe, he took every precaution which he thought
necessary to ensure success. He reinforced his squadron with some store
ships, mounted with guns, and armed for the occasion, and supplied
the deficiency in his complements, by taking on board seamen from
the merchant ships, and soldiers from the garrison. Thus prepared, he
weighed anchor, and stood out to sea, having under his command four
large ships of the line, and three stout frigates. They were no sooner
perceived advancing, than captain Forrest held a short council with his
two captains. "Gentlemen," said he, "you know your own strength, and
see that of the enemy; shall we give them battle?" They replying in the
affirmative, he added, "Then fight them we will: there is no time to be
lost; return to your ships, and get them ready for engaging." After this
laconic consultation among these three gallant officers, they bore down
upon the French squadron without further hesitation, and between three
and four in tire afternoon the action began with great impetuosity.
The enemy exerted themselves with uncommon spirit, conscious that their
honour was peculiarly at stake, and that they fought in sight, as it
were, of their own coast, which was lined with people, expecting to see
them return in triumph. But, notwithstanding all their endeavours, their
commodore, after having sustained a severe engagement, that lasted two
hours an