er harbour in the bay. At
this period captain Forrest reckoned eight sail to leeward, near another
port called Petit Goave. Coming up with the ship which had fired the
gun, she submitted without opposition, after he had hailed and told her
captain what he was, produced two of his largest cannon, and threatened
to sink her if she should give the least alarm. He forthwith shifted the
prisoners from this prize, and placed on board of her five-and-thirty of
his own crew, with orders to stand for Petit Goave, and intercept any
of the fleet that might attempt to reach that harbour. Then he made sail
after the rest, and in the dawn of the morning, finding himself in the
middle of their fleet, he began to fire at them all in their turns, as
he could bring his guns to bear. They returned the fire for sometime;
at length the Marguerite, the Solide, and the Theodore struck their
colours. These being secured, were afterwards used in taking the
Maurice, Le Grand, and La Flore; the Brilliant also submitted, and the
Mars made sail, in hopes of escaping, but the Augusta coming up with her
about noon, she likewise fell into the hands of the victor. Thus, by
a well-conducted stratagem, a whole fleet of nine sail were taken by a
single ship, in the neighbourhood of four or five harbours, in any
one of which they would have found immediate shelter and security.
The prizes, which happened to be richly laden, were safely conveyed
to Jamaica, and there sold at public auction, for the benefit of the
captors, who may safely challenge history to produce such another
instance of success.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

THE FRENCH EVACUATE EMBDEN.

The ministry having determined to make vigorous efforts against the
enemy in North America, admiral Boscawen was vested with the command of
the fleet destined for that service, and sailed from St. Helen's on the
nineteenth day of February, when the Invincible, of seventy-four guns,
one of the best ships that constituted his squadron, ran aground, and
perished; but her men, stores, and artillery were saved. In the course
of the succeeding month, sir Edward Hawke steered into the bay of Biscay
with another squadron, in order to intercept any supplies from France
designed for Cape Breton or Canada; and about the same time the town
of Embden, belonging to his Prussian majesty, which had fallen into the
hands of the enemy, was suddenly retrieved by the conduct of commodore
Holmes, stationed on that coast,