mmodore Howe, with the land-forces,
steered directly towards St. Maloes, a strong place of considerable
commerce, situated on the coast of Bretagne, against which the purposed
invasion seemed to be chiefly intended. The town, however, was found too
well fortified, both by art and nature, to admit of an attempt by sea
with any prospect of success; and, therefore, it was resolved to make
a descent in the neighbourhood. After the fleet had been, by contrary
winds, detained several days in sight of the French coast, it arrived
in the bay of Cancalle, about two leagues to the eastward of St.
Maloes; and Mr. Howe having silenced a small battery which the enemy
had occasionally raised upon the beach, the troops were landed without
further opposition on the sixth day of June. The duke of Marlborough
immediately began his march towards St. Servan, with a view to destroy
such shipping and magazines as might be in any accessible parts of the
river; and this scheme was executed with success. A great quantity of
naval stores, two ships of war, several privateers, and about fourscore
vessels of different sorts, were set on fire and reduced to ashes,
almost under the cannon of the place, which, however, they could not
pretend to besiege in form. His grace having received repeated advices
that the enemy were busily employed in assembling forces to march
against him, returned to Cancalle, where Mr. Howe had made such
a masterly disposition of the boats and transports, that the
re-embarkation of the troops was performed with surprising ease and
expedition. The forces, while they remained on shore were restrained
from all outrage by the most severe discipline; and the French houses,
which their inhabitants had abandoned, were left untouched. Immediately
after their landing, the duke of Marlborough, as commander-in-chief,
published and distributed a manifesto, addressed to the people of
Bretagne, giving them to understand, that his descent upon the coast was
not effected with a design to make war on the inhabitants of the open
country, except such as should be found in arms, or otherwise opposing
the operations of his Britannic majesty; that all who were willing
to continue in peaceable possession of their effects, might remain
unmolested in their respective dwellings, and follow their usual
occupations; that, besides the customs and taxes they used to pay
to their own king, nothing should be required of them but what was
absolutely necessa