to make another attempt. The sloops and ketches being
ranged along shore to cover the disembarkation, the troops landed on a
fair open beach, and a detachment of grenadiers was sent to the harbour
of St. Briac, above the town of St. Maloes, where they destroyed about
fifteen small vessels; but St. Maloes itself being properly surveyed,
appeared to be above insult, either from the land-forces or the
shipping. The mouth of the river that forms its basin extends above two
miles in breadth at its narrowest part, so as to be out of the reach of
land batteries, and the entrance is defended by such forts and batteries
as the ships of war could not pretend to silence, considering the
difficult navigation of the channels; besides fifty pieces of large
cannon planted on these forts and batteries, the enemy had mounted forty
on the west side of the town; and the basin was, moreover, strengthened
by seven frigates or armed vessels, whose guns might have been brought
to bear upon any batteries that could be raised on shore, as well as
upon ships entering by the usual channel. For these substantial reasons
the design against St. Maloes was dropped; but the general being
unwilling to re-embark, without having taken some step for the further
annoyance of the enemy, resolved to penetrate into the country;
conducting his motions, however, so as to be near the fleet, which had
by this time quitted the bay of St. Lunaire, where it could not ride
with any safety, and anchored in the bay of St. Cas, about three leagues
to the westward.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

ENGLISH DEFEATED AT ST. CAS.

On Friday the eighth of September, general Bligh, with his little army,
began his march for Guildo, at the distance of nine miles, which he
reached in the evening; next day he crossed a little gut or inlet of the
sea, at low water, and his troops being incommoded by the peasants, who
fired at them from hedges and houses, he sent a priest with a message,
intimating, that if they would not desist, he would reduce their houses
to ashes. No regard being paid to this intimation, the houses were
actually set on fire as soon as the troops had formed their camp about
two miles on the other side of the inlet. Next morning he proceeded to
the village of Matignon, where, after some smart skirmishing, the French
piquets appeared, drawn up in order, to the number of two battalions;
but having sustained a few shots from the English field-pieces, and
seeing the