in the head with a grape-shot, and
lost the use of one leg in the engagement.

HAVRE-DE-GRACE BOMBARDED.

Having taken notice of all the remarkable captures and exploits that
were made and achieved by single ships since the commencement of the
present year, we shall now proceed to describe the actions that were
performed in this period by the different squadrons that constituted the
naval power of Great Britain. Intelligence having been received that the
enemy meditated an invasion upon some of the British territories, and
that a number of flat-bottomed boats were prepared at Havre-de-Grace,
for the purpose of disembarking troops, rear-admiral Rodney was, in the
beginning of July, detached with a small squadron of ships and bombs
to annoy and overawe that part of the coast of France. He accordingly
anchored in the road of Havre, and made a disposition to execute the
instructions he had received. The bomb vessels, being placed in the
narrow channel of the river leading to Ronfleur, began to throw their
shells, and continued the bombardment for two-and-fifty hours, without
intermission, during which a numerous body of French troops were
employed in throwing up intrenchments, erecting new batteries, and
firing both with shot and shells upon the assailants. The town was set
on fire in several places, and burned with great fury; some of the
boats were overturned, and a few of them reduced to ashes, while the
inhabitants forsook the place in the utmost consternation: nevertheless,
the damage done to the enemy was too inconsiderable to make amends for
the expense of the armament, and the loss of nineteen hundred shells
and eleven hundred carcasses, which were expended in this expedition.
Bombardments of this kind are at best but expensive and unprofitable
operations, and may be deemed a barbarous method of prosecuting war,
inasmuch as the damage falls upon the wretched inhabitants, who have
given no cause of offence, and who are generally spared by a humane
enemy, unless they have committed some particular act of provocation.

BOSCAWEN DEFEATS M. DE LA CLUE.

The honour of the British flag was much more effectually asserted by
the gallant admiral Boscawen, who, as we have already observed, was
intrusted with the conduct of a squadron in the Mediterranean. It must
be owned, however, that his first attempt savoured of temerity. Having
in vain displayed the British flag in sight of Toulon, by way of
defiance to th