ense of
men; the whole number of the killed and wounded not exceeding two
hundred and fifty on board of the British squadron, though the carnage
among the enemy must have been much more considerable, as M. de la Clue,
in his letter to the French ambassador at Lisbon, owned, that on board
of his own ship, the Ocean, one hundred men were killed on the spot, and
seventy dangerously wounded. But the most severe circumstance of this
disaster was the loss of four capital ships, two of which were
destroyed, and the other two brought in triumph to England, to be
numbered among the best bottoms of the British navy. What augmented the
good fortune of the victors was, that not one officer lost his Life in
the engagement. Captain Bentley, whom the admiral despatched to England
with the tidings of his success, met with a gracious reception from the
king, who knighted him for his gallantry.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

PREPARATIONS MADE BY THE FRENCH FOR INVADING ENGLAND.

As we propose to throw together all the naval transactions of the year,
especially those that happened in the European seas, that they may be
comprehended, as it were, in one view, we must now, without regarding
the order of time, postpone many previous events of importance,
and record the last action by sea, that in the course of this year
distinguished the flag of Great Britain. The court of Versailles, in
order to embarrass the British ministry, and divert their attention
from all external expeditions, had in the winter projected a plan for
invading some part of the British dominions; and in the beginning of the
year had actually begun to make preparations on different parts of their
coast for carrying this design into execution. Even as far back as the
latter end of May, messages from the king to both houses of parliament
were delivered by the earl of Holdernesse and Mr. Pitt, the two
secretaries of state, signifying that his majesty had received advices
of preparations making by the French court, with a design to invade
Great Britain: that though persuaded, by the universal zeal and
affection of his people, any such attempt must, under the blessing
of God, end in the destruction of those who engaged in it; yet he
apprehended he should not act consistent with that paternal care and
concern which he had always shown for the safety and preservation of his
subjects, if he omitted any means in his power which might be necessary
for their defence: he, therefore