tion, were prepared in different
ports on the coast of France: and a small squadron was equipped at
Dunkirk, under the command of an enterprising adventurer called Thurot,
who had, in the course of the preceding year, signalized his courage and
conduct in a large privateer called the Belleisle, which had scoured
the North Seas, taken a number of ships, and at one time maintained an
obstinate battle against two English frigates, which were obliged to
desist, after having received considerable damage. This man's name
became a terror to the merchants of Great Britain; for his valour was
not more remarkable in battle than his conduct in eluding the pursuit
of the British cruisers, who were successively detached in quest of
him, through every part of the German Ocean and North Sea, as far as the
islands of Orkney. It must be likewise owned, for the honour of human
nature, that this bold mariner, though destitute of the advantages of
birth and education, was remarkably distinguished by his generosity and
compassion to those who had the misfortune to fall into his power;
and that his deportment in every respect entitled him to a much more
honourable rank in the service of his country. The court of Versailles
was not insensible to his merit. He obtained a commission from the
French king, and was vested with the command of the small armament now
fitting out in the harbour of Dunkirk. The British government, being
apprized of all these particulars, took such measures to defeat the
purposed invasion, as must have conveyed a very high idea of the power
of Great Britain, to those who considered, that, exclusive of the
force opposed to this design, they at the same time carried on the most
vigorous and important operations of war in Germany, America, the East
and West Indies. Thurot's armament at Dunkirk was watched by an English
squadron in the Downs, commanded by commodore Boys; the port of Havre
was guarded by rear-admiral Rodney; Mr. Boscawen had been stationed off
Toulon, and the coast of Vannes was scoured by a small squadron detached
from sir Edward Hawke, who had, during the summer, blocked up the
harbour of Brest, where Conflans lay with his fleet, in order to be
joined by the other divisions of the armament. These different squadrons
of the British navy were connected by a chain of separate cruisers;
so that the whole coast of France, from Dunkirk to the extremity of
Bretagne, was distressed by an actual blockade.

FR