ce from the coast, on the eastern
side of the island. The British squadron having arrived at Bassaterre,
it was resolved to make a general attack by sea upon the citadel, the
town, and other batteries by which it was defended. A disposition being
made for this purpose, the large ships took their respective stations
next morning, which was the twenty-third day of January. At nine, the
Lion, commanded by captain Trelawney, began the engagement against
a battery of nine guns; and the rest of the fleet continued to place
themselves abreast of the other batteries and the citadel, which mounted
forty-six cannon, besides two mortars. The action in a little time
became general, and was maintained on both sides for several hours with
great vivacity; while the commodore, who had shifted his pendant into
the Woolwrch frigate, kept aloof without gun-shot, that he might be the
more disengaged to view the state of the battle, * and give his orders
with the greater deliberation.

* He shifted lus broad pendant on board the Woolwich, as
well to direct and keep the transports together in a proper
posture for the landing of the troops, as to cover the
disembarkation; and also to consult proper measures with the
general, who saw the necessity of Mr. Moore's being with
him; and requested that he, with the other general officers
and engineers, might be admitted on board the Woolwich, in
order to consult, and take the earliest opportunity of
landing the troops, as the service necessarily required.

This expedient of an admiral's removing his flag, and retiring from the
action while his own ship is engaged, however consonant to reason., we
do not remember to have seen practised upon any occasion, except in one
instance, at Carthagena, where sir Chaloner Ogle quitted his own ship,
when she was ordered to stand in and cannonade the fort of Boca-Chica.
In this present attack, all the sea-commanders behaved with
extraordinary spirit and resolution, particularly the captains Leslie,
Burnet, Gayton, Jekyll, Trelawney, and Shuldam, who, in the hottest
tumult of the action, distinguished themselves equally by their courage,
impetuosity, and deliberation. About five in the afternoon the fire of
the citadel slackened. The Burford and Berwick were driven out to
sea: so that captain Shuldam, in the Panther, was unsustained; and two
batteries played upon the Rippon, captain Jekyll, who, by two in the
afternoo