cawen could do in this circumscribed scene
of action was, to take possession of a small island near the river
Vannes, which he caused to be cultivated, and planted with vegetables,
for the use of the men infected with scorbutic disorders arising from
salt provision, sea air, and want of proper exercise. In the month of
September, sir Edward Hawke, who had by this time relieved Mr. Boscawen,
detached the gallant lord Howe, in the Magnanime, with the ships Prince
Frederick and Bedford, to reduce the little island of Dumet, about three
miles in length, and two in breadth, abounding with fresh water. It was
defended by a small fort, mounted with nine cannon, and manned with one
company of the regiment of Bourbon, who surrendered in a very short
time after the ships had begun the attack. By this small conquest
a considerable expense was saved to the nation in the article of
transports employed to carry water for the use of the squadron.

Admiral Rodney still maintained his former station off the coast of
Havre de Grace, to observe what should pass at the mouth of the Seine.
In the month of July, while he hovered in this neighbourhood, five large
flat bottomed boats, laden with cannon and shot, feet sail from Harfleur
in the middle of the day, with their colours flying, as if they had set
the English squadron at defiance; for the walls of Havre de Grace, and
even the adjacent hills, were covered with spectators, assembled to
behold the issue of this adventure. Having reached the river of Caen,
they stood backwards and forwards upon the shoals, intending to amuse
admiral Rodney till night, and then proceed under cover of the darkness.
He perceived their drift, and gave directions to his small vessels to be
ready, that, as soon as day-light failed, they should make all the sail
they could for the mouth of the river Orne, in order to cut off the
enemy's retreat, while he himself stood with the larger ships to the
steep coast of Port Bassin. The scheme succeeded to his wish. The enemy,
seeing their retreat cut off, ran ashore at Port Bassin, where the
admiral destroyed them, together with the small fort which had been
erected for the defence of this harbour. Each of those vessels was one
hundred feet in length, and capable of containing four hundred men for
a short passage. What their destination was we cannot pretend to
determine; but the French had provided a great number of these
transports, for ten escaped into the river Orne