bade the officers to write by the frigate that carried the despatches: I did not write a syllable myself, except touching my health, nor shall I, but to state the intrepidity of the officers and people under my command (through the most infernal fire I ever saw or heard of) to my Lord Sandwich, in which particular mention will be made of young Wells.

In justice to the Foudroyant, I must observe to you, that though she received the fire of seventeen sail, and had the Bretagne, Ville de Paris, and a 74 upon her at the same time, and appeared more disabled in her masts and rigging than any other ship, she was the first in the line of battle, and, really and truly, fitter for business in essentials (because the people were cool) than when she began. Keep this to yourself, unless you hear too much said in praise of others.

Your's, J. J.

Captain Jervis to George Jackson, Esq.

Plymouth Dock, Aug. 9th, 1778. Since I sealed the enclosed, I am happy in your letter of the 5th. I am in hope what I have said of young Wells,* to Lord S., will, in this

I am not able to say whether this refers to the gallant Admiral of the name, now on our list.-ED.

dearth of lieutenants, help to get over his time; if it does not, I shall be very happy to have him continue with me.

The Prince George merits, by all accounts, all that can be said of her; she, nor any other ship, was in the fire that the Foudroyant was. The Egmont suffered much from the Thunderer's firing into her, and from the America running on board of her in the night of the 27th. Jack Allen is a very gallant fellow, and will always be in the fire, if possible. I do not believe the attack could have been renewed to any effect the evening of the 27th. It was certainly intended by Admiral Keppel, who, when he found the Vice of the Blue and his division did not form the line with him, agreeable to the signal, sent Sir H. a message by a frigate to this effect tell the Vice of the Blue, I only wait for his division to renew the attack. Neither the signal nor message was obeyed in any degree till it was too late, and the Formidable did not in view bear down at all. I conclude she was so disabled she could not. In that event, ought not the flag to have been shifted? All this is mere chimera of my own, perhaps, for I have heard it from no one, nor do I believe there is the least coolness between the admirals.

Your letter has caused met IL WIE MOE TREN 1 intended. but I have done in ful confidence that you wil bur the lener instantly, and never utter the contents.

The Formicable suffered most from WILD the ship; and. I hear, several of Berwick's men were killed by the Vigiant. I as not vouch for the latter.

J. J.

CHAPTER III.

The capture of the Pegase by the Foudroyant-Particulars from Schomberg-Letters of Admiral Barrington and Captain Jervis — Comparison between the Foudroyant and the Cæsar much against British Shipwrights-The French and Spaniards a full century before us in 1793-Dimensions of the two ships-Foudroyant considered a crack ship-Anecdote of the French Captain of the Pegase - Envy of Naval Officers at the success of Sir John Jervis, who is created a Knight of the Bath-Returned Member of Parliament for Launceston Hoists his broad pendant for a foreign command Is prevented going by the Peace-He becomes a member of the Board of Officers for examining the best mode of fortifying the dock-yards - Opinion on the expediency of employing honest men in those places - Motto on the Coat of Arms -The various Promotions of Sir John JervisRemarks on the Promotion of young Officers during the PeaceStimulus wanting — Other Navies arising.

BETWEEN the affair of Lord Keppel's action and the spring of 1782, we do not find that any particular naval incident occurred worth mentioning, in which Captain Jervis was concerned, until the action between the Foudroyant and the Pegase, a French ship of seventy-four guns, with a complement of seven hundred men, besides troops, on board.

Admiral Barrington, at that time, held the

command off Brest, and Captain Jervis was placed under his orders. The friendship between these two officers was of long standing, and was, on every occasion, to the last hour of his life, acknowledged by Lord St. Vincent.

A squadron had long been preparing in Brest, with a view of making a dash to the East Indies; and, of course, its intention was to run out in the night-time, or in thick weather, with a strong easterly wind. The Foudroyant, one of the fastest sailing ships of the British fleet, was in a position most likely to intercept the enemy; and, when the latter made their appearance outside the harbour on the night of the 20th of April, 1782, Captain Jervis happily discovered them, brought one of the French ships to action, and took her, after a severe conflict carried on during the night. I find but little in Charnock on the subject of this action, but Schomberg makes up for the deficiency; and I the more readily adopt his account, because he was a cotemporary, and actively employed at sea at the time, if not indeed in the same fleet. He says (vol. ii. p. 71.)

"On the 13th of April, Vice Admiral Barrington sailed from Spithead, on a cruise to the westward, with twelve sail of the line. At noon, the Artois made the signal for discovering the