of battle, but on the oppofite tack, the flects passed each other about noon in a diagonal direction. The action, though very warm, was confequently partial; but the English admiral having in a short time sufficiently repaired his damages, made the proper fignals for the van and rear divisions to take their respective stations. This order was instantly obeyed by Sir Robert Harland, of the van; but Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, of the rear or blue divifion, who had fallen a great way to leeward, took no notice whatever of the signals. Admiral Keppel, after waiting perhaps too long, fent the Fox frigate at five o'clock with peremptory directions to Sir Hugh Palliser, to bear down into his wake in order to renew the engagement. Hugh answered, "that he was knotting and splicing, but would obey the order as foon as poffible."

Sir

At fix o'clock the commander threw out another fignal for ALL SHIPS to come into their stations; and at seven o'clock, wearied with expectation, he threw out a third signal, for each particular ship of the blue division to come into her station in the line-but all to no purpose, and the day finally closed before Sir Hugh Pallifer rejoined his commander. In the night the French made fail for their own coast, and in the morning scarcely were the rearmost ships difcernible from the topmast heads of the English fleet. Admiral Keppel therefore returned to Portsmouth to refit; but his public letter, containing an account of this tranfaction, occafioned great speculation-his defire to screen the misconduct of the admiral of the blue inducing him to give such a relation of this engagement as seemed to imply great impropriety of behaviour in the commander himself. For no reason whatever was affigned for not renewing the engagement in the afternoon, except the expectation of the admiral, " that the French would fight it out handsomely the next day."

It was impoffible that the truth should not in fome degree transpire; and a well written letter appearing some time afterwards in the public prints, severely reflecting on the conduct of Sir Hugh Palliser, that officer thought proper to require from the commander in chief a formal difavowal of the charges it contained, and a public juftification of his character. This the commander absolutely and indignantly declining, the vice-admiral immediately exhibited articles of accufation againft Admiral Keppel, for misconduct and neglect of duty on the 27th of July (1778), although he had in the month of October a second time failed with Admiral Keppel, and had never before this so much as whispered a word to his prejudice.

The Lords of the Adiniralty, to the astonishment of the nation, without the least hesitation, and even with apparent alacrity and fatisfaction, fixed a day for the trial of the Commander in Chief; the result

of

of which was in the highest degree honorable to that brave and injured officer, who was not only unanimously acquitted by the court-martial, but received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his services. Sir Hugh Palliser afterwards demanded a court-martial upon himself, which terminated in a flight censure only; but the resentment of the public was so great that it was deemed expedient by the Ministers to accept his successive refignations of his place at the Board of Admiralty, his Lieutenant-Generalship of Marines, his Government of Scarborough Castle, and to permit him to vacate his feat in the House of Com

mons.

The acquittal of Admiral Keppel was celebrated with illuminations and rejoicings in all parts of the kingdom; and the houses of Lord Sandwich and Sir Hugh Palliser were insulted by the populace, and the demolition of them with difficulty prevented.

The ready acquiefcence of the Board of Admiralty in the appointment of the court-martial, on a charge so grossly invidious and unjust, gave the highest disgust to the officers of the navy. A strong memorial was presented to his Majesty on the subject by the Duke of Bolton, figned by twelve admirals, with the venerable Hawke at their head, stating to his Majesty, in strong colors, the ruinous consequences which the precedent now introduced would inevitably bring upon all naval service and difcipline. difcipline. " If," said these gallant defenders of their country," we had conceived that this Board had no legal use of their reason in a point of fuch delicacy and importance, we should have known on what terms we served; but we never did imagine it poffible that we were to receive orders from, and be accountable to, those who by law were reduced to become mere paffive instruments to the poffible ignorance, malice, or treachery of any individual, who might think fit to disarm his Majesty's navy of its best and highest officers. We conceive it to be disrespectful to the laws of our country, to suppose them capable of fuch manifest injuftice and absurdity."

The only part of Admiral Keppel's conduct really culpable appears to have proceeded from that excess of deference and respect for Sir Hugh Palliser, which prevented his adopting those daring and decisive measures the occafion called for, in order to improve in the most effectual manner an opportunity of which he had little reason to expect the return. The courage of Sir Hugh Pallifer had been on many occafions too confpicuous to be questioned; but that principle of envy, so powerful in fome minds, could not endure that a man whom he regarded in the light of a rival should acquire such an addition of fame and superiority as must have resulted from a complete and decided victory.

The SESSION commenced on the 26th of No

vember 1778. The speech from the throne was loud in complaint of" the unexampled and unprovoked hoftility of the Court of France; and regret was expressed that the efforts which had been made for disappointing the malignant designs of the enemy had not been attended with all the success which the justice of the cause, and the vigorous exertions which had been made, seemed to promife." The addresses of both Houses, in the usual style of duty and loyalty, were carried by great majorities. But in a short time the attention of Parliament was attracted by a motion made by the Marquis of Rockingham, "That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, to express the displeafure of the House at the manifesto issued under the seal of the American Commiffioners on the 3d day of October last; and to acquaint his Majesty with the sense of this House, that the said Commiffioners had no authority whatsoever under the Act of Parliament, in virtue of which they were appointed, to make fuch declaration; and humbly befeeching that the said manifesto be publicly disavowed by his Majesty." The noble mover, in the course of an able and excellent speech, addressed himself to the BISHOPS in a manner peculiarly striking. He observed that "the nature and principle of the war were entirely changed. The right reverend Bench, relying on the afsurances of Ministers, might oriVOL. II. ginally

Y