CONTENTS The Naval History of Great Britain from the End of the War in 1763 to the Year 1774. NAVAL HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN, INCLUDING LIVES OF THE ADMIRALS, CAPTAINS, &c. CHAP. XXIV. Naval History of Great Britain from the Accession of his Majesty George III. to the Peuce in 1763. THE prosperity which had thrown such lustre over the latter years of George II. was transmitted to his successor. The first speech of the new king was received, not only by the parliament, but by the nation at large with the most rapturous applause. This prince, the first of the Brunswick family who had been born in England, adverted with peculiar felicity to the circumstance, as one which strengthened the relation between him and his subjects: "Born and educated," says he, "in this country, I glory in the name of Briton, and the peculiar happiness of my life will ever consist in promoting the happiness of a people, whose loyalty and warm affection to me I consider as the greatest and most permanent security of my throne." Referring to the existing state of things in the country, he adds "happier still should I have been, had I found my kingdoms, whose true interest I have entirely at heart, in full peace, but since the ambition, injurious encroachments and dan gerous designs of my enemies rendered the war both just and necessary, and the general overture made last winter towards a congress for pacification, has not yet produced any suitable return, I am determined, with your cheerful and powerful assistance, to prosecute this war with vigour, in order to that desirable object a safe and honourable peace. The eyes of all Europe are upon you; from you the protestant interest hopes for protection, as well as all our friends, for the preservation of their independency, and our enemies for the final disappointment of their ambitious and destructive views." Mr. Pitt still continued to direct all public business, and our warlike preparations suffered no abatement from the transfer of the crown to the youthful monarch. The troops were all on board for a secret expedition, and moved from Spithead to St. Helen's, to be more ready to embrace the first breeze of fair wind that should offer, and to proceed in their destination. But having long waited for this, administration thought the season too far advanced for military and naval operations, therefore, in the beginning of December, orders were given for the fleet to return to Spithead, and for the troops to disembark, and go into winter quarters. We have not, in the last chapter, interrupted the history of the British squadrons by relating the exploits of particular cruisers, several of which conferred the highest honour on the English navy. On the 2d of April Captain Skinner of the Biddeford, and Captain Kennedy of the Flamborough, both frigates, having sailed from Lisbon, fell in with two large French frigates, convoy to a fleet of merchant ships, which the English captains immediately determined to engage, notwithstanding the great inferiority of their strength. The enemy did not decline the battle, which began about half an hour after six in the evening, and raged with great fury till eleven. By this time the Flamborough had lost sight of the Bid |