ed a breach. The garrifon when, beat from their batteries, found an afylum behind the walls. In attacking this place our people displayed great bravery; but it is evident that the terror occafioned by fo un ufual and dreadful a cannonade, was what obliged the garrifon to furrender.

Note 81. A Lift of the Fleet on the Leeward Ifland Station,

Note 82. A Lift of the Fleet on the Jamaica Station, 1756.

Commanders.

415 { Capt. John Wickham.

SRear-Adm. Hon. Geo. Townshend.

Tho. Craven.

Note 83. A Lift of the Fleet on the North America Station,

Note 84. Lift of the French Fleet at Louisburg this Seafon.

On the 1st of April 1756, Admiral Byng received the following infiructions from the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, addreffed, To the Hon. John Byng, Admiral of the Blue Squadron of his Majefty's Fleet.

Whereas the King's pleasure has been fignified unto us by Mr Fox, one of his Majefty's principal Secretaries of State, that, upon confideration of the feveral advices which have been received, relating to the fuppofed intention of the French to attack the island of Minorca, a fquadron of ten fhips of the line do forthwith fail for the Mediterranean under your command; and whereas, we have appointed the fhips named in the margin for this fervice; Ramillies, Culloden, Buckingham, Captain, you are hereby required and directed immedi Buckingham, Captain, ately to put to fea with fuch of them as are ready, Revenge, Trident, (leaving orders for the reft to follow you as Lancafter, Intrepid, foon as poffible), and proceed with the utmost King fton, and Defiance. expedition to Gibraltar.

Upon your arrival there, you are to inquire whether any French fquadron is come through the Streights; and if there is, to inform yourfelf as well as poffible of their number and force, and if any of them were transports. And, as it is probable they may be defined

for

for North America, and as his Majefty's fhips named in the margin, are either at or going to Halifax, and are to cruize 3d rates, Grafton, off Louifburg, and the mouth of the Gulph of St -Stirling Cafle, Laurence, you are immediately to take the fol-Fougueux, diers out of fo many fhips of your fquadron, as, to4th Nottingham, gether with the fhips at and going to Halifax, will -Litchfield, make a force fuperior to the faid French fquadron, Centurion, 6th Success, (replacing them with landmen or ordinary feamen -Vulture floop. from your other ships), and then detach them under the command of Rear Admiral Weft, directing him to make the best of his way off Louisburg, and, taking the aforementioned ships, which he may expect to find there, under his command, to cruize off the faid place, and the entrance of the Gulph of St Laurence, and use his utmost endeavours to intercept and seize the aforefaid fhips, or any other fhips belonging to the French that may be bound to or returning from any part of North America.

If upon your arrival at Gibraltar, you fhall not gain intelligence of a French fquadron having paffed the Streights, you are then to go on without a moment's lofs of time to Minorca; or if in confequence of fuch intelligence, you fhall detach Rear Admiral Weft, as before di-. rected, you are to ufe equal expedition in repairing thither with the fhips which fhall remain with you; and if you find any attack made upon that ifland by the French, you are to use all poffible means in your power for its relief. If you find no fuch attack made, you are to proceed off Toulon, and ftation your squadron in the beft manner you shall be able, for preventing any fhips getting out of that port ; or for intercepting and feizing any that may get out; and you are to exert the utmost vigilance therein, and in protecting Minorca and Gibraltar from any hoftile attempt.

You are alfo to be vigilant for protecting the trade of his Majesty's fubjects from being molested, either by the French or by cruizers from Morocco, or any other of the Barbary States; and for that purpofe to appoint proper convoys and cruizers.

You are likewife to be as attentive as poffible to the interception and feizing as well ships of war and privateers, as merchant fhips belonging to the French, wherever they may be met with within the limits of your command. But in purfuance of the King's order in council, you are not to fuffer any of the fhips of your quadron to take any French veffels out of any port belonging to the Ottoman" Empire upon any pretence, nor to moleft, detain, or imprison the perfon of any of the fubjects of the Ottoman Empire; and alfo not to feize nor detain any French fhip or veffel whatfoever, which they fhall meet with in the Levant feas, bound from one port to another in those feas, or to or from any ports of Egypt, having any effects of the Turks on board.

Princefs Louifa, Portland,
Deptford, Chesterfield,
Dolphin, Phenix,

Upon your arrival in the Mediterranean, you are to take under your command his Majefty's fhips and veffels named in the margin, which are at

Experiment, and Fortune floop prefent there. (D 2)

If any fhips of war fhould fail from Toulon, and efcape your fquadron, and proceed out of the Mediterranean, you are forthwith to fend or repair yourself to England with a proportionable part of the fhips under your command, obferving that you are never to keep more fhips in the Mediterranean than fhall be neceffary for executing the fervices recommended to you.

To enable you the better to perform the above-mentioned services, you are to take care to keep the ships and veffels under your command in conftant good condition, and to have them cleaned as often as fhall be requifite for that purpose.

Thefe inftructions were dated at the Admiralty-Office, March 30th 1756, and were figned, Anfon, T. Villiers, William Rowley, Ed. Bofcawen, Bateman, and Rich. Edgecumbe.

By farther inftructions, dated Admiralty-office March 31ft 1756, and figned, Anfon, William Rowley, and T. Villiers, it was fignified to the Admiral:

Whereas the King has been pleased to direct, that the royal regiment of Fuzileers, commanded by Lord Robert Bertie, fhould ferve on board his Majefty's fhips in the Mediterranean, and that the faid regiment should be landed at Minorca, in cafe the Governor or Commander in Chief of that ifland fhall think it neceffary for its defence; and the Governor of Gibraltar having orders, in cafe a farther reinforcément fhall be neceffary at Minorca, to make a detachment equal to a battalion from his garrifon; which detachment, the Admiral or Commander in Chief of his Majefty's fhips in the Mediterranean, is to convoy to Minorca, on board the men of war, or fuch tranfport-veffels as you fhall be able to provide for that purpofe: We do, in purfuance of his Majefty's pleafure, fignified to us by Mr Fox, one of his principal Secretaries of State, hereby require and direct you, to pay due obedience to his Majefty's aforefaid directions, by landing Lord Robert Bertie's regiment, in case the faid ifland of Minorca be attacked, and upon confultation with the Governor, the fame fhould appear neceffary; and you are not to confine yourself to the landing that regiment only, but also to affift with as many gunners and men from your fquadron as might be ferviceable, and the fhips could poffibly fpare. You are likewife to pay due regard to his Majefty's aforefaid pleasure, in relation to tranfporting a battalion from Gibral ter to Minorca.

Given under our hands, the 31st of March 1756. To the Hon. Admiral Byng, at Spithead

Note

Rates. Frigates, Guns-Men.

40 220 J. Lloyd.

6 Phoenix, to re

peat fignals. J

20 160 Hon. Aug. Hervey.

2 Ramillies,

Arthur Gardiner,

Hon. John Byng,

90 780

Adm.of the Blue.

Fortune, floop