A. D. might have been renewed, though the Formidable had conti1779. nued in difobedience. However delicate a point it might be to

criminate an officer who had behaved bravely, yet it will be allowed, that every degree of delicacy ought to have given place to the duty Mr. Keppel owed his country. The letter written after the action, inferted in the London Gazette, will be a fufficient warning to future commanders, not to bestow praise if they think cenfure is due. But if, on the one hand, admiral Keppel was blameable in fome particulars, Sir Hugh Pallifer feems to have been culpable on the other. If the Formidable was fo much crippled as was reprefented, why did not the viceadmiral shift his flag on board fome other fhip of his divifion? This, it might have been expected, would have naturally occurred to fo brave a man as Sir Hugh Pallifer. It is to be hoped, however, that when this officer is brought to a trial *, he will be able to explain his conduct; and that his not doing what he was ordered to do will appear to have arifen from fome unknown circumflances, inferring at most an error in judgment, without any malignant purpofe againft his commander, or intention of tarnishing the naval honour of this kingdomt.

Sir Hugh Pallifer, al out a fortnight after the trial, refigned his employments of lieutenant-general of the marines, one of the lords of the admiralty, and go` vernor of Scarborough-caftie; he alfa v.cated his feat in parliament, and retains nothing but his rank as vice admirs) of the blue. Sir Hugh was tried by a court. martial in April 1779, by orders from the board of admiralty, and acquitted.Next year he was, on the death of Sir Charles Hardy, promoted to the government of Gie nwich Hospital.

The reduction of the French island of St. Lucia in the Weft Indies took place in the month of December, 1778; no advice was received in England of this event till March following, which was too late for its being inferted in this work. This omiffion is now fupplied in the Appendix, (N°. XXII.) by an account of that im portant event, as tranfmitted to the admira.ty by the honourable rear admiral Barrington, who had the honour of commanding his majefty's fhips on that expedition.

APPEN

APPENDIX.

No. I. (P. 17.)

SAILING and FIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS given to the Fleet on their failing from Jamaica, by Edward Vernon, Efq; ViceAdmiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief of all his Majefty's fhips and vefels in the West Indies.

THE

LINE OF BATTLE.

'HE Princess Amelia to lead with the ftarboard, and the Suffolk with the larboard tacks on board. But if I fhall find it neceffary, from the different motions of the enemy, to change our order of battle, to have thofe, who are now appointed to lead on the ftarboard tack, to continue to lead the fleet on the larboard tack on our going about; or those now to lead on the larboard tack, on the contrary to do the fame, as the exigency of the fervice may require; I will, with my fignal for tacking, hoift a Dutch jack on the flag-ftaff, under the Union-flag, the usual signal for tacking, when they are to continue to leadthe fleet on their refpective tacks accordingly.

Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Sir CHALONER OGLE.

Ships of the Line. Commanders. Guns. Princefs Amelia, Capt. Hemington,

Frigates.

80

When the admiral would speak with the captain of any ship under-mentioned, he will raife a pendant, as against the fhip's name, and of the colour fet above it; if a lieutenant, the fame fignal with a weft of the enfign; and if a boat without an officer, the weft will be hoifted but half-staff up.

Memorandum: When I would have any of the fire-fhips, bombs, or tenders, taken in tow, at the fame time that I make the fignal for the fhip that is to tow, and for the fhip that is to be towed, I will hoift up a flag, blue and white, at the flag-staff of the main top-maft head.

Red.

When the fhips ate in line of battle, the frigates, fire-fhips, bombs and tenders are to keep on the oppofite fide of the enemy. When I make the fignal, in line of battle, for the van of the fleet to tack first, in order to gain the windward of the ene my then each fhip is to tack in the headmost ship's wake, for lofing no ground. For all other fignals they are referred to the general printed failing and fighting inftructions, and fuch other additional inftructions as you receive from me.

VERNON.