The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-06-21
CITE enquirer.
RICHMOND, ela JUNE, 1905.
WEST.INDIA FLEET.

20 D,'N uIa'cu 10 otiPidy thc lagacity and energy
or the French government, and to reflect ridi-
cnle upon the boafted prowefs of England.
What, exclaimed the Englfh at the opening
OF the war, have we to fear from French invafi-
on when they have not even bottoms fulfil
cient tor the transportation of their troops ?
ShlP-huilders however foon appeared in the
principal ports of Holland and France, and a
formidable fleet of gun-boats was launched from
the ftocks. What, they now cried, have we to
fear from thefe infulsted detachments; or where
is the poflibility of their collecting and combi-
ming into one compact body (! The prediction
- no !ooner formed, than it is disappointed
Each little Meet is feen to eer from its parental
port, traverfe the coats of Holland and France
nthe very face ofthe Britifh navy, and eff &
junction in the harbour of Boulognc. Of what
avail. they cried, will be the naval force of
France Blockaded as they are in the ports
of the Texel, Brett, Rochefort and Toulon, by
our attachments, the whole ocean will he O.
pen to our enterprises, and the heroes of France
Hall be cooped up within the limits of the con-
tnent. Mai propbetr! The feet of Roche
fort efcapest 70 the Wef-Ind fcatters confti-
hon and dlfrnay over the Englfh Hands, inyades
Tome, threatens to lombard others, and levies
contributions wherever it appears. We
will avenge thefe infults, they exclaimed the
French iquadron fhall dearly atone for their own
temerity and for the injuries they have inflicted
Cochrane appears in the w. Indies, fun with
the hopes of victory, and the French admiral
HES beyond the reach of his power. But the
danger is not yet over. The feet from Toulon
evades the devouring grafp of the hero of the
Nile: enters Cadiz forms junction with the
Spani'h feet under admiral Gravna reaches
Martinique in fafety, and now hangs like a bIao k
cloud over the colonies of England, her mari.
time power in the wet, and one third of the re-
iources OF her commerce. SeVenfeen fail oftbe
me, o rzgateS, eorvetfe5, 5 6yigJ, and 5000
troops on board, are ready to ftrike blow,
which, but for the timely Interpolation of Lord
Melton, mutt change the prefent administration
OF England, and may fhake even the govern
ment itfelfto its centre. Tbefe projects may in
deed diverfify the aitonifhingy monotonous ap
pearance of the prefent war, but in what way
or 10 what extent, time is yet TO determine
What plan of operations is intended to be DUR
tued, what will be the fate of them, and what
will be the ultimate ifiue of the enterpriCe unon
the jurifdeton and commerce of the w. India
iiands, upon the prefent mniftry of England,
the project of the invafion, the termination of
the war itfelf, and the American commerce.
neither the naval hftory of the paft nor of the
prefent war will enable us to determine with
any kind Of precifion.
During the laftwar, the daring fpirit of victor
Hughes Ianguilhed under the want of an AIDE.
quate reinforcement and the fmal fuuadron
under his command enabled him to effect no
more than tome dei,,ltory incurGons upon Ora
NADIA, st. Vincents, Dominica where he was az
liited by the old French inhabitants and to pof.
iels tnieif OF st. Luce, which an infurrection
OF the negroes AFFIXED him to acquire, and, an
Engfh feet foon forced him to abandon. Dur.
ing the prefent war, the fame want of formi
dabIe force in the Wet-Indies has led TO the
lame inactivity, & to Gmilar fifpenHon of he
ro'c achievement. When previous anaiogies
are wanting, and the approaching incidents are
10 remarkably uncertain, il would of courfe be
ridiculous to deduce any poftive conculions.
Still though we may be unable to decide, we
may be permitted to enquire
QUERIES.
IN: Was 1t not the frf intention of the
french government to make Deceive blow
at the Englifb power in the WensIpdies
The reader will recollee that about the We.
rytime when the Rochefort feet failed, the
feet from Toulon bad ALTO put TO fea, but
were forced to return by frefsofweather. The
Bret fleet ALTO came out fome time afterwards
with 1000 troops abroad. Had thefe three
Meets formed junction in the Wet-Tndics.
IN addition TO the quboie Spaniih detachment
OF IS ihips of the line, then lying at Cadiz,
the Britiih pofeffions would have been expo
fed to the mott imminent danger.
End: is the detachment of Lord Mellon fufTici-
emily ftrong to cope with the combined Ne ct ?
II it is not, will not he be be under the necef.
iity of delaying his trip acrofs the Atlantic, or
at leait his rencounter with the enemy until
he obtains the cooperation of fir John Orde's
fquadron
Srd Should the two fleets encounter each o.
Their, will not the due depend more upon the
diicipline Of the fleets and the Kill of their
commanders, than upon their numbers and
force ? The rudeft hiftorian in either CONT.
nent is acquainted with the adventures & the
provefs of Mellon. Wbo then we al. are Adj
mira's Villineuve and Gravna Have ex-
perience or genius qualified them to be the
competitors of the hero of the Nile /.
4th VIII not the French fleet, inftead of waft-
ing their time and weakening their force in
attempting to conquer St. Lucia or the final
Ter llands, proceed at once to the inva(ion
Of Jamaica! The Maroons their former
confedcrates during the lat war have been
rooted out or removed: but new ally will
be found in the vindiGive recruitment or tar.
dy zeal Of the inhabitants, irritated and def.
po1ding as they NUT be, from feeling their
commercial ntercourfe with the United States
fufpeuded.
5th Should they be fuccefsful in their iuva.
ZION of the EogliGh iflands and in their pro.
babIe rencOuufer urfh fle ae.t ,,.a- -