Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/82

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ANNUAL REGISTER, 175^.

16th,

and partly put in execution by the building of a mole, digging a ba- fon, and making fluiccs and flood gates with excellent materials and at a vaft expence. The work had been for a confiderable time dif- continued ; but in this expedition, that work of fo much ingenuity, charge, and labour, was totally de- Uroyed. Whilft our humanity re- grets the unhappy neceflity of war, we cannot help thinking that the EngliOi nation was freed by the fuccefs of this expedition, from what might one day be caufe of no trivial alarms.

When this work of deftruftion was over, all the veflels in the har- bour- burned, and hoftages taken for the contributions levied on the town, the forces reimbarked with great fpeed and fafety without any interruption from the enemy, and with the fame expedi- tion, care, and condudt, as they had been firft landed; the army having continued ten days unmolelled in France.

The nation exulted greatly in this advantage, efpecially as it al- moft accompanied the news of our glorious fucccffes in America. No- thing was omitted to give the action its utmoft eclat ; the brafs cannon and mortars taken at Cher- bourg v/ere drawn from Kenfing- ton to the Tower, (]uite through the city, in'greac pomp and order, <, ^ adorned with itreamers,at-

mufic, and whatever elfe might draw the attention of the vulgar. They who cenfured this procef- fion as too oftentatious, did not confider how forcibly things of this nature ftrike upon ordinary minds, and how greatly they contribute to keep the people in good-hu- mour to fupport the many charges
 * " P ' ■ tended by guards, drums,

and lolTes that arc incident to tni moft fuccefsful war.

The fleet, when it left Cher- bourg, was driven to the coaft of* England ; but the troops were not difcmbarked ; it was refolved, that the coaft of France fhould have no rc-fpite, and accordingly they failed towards St. Maio, and landed in the bay of St. Lunar, at a fmall diftance from the town of St. Malo. This choice of a place for landing, muft neceffarlly have furprifed all thofe who remembered upon what reafcns the attempt againft that place had ben fo re- cently laid afide. There was no other objefl of fufficient confider- ation" near it. The town was at leaft in as good a pofture of de- fence as it had been then ; and the force which was to attack it had fince then been confiderably IclTened. There is undoubtedly fomething very unaccountable, as v/ell in the choice, as in the whole conduft of this affair. The per- fons in the principal commands, lliifted the blame from one to another. There is nothing more remote from cur delign, than to fet up forjudges in matters of this nature; or ungeneroufly to lean on any officer who meaning well to the fer\'ice of his country, by fome misfortune or miftake fails in fuch hazardous and intricate enterprifes. We fhall be fatislied with relating the fafts as they hap- pened.

As foon as the troops were landed in the bay of St. Lunar, it became evident that the defigii againft St. Malo was utterly im- pradicable. Other objefts were then propofed, but they all feemed equally liable to objedticn. Whilft they debated concerning a plan for their operations, the fleet was in

the