Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/49

 after a thousand difficulties a formidable fleet was fitted out at the ports of Harwich, Hull, and Edinburgh; it consisted of fifty-five sail of the line, and two and twenty frigates. The Russians were later in their preparations; so that when the truce was expired, which was the 8th of September, their fleet was not ready to sail. The command of the British squadron was given to the Duke of Grafton, the first Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Philips and Sir Charles Montague commanded the rear and van divisions under him. It is impossible to express the consternation of all ranks of people on the sailing of this fleet; the fate of the war depended not only on its success in the action, but on its being able to keep the enemy within the Sound. Thirty thousand Russians were embarked on board their squadron, which consisted of seventy sail of the line, besides frigates and a large fleet of transports, as they designed to attempt an invasion: their