| Description | Arrival of Admiral Barrington in town, who gives a different account of the West Indian engagement from that which has been understood, "We have had rather the best of it", on Admiral Byron's approach the whole French fleet, amounting to 26 sail of the line, came out of St George's Harbour, Grenada, Byron immediately gave the order for chase and for close action, Barrington, who led the van, came up with the fastest sailing ships and began the engagement with seven, he drove the "Languedoc" out of the line twice and cleared her decks, as did the "Boyne" by the next largest French ship, on this the French, having the advantage of the little wind there was, edged away, Rowley who was left with three ships to take care of the transports was ordered to intercept them and in attempting it received the fire of the whole French line, they however got away, Byron not being able to get up so as to bring on a general engagement, "Our loss is 180 killed and 146 wounded, the French is said to be much greater, 3 Captains, 18 Lieutenants and upwards of 2000 men being said to be killed and wounded, our fleet is gone to Antigua to refit and the French to Martinico, Barrington gives great praise to Byron" |