Event to his
Advantage? Where was the Spirit of Resolution and Enterprize worthy of a
_British_ Commander? What Losses did he receive, but that of a
Timber-head? What Danger could he apprehend, when the Enemy's Fire did not
reach a Ship in his Division much nearer than himself?----Where was the
Heroism of delivering his Orders without Terror or Confusion, while he was
situated at so harmless a Distance? If this can proceed from Neglect, it
may cost us more than _Minorca_----our Navy and Kingdom too. And what can
Cowardice or Disaffection do more?----The most friendly and partial
Evidences do him no Honour, and represent him, at best, but as an
inactive, inglorious Spectator, indifferent to Victory, rather than as a
vigorous Commander, whose Country's Reputation, as well as his own, was
immediately interested in the Event. And if the unexceptionable
Attestations of the rest have any Authority with them, we cannot be at a
Loss to whom we shall ascribe the Defeat of that fatal Expedition; and we
cannot but think a Solicitude to defend a Conduct so undeniably culpable,
will deserve Part of the Ignominy which attends it. Your Friends, fearful
of pronouncing too hasty a Sentence, rejected a great many Reports which
enhanced the Guilt of this Action, and waved their Opinion till the most
material Circumstances were confirmed by the Court-Martial.

They are sensible of the Difficulty of forming a just Judgment upon an
Engagement, which requires such extensive Skill, and so minute an
Attention, to be free from all Exception: Yet when they see a Ship of the
first Note, for sailing, scandalously loitering in the Rear, without any
just Impediment, while the rest were sustaining unequal Fire, with not one
Man wounded or killed during the whole Time, though all the Evidences
were unanimous in commending the Admiral, we could not help condemning it
as defective; and while this is the Case, we cannot approve of your
endeavouring to obstruct or mitigate the Punishment such Misbehaviour
deserves. These Remonstrances are not the Dictates of Passion and Malice;
but of a Desire for the impartial unbiassed Administration of Justice. The
Honour of every brave Man is dear, as the Actions of every Coward are
odious, to his Country.----It is incumbent on your Lordship to remove all
Suspicions of Partiality from the Minds of your Friends, that your Memory
may not be transmitted to Posterity in Connection with that Name, which
they will have as mu