[197] In the council of war of the allied fleets on the expediency of
attacking the English squadron anchored at Torbay (p. 408) an opponent
of the measure urged "that the whole of the combined fleets could not
bear down upon the English in a line-of-battle abreast, that of course
they must form the line-of-battle ahead, and go down upon the enemy
singly, by which they would run the greatest risk of being shattered
and torn to pieces," etc. (Beatson, vol. v. p. 396).

[198] In war, as in cards, the state of the score must at times
dictate the play; and the chief who never takes into consideration the
effect which his particular action will have on the general result,
nor what is demanded of him by the condition of things elsewhere, both
political and military, lacks an essential quality of a great general.
"The audacious manner in which Wellington stormed the redoubt of
Francisco [at Ciudad Rodrigo], and broke ground on the first night of
the investment, the more audacious manner in which he assaulted the
place before the fire of the defence had in any way lessened, and
before the counterscarp had been blown in, were the true causes of the
sudden fall of the place. _Both the military and political state of
affairs warranted this neglect of rules._ When the general terminated
his order for the assault with this sentence, 'Ciudad Rodrigo _must_
be stormed this evening,' he knew well that it would be nobly
understood" (Napier's Peninsular War). "Judging that the honour of his
Majesty's arms, _and the circumstances of the war in these seas_,
required a considerable degree of enterprise, I felt myself justified
in departing from the regular system" (Sir John Jervis's Report of the
Battle of Cape St. Vincent).

[199] By Kempenfeldt's attack upon De Guichen's convoy, and the
following gale in December, 1781. See p. 408.

[200] Kerguelen: Guerre Maritime de 1778. Letter of De Grasse to
Kerguelen, dated Paris. January 8, 1783. p. 263.

[201] See pp. 366, 426.

[202] See Map IV. of the Atlantic Ocean, p. 532.

[203] Weather quarter is behind, but on the windward side.

[204] April 29, 1781, off Martinique, twenty-four ships to eighteen;
January, 1782, thirty to twenty-two; April 9, 1782, thirty to twenty.

[205] The difference of time from Trincomalee to the Saints is nine
hours and a half.

[206] The account of the transactions from April 9 to April 12 is
based mainly upon the contemporary plates and descriptions o