A_] When Captain _Dandridge_, of the _Wolf_, came into the Fleet, he
acquainted the Admiral, that the Marquis _D'Antin_ and twelve Ships of
War were then in _Port Louis_, which was the Reason the Admiral pursued
his Course up to the Isle of _Vache_, where when the Fleet arrived, a
_French_ Officer coming on board the _Weymouth_, told, the Marquis
_D'Antin_ was gone Home: Upon the Admiral's being informed of this, he
sent Captain _Knowles_ up in the _Spence_ Sloop to reconnoitre, who
returned with Answer, that there was but one Ship of War in _Port
Louis_, and that the rest were all light Merchant Ships; however the
Admiral chose to be more certain, and having an Opportunity of sending
an Answer to the _French_ Officer's Message, the next Day sent Captain
_Knowles_ and Captain _Boscawen_ ashore to the Governor, who being
politely received, and satisfied with their Remarks, returned in the
Evening to the Admiral, and confirmed the foregoing Observation, who,
without loss of Time, carried the Fleet where they could best and
speediest be watered.

[_B_] This Success was obtained by the Loss only of six Men aboard the
_Norfolk_ and _Russell_, but the _Shrewsbury_'s Cable being shot
(before her other Anchor could be veered aground) she met with worse
Luck: She drove so far as to open the whole Fire of the Castle of
_Boccachica_, four of the Enemy's Ships of sixty and seventy Guns, that
were moored athwart the Harbour's Mouth, the Battery of St. _Joseph_,
and two Fascine Batteries, that were on the _Barradera_ Side; all this
Fire she lay singly exposed to till dark, when she took the Benefit of
the Land-Wind, and ran off, being greatly shattered in her Hull, Masts,
and Rigging, and a great many Men killed and wounded.

[_C_] It was a Body of eight hundred Grenadiers that first landed, who,
during the Time that more Troops were sent for (which was upwards of
two Hours before they came) were kept in the Boats, within twenty Yards
of the Shore, and so closely crouded, scarce one Man could have used
his Arms, that had they had any Enemy to have dealt with, but dastardly
_Spaniards_, they must and would have been cut all to pieces.

[_D_] During the first three Days the Troops were ashore, they were
employed in no one Thing, no not so much as to clear the Ground for
their Encampment, but kept under Arms Night and Day (where, by the Heat
of the Sun, on a white burning Sand, they were scorched to Death, and
by the Inclemency of the