across the entrance of the bay. The fleet under the French
admiral was by far the most powerful; but he was thrice defeated in his
attacks upon the British squadron, and he then landed 5000 picked troops
in a bay, between Gros Islet and the Carenage Bay. D'Estaing resolved,
in the first instance, to direct his entire force against Medows, who
was cut off, by his movement, from all support from the other
divisions of the British. General Medows had only 1,300 men, with two
twelve-pounders and four six-pounders, to defend his position; but his
force chiefly consisted of veterans, and it was in vain that d'Estaing
led his forces against, them. Three several charges were made upon them;
but the French were repulsed, with the loss of four hundred men killed,
and more than 1000 wounded. He was compelled to leave the island; and
as his fleet disappeared, the Chevalier de Micoud descended from some
heights to which he had retired, came into the British camp with the
principal inhabitants, and signed a capitulation with General Grant, who
granted such favourable terms as won for him the gratitude of the enemy.
Thus, while the British lost Dominica, they won St. Lucie.

{GEORGE III. 1778-1779}

RE-CAPTURE OF THE ISLANDS OF ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON.

Earlier in the year, in consequence of their aggression on the coast of
America, the French were deprived of their privilege of fishing on the
banks of Newfoundland. The little islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon had
been ceded to them at the peace of 1763, but they were now re-captured
by the British, and the garrisons conveyed to France.

FRENCH PLANS REGARDING CANADA COUNTERACTED BY WASHINGTON.

The ambitious views of the French cabinet were not confined to the West
Indies. This was made manifest to the Americans before d'Estaing
set sail from Boston. He published a proclamation to the Canadians,
exhorting them to return to their former allegiance: and at the same
time Washington, through the ascendency of a French party in congress,
was urged to undertake the reduction of that province in conjunction
with a French force. He was directed by the committee for foreign
affairs to communicate with Lafayette on the subject; but instead of
this, he wrote a long letter to congress, urging, in a forcible manner,
the impolicy of the measure; and, in consequence of his representations,
the plan proposed by congress for the emancipation of Canada, in
co-operation with an army f