nd, in general, the superiority of the English, as sailors
and combatants on their own element, was maintained. These engagements
took place in the Channel, on the coast of France, in the Mediterranean
and Archipelago, and in the East and West Indies. In the whole of this
year the British lost only one ship of the line; and this ship, the
"Alexander," did not surrender, until she had sustained the assault
of three French ships of the line for two hours. The spirit which the
British seamen displayed, indeed, at the commencement of this momentous
struggle, gave fair hopes of a successful issue.

{GEORGE III. 1794-1795}

BRITISH CONQUESTS IN THE WEST INDIES.

The superiority of the British navy soon began to excite public
exultation, and to produce its wonted effects on the colonial
possessions of our enemies. Tobago had been taken by a British squadron
soon after, the commencement of hostilities; and early in this year,
a fleet, under Sir John Jervis and General Sir Charles Grey, was
dispatched against Martinique, which, after a vigorous resistance, was
captured. The reduction of Martinique was followed by the conquest of
the islands of Saint Lucie and Guadaloupe. After these successes, Sir
Charles Grey returned to Martinique, leaving General Dundas to command
at Guadaloupe; but before the close of the year that island was
regained by the French.

DISPUTES WITH AMERICA.

About this time the British government became involved in a contention
with the United States of America. Soon after the commencement of
hostilities with France, orders were issued for detaining American
vessels freighted with corn for that country, and confiscating their
cargoes, though at the same time paying both for them and their freight.
The Americans were indignant at these orders, considering them to be an
attack on their independence. Their complaints, however, were not only
disregarded, but an order was afterwards issued to seize all American
vessels carrying provisions and stores to the French colonies, and also
to compel their ships sailing from the British islands to give security
for landing their cargoes in British or neutral ports. In consequence
of this measure,--vigorous, but necessary under existing
circumstances,--more than six hundred American vessels were seized in
the space of five months. Added to these causes of complaint there were
others given to the United States by the occupation of some ceded forts
on the fr