action three ships struck, while the
other two were driven on shore and burnt; the smaller vessels escaped.
The other squadron, under Villauruez, steered first to the coast of
Brazil, and afterwards to the West Indies: but it was driven from thence
by the fury of the elements; and, finally, three ships were destroyed
on the American coast, one reached the Havannah, and then escaped
into Brest, and a third, which was commanded by Jerome Buonaparte, was
stranded on the coast of Brittany. A third squadron of French ships,
under Admiral Linois, had long been carrying on a predatory warfare in
the Indian Seas, and the Isle of France had been the grand depot of his
plunder; but this year he was overtaken by Sir J. B. Warren, who had
been sent in pursuit of Jerome Buonaparte, and after a running fight
of three hours the French were compelled to strike. Another squadron
of five French frigates and two corvettes was encountered at sea by Sir
Samuel Romilly, and four of the frigates were captured; Romilly lost his
arm in the action. During this year, also, an expedition was sent, under
the command of Sir David Baird, with a naval force commanded by Sir Home
Popham, against the Cape of Good Hope, and that country was added to
the English possessions; the enemy was compelled to retreat, and the
governor-general, Janseus, surrendered, on condition of his forces being
conveyed to Holland at the expense of the British government, and not
considered as prisoners of war. Finally, in the course of this year, Sir
Home Popham undertook an expedition against Buenos Ayres, which he took
from the Spaniards: but it was afterwards re-captured; and as Sir Home
undertook this enterprise without orders, he was recalled by government
and tried by a court-martial, which adjudged him to be severely
reprimanded. It is clear, however, that if Popham had been successful he
would have been acquitted of all blame; for on hearing that Buenos Ayres
was taken, the nation was intoxicated with joy; and it was not till
the news arrived that the Spaniards had recaptured it that the voice of
censure was heard against him. So fickle is public favour: the man
who is held in high estimation to-day, may, by one unfortunate action,
become the object of contempt to-morrow.

DISPUTES WITH AMERICA.

At this time disputes, which threatened war, arose between England and
America. The Americans complained of impressing British seamen on board
their merchant vessels