able
damage. A little breeze springing up enabled us (the _Annibal_) to
stand towards our own ships, which did everything possible to come
up and cover us, without which we should have been _surrounded_." It
is easy to see in such an expression the reflection of the commands
of the French Cabinet, to economise the ships. This was still more
evident in La Motte-Picquet's conduct next day. On the morning of the
22d, "at daylight we were within one and a half cannon-shot, breeze
fresh at the east-north-east, and I expected to overtake the British
squadron in an hour, when we perceived four ships in chase of us.
At 6.30 A.M. three were seen to be men-of-war. This superiority of
force compelled me to desist, and to make signal to haul our wind
for Cap Francois." These three new-comers were the _Ruby_, 64, and
two frigates, the _Pomona_, 28, and _Niger_, 32. The comparison of
forces, therefore, would be: French, two 74's, one 64, one 50, and one
frigate, opposed to, British, two 64's, one 50, and three frigates.
La Motte-Picquet evidently did not wait to ascertain the size of
the approaching ships. His courage was beyond all dispute, and, as
Hyde Parker had said, he was among the most distinguished of French
officers; but, like his comrades, he was dominated by the faulty
theory of his government.

The captain of the _Janus_ died a natural death during the encounter.
It may be interesting to note that the ship was given to Nelson,
who was recalled for that purpose from the expedition to San Juan,
Nicaragua, one of the minor operations of the war. His health,
however, prevented this command from being more than nominal, and not
long afterward he returned to England with Cornwallis, in the _Lion_.

Three months later, Cornwallis was sent by Parker to accompany a body
of merchant ships for England as far as the neighborhood of Bermuda.
This duty being fulfilled, he was returning toward his station, having
with him two 74's, two 64's, and one 50, when, on the morning of
June 20, a number of sail were seen from north-east to east (a);
the British squadron (aa) then steering east, with the wind at
south-south-east. The strangers were a body of French transports,
carrying the six thousand troops destined for Rhode Island, and
convoyed by a division of seven ships of the line--one 80, two 74's,
and four 64's--under the command of Commodore de Ternay. Two of the
ships of war were with the convoy, the other five very properly to
win