lty, agree with these, but are even more explicit.
"I cannot conclude this letter without acquainting their Lordships
that had Captain Carkett, who led the van, properly obeyed my signal
for attacking the enemy, and agreeable to the 21st Article of the
Additional Fighting Instructions, bore down instantly to the ship
at that time abreast of him, instead of leading as he did to the van
ship, the action had commenced much sooner, and the fleet engaged in
a more compact manner...." This clearly implies that the _Additional_
Fighting Instructions prescribed the direction which Rodney expected
Carkett to take. If these Additional Instructions are to be found,
their testimony would be interesting.

Since this account was written, the Navy Records Society has published
(1905) a volume, "Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816," by Mr. Julian
Corbett, whose diligent researches in matters of naval history and
warfare are appreciated by those interested in such subjects. The
specific "Additional Instructions" quoted by Rodney appear not to have
been found. Among those given prior to 1780 there is none that extends
to twenty-one articles. In a set issued by Rodney in 1782 an article
(No. 17, p. 227) is apparently designed to prevent the recurrence
of Carkett's mistake. This, like one by Hawke, in 1756 (p. 217),
prescribes the intended action rather by directing that the line of
battle shall not prevent each ship engaging its opponent, irrespective
of the conduct of other ships, than by making clear which that
opponent was. Lucidity on this point cannot be claimed for either.]

[Footnote 85: Lapeyrouse Bonfils, "Histoire de la Marine Francaise,"
iii, 132. Chevalier gives much smaller numbers, but the former has
particularised the ships.]

[Footnote 86: Chevalier, "Marine Francaise," 1778, p. 185.]

[Footnote 87: A lee current is one that sets to leeward, with the
wind, in this case the trade-wind.]

[Footnote 88: Chevalier, p. 91.]

[Footnote 89: _Ante_, p. 115.]

[Footnote 90: Beatson, "Military and Naval Memoirs."]

CHAPTER IX

NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN WEST INDIES IN 1781. CAPTURE OF ST. EUSTATIUS BY
RODNEY. DE GRASSE ARRIVES IN PLACE OF DE GUICHEN. TOBAGO SURRENDERS TO
DE GRASSE

Rodney, returning to the West Indies from New York, reached Barbados
on December 6th, 1780. There he seems first to have learned of the
disastrous effects of the great October hurricanes of that year. Not
only had several ships--among them two of