or the close connected body of the
French. It is clear, therefore, that Rodney's reasons illustrate the
frame of mind against which Napoleon used to caution his generals
as "making to themselves a picture" of possibilities; and that his
conclusion at best was based upon the ruinous idea, which a vivid
imagination or slothful temper is prone to present to itself, that
war may be made decisive without running risks. That Jamaica even
was saved was not due to this fine, but indecisive battle, but to the
hesitation of the allies. When de Vaudreuil reached Cap Francois, he
found there the French convoy safely arrived from Guadeloupe, and also
a body of fifteen Spanish ships of the line. The troops available for
the descent upon Jamaica were from fifteen to twenty thousand. Well
might Hood write: "Had Sir George Rodney's judgment, after the enemy
had been so totally put to flight, borne any proportion to the high
courage, zeal and exertion, so very manifestly shown by every captain,
_all_ difficulty would now have been at an end. We might have
done just as we pleased, instead of being at this hour upon the
defensive."[130]

The allies, however, though superior in numbers, did not venture
to assume the offensive. After the battle, Rodney remained near
Guadeloupe until the 17th of April, refitting, and searching the
neighbouring islands, in case the French fleet might have entered some
one of them. For most of this time the British were becalmed, but Hood
remarks that there had been wind enough to get twenty leagues to the
westward; and there more wind probably would have been found. On the
17th Hood was detached in pursuit with ten sail of the line; and a
day or two later Rodney himself started for Jamaica. Left to his own
discretion, Hood pushed for the Mona Passage, between Puerto Rico and
Santo Domingo, carrying studding-sails below and aloft in his haste.
At daybreak of the 19th he sighted the west end of Puerto Rico; and
soon afterwards a small French squadron was seen. A general chase
resulted in the capture of the _Jason_ and _Caton_, sixty-fours, which
had parted from their fleet before the battle and were on their way to
Cap Francois. A frigate, the _Aimable_, 32, and a sloop, the _Ceres_,
18, also were taken. In reporting this affair to Rodney, Hood got a
thrust into his superior. "It is a very mortifying circumstance to
relate to you, Sir, that the French fleet which you put to flight
on the 12th went through the M