success."

To this well-weighed, yet lofty praise of the Admiral, the same writer
has added words that the British Navy may remember long with pride,
as sealing the record of this war, of which the relief of Gibraltar
marked the close in European and American waters. After according
credit to the Admiralty for the uniform high speed of the British
vessels, and to Howe for his comprehension and use of this advantage,
Captain Chevalier goes on:--

"Finally, if we may judge by the results, the
Commander-in-Chief of the English fleet could not but think
himself most happy in his captains. There were neither
separations, nor collisions, nor casualties; and there
occurred none of those events, so frequent in the experiences
of a squadron, which often oblige admirals to take a course
wholly contrary to the end they have in view. In contemplation
of this unvexed navigation of Admiral Howe, it is impossible
not to recall the unhappy incidents which from the 9th to the
12th of April befell the squadron of the Count de Grasse....
If it is just to admit that Lord Howe displayed the highest
talent, it should be added that he had in his hands excellent
instruments."

To quote another French writer: "Quantity disappeared before quality."

[Footnote 133: That is, with a great part of her guns dismounted, and
below as cargo.]

[Footnote 134: Chevalier, following La Motte-Picquet's report,
ascribes Howe's escape to greater speed. ("Mar. Fran. en 1778," p.
335.) It must be noted that Howe's object was not merely to escape
eastward, up Channel, by better sailing, but to get to the westward,
_past_ the allies, a feat impracticable save by a stratagem such as is
mentioned.]

[Footnote 135: Chevalier, "Mar. Fran, dans la Guerre de 1778," p.
358.]

CHAPTER XIV

THE NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE EAST INDIES, 1778-1783. THE CAREER OF THE
BAILLI DE SUFFREN

The operations in India, both naval and military, stand by themselves,
without direct influence upon transactions elsewhere, and unaffected
also by these, except in so far as necessary succours were intercepted
sometimes in European waters. The cause of this isolation was the
distance of India from Europe; from four to six months being required
by a fleet for the voyage.

[Illustration]

Certain intelligence of the war between Great Britain and France
reached Calcutta July 7th, 1778. On the same day the Governor-General